Single rider
Single rider lines are an opportunity at various theme parks to reduce the amount of time waiting in line for an attraction. When a single-rider line is in use, empty seats on the ride vehicles are filled using individuals from the line, thus ensuring that every vehicle is carrying the maximum number of occupants possible. A park using a single-rider line offers guests a chance to wait for a significantly shorter length of time in exchange for not necessarily being able to experience the attraction with others in their party or from a desired seat (e.g., the front row of a roller coaster).
Operations
In practice, a single-rider line is available adjacent to the main entrance of the attraction. It is often manned by a park employee who will remind guests of any important policies. The line may bypass pre-show elements of the attraction; again, this is a trade-off that allows a much shorter wait in line. Typically, the line ends at the loading platform, where another employee is stationed. This employee will sort out the arriving guests from the main line and direct them to the ride vehicles. When an empty seat becomes available, the employee will direct the person at the front of the single-rider line to take the empty seat.
The actual movement of the line is subject to many variables, including the loading speed of the attraction and, sometimes, the park's management style for dealing with such lines. Some parks will use single riders to fill odd-numbered seating configurations every time, while others will actively attempt to balance out the ride vehicle with guests in the main line, even inviting guests from further back in the main line to come forward and board. Generally, single rider lines are used for rides which have vehicles of four to eight people and are popular. Single rider lines can reduce wait times by 80% or more.[1] Some rides may seat three individuals across, and due to the number of couples that visit theme parks, the third individual is needed to fill the line.[2]
In most cases, a guest using a single-rider line must meet the normal rider requirements for the attraction and must be able to ride in any empty seat presented. Therefore, a number of park guests are generally discouraged from using these lines, such as:
- Younger guests, who may not meet the height requirement for the attraction but would otherwise be able to ride if a parent or guardian was present (a responsibility the park will not impose on a stranger)
- Handicapped guests, who might require special wheelchair seating or need assistance from a member of their party to board the attraction
- Guests with larger frames (some muscular or obese guests), who would require a specific seat (one modified for larger guests) to experience the attraction[3]
Single-rider lines may be discontinued at the discretion of the park at any time, usually when there is no perceivable benefit to using the line. This can occur during off-peak operating days when the regular wait is very short already. Similarly, it may be temporarily discontinued when the single-rider line length creates waits that are longer than those for the regular line.
Some parks provide provisions for visitors who are alone, regardless of whether a "single-rider line" is designated.[4]
Although not specifically a single-rider plan, some parks provide provisions for parents of children who are too small or young for an attraction.[5][6][7][8][9] One party waits with the non-riders, until a responsible adult returns, then the waiting party enters the front of the single-rider line or another line.[10][11][12][13][14]
Selected attraction list
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
Disneyland Park
Disney California Adventure
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Epcot
Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo DisneySea
Hong Kong Disneyland
Parc Disneyland (Paris)
Walt Disney Studios Park
- Toy Soldier Parachute Drop
- RC Racer
- Crush's Coaster
- Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy
Shanghai Disneyland Park
- TRON Lightcycle Power Run
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Roaring Rapids
- Pirates of the Caribbean – Battle for the Sunken Treasure
Universal Parks & Resorts
Universal Studios Hollywood
- Revenge of the Mummy
- Jurassic Park: The Ride
- Transformers: The Ride
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Universal Studios Singapore
Universal Studios Florida
- Transformers: The Ride
- Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
- The Simpsons Ride
- Men in Black: Alien Attack
- Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit
- Revenge of the Mummy
Islands of Adventure
- The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
- Doctor Doom's Fearfall
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- Incredible Hulk Coaster
- Skull Island: Reign of Kong
Six Flags
Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Great America
Six Flags New England
- Superman the Ride
- Goliath
- Flashback
- Pandemonium
- Scream
- Splash Water Falls
Six Flags Over Georgia
- Batman The Ride
- Dahlonega Mine Train
- Dare Devil Dive
- Georgia Cyclone
- Georgia Scorcher
- Goliath
- Mind Bender
Six Flags Over Texas
Six Flags México
Other parks
Hershey Park
Dreamworld
PortAventura
Heide Park
Bakken
SeaWorld Orlando
Europa-Park
Alton Towers
Hansa-Park
- Curse of Novgorod
- Crazy Mine
Efteling
Fraispertuis City
Gardaland
Movieland Park
- Kitt Superjet
Futuroscope
- La Machine à voyager dans le temps
Walibi Holland
See also
References
- ↑ "Orlando's single rider lines". FAQ Orlando.
- ↑ FIELDING BUCK (20 June 2012). "THEME PARKS: Single rider option saves time". Press Enterprise.
- ↑ John Glass. Things To Do At Disneyland 2013. Alternative Travel Press. pp. 22–27. GGKEY:9XZ3XH94302.
- ↑ "Disneyland: Single-rider line reduces wait".
- ↑ "Rider Switch". Walt Disney World.
- ↑ disneylandparis.com Praktische informatie
- ↑ Tripadvisor Anaheim: Disneyland with babies
- ↑ Efteling Baby switch
- ↑ Hong Kong Disneyland Guests with Special Needs
- ↑ Legoland Californië Parent Swap
- ↑ Phantasialand Voor gezinnen
- ↑ Family vacation Critic SeaWorld Orlando Planning & Tips
- ↑ Tokyo Disney Resort FAQ - At the parks
- ↑ Universal Orlando Resort Traveling with Kids