Written by Russell Meyer
Published: January 9, 2005 at 9:10 PM
Busch Gardens Tampa has announced plans to use new self-service kiosks at the entrance gates. The new machines will work very much like the self-service kiosks at most major movie theater chains. Guests will select the type of admission they would like to purchase on the touch screen, and insert/swipe their credit card, and the machine prints your ticket or pass right on the spot. All the guest has to do from there is walk to the turnstile, and they’re in the park. While these automated ticket booths are nothing new, this is one of the first times they’ve been formally applied to a major theme park. I seem to remember Busch Gardens Williamsburg with a couple of kiosks near the main ticket booths near the end of last season, perhaps that was the beta test for this new system. Combine this with the proliferation of on-line ticketing, and guests never have to talk to a single person before getting through the front gate, aside from security.
These new kiosks are a great idea, but make it nearly impossible for guests to use discount coupons, which probably won’t reduce ticket lines much at parks. What needs to be done at entrance gates is speeding security and bag checks, and simplifying the admission process. Nothing makes entering a park slower then a family with dozens of bags that need to be checked, or someone who is so indecisive it takes them five minutes to decide which type of admission they want to purchase. What we need is a faster, more efficient bag check system (or separate entrance gates for guests without bags, which some parks have already implemented), and simplified admission prices, especially for Disney.
Tone It Down! When Mission: Space at EPCOT was opened, a number of people riding it became ill, and suggesting that it was too intense on the human body. Reportedly, the Disney imagineers experienced similar problems during tests and had toned down the attraction prior to its grand opening. It was also rumored that the attraction was slowed down after a number of guests had complained that the attraction was still too intense. During the first six months of the ride’s operation, 5 people were admitted to the hospital for treatment, but during the second six months, only 1 person was admitted because of Mission: Space. However, Disney is trying to set the record straight, and denies slowing the attraction down. They claim that the dramatic decrease in injury on the attraction was because of numerous warning signs and announcements, not due to a reduction in the ride’s intensity. I have not had the pleasure of riding this attraction, but have a hard time believing a bunch of warning signs and announcements would cause such a dramatic decrease in injury. If they did, then I think every company in the world should hire Disney to make signs for them to reduce injuries. Eisner Gets A Raise According to a filing with the SEC, Michael Eisner received compensation in 2004 that increased 13% over what he received in 2003. In addition, the Disney board concluded that Eisner’s performance was “greatly improved.” The company’s profit rose 85% attributed mostly to ESPN and theme parks. However, Eisner was not the only one cashing in, COO Robert Iger’s annual compensation rose 73% to $12 million. Iger is currently considered the front runner to become Disney’s new CEO and may not meet much competition for Disney’s top job. Disney also announced that it would continue to keep the chairman of the board and CEO jobs separate. It’s great to see the rich get richer, but at least they could do so by producing something original. I guess when ESPN and theme parks are driving your profit, “originality” doesn’t need to be in your vocabulary.
Orlando Sentinel 1/6/05
L.A. Times 1/7/05
So the new system would only apply to people purchasing passes for the first time. If they made everyone switch over to the new system at the same time, no one would ever get into the park. This gradual application of the system is probably deliberate. My guess is that they will eventually switch everyone over to the new system soon.
FWIW, Disney tones down attractions in every soft opening where it can tone them down. The company's attitude seems to be (as it should be) -- crank it up in the beginning, see how much folks can take, and dial it down until people are no longer ill. I rode Body Wars at Epcot on its first day of cast member testing -- back row, far left side. My seatbelt broke on the first jolt and I have never, *ever* had a more turbulent ride on any theme park attraction, including extreme roller coasters. No, Disney could not and should not let the public experience something so intense. But, Lord, I loved it!
RE: Baggage Checks
It's a shame that the baggage check process is the bottle-neck of park entry. This is especially true as the checks are rarely thorough and are mostly placating an over-sensitive public.
And speaking of cutting costs, I heard a rumor about some bit cost-cutting (involving people) at DISNEY-MGM studios. Aw, I'll post that elsewhere so as not to muddy this discussion.
The only change I've seen is from a few warnings here and there in the beginning to an all-out onset of warnings that bridge on the edge of over-excessive today. You would have to be completely ignorant to your surroundings not to hear or see or read one of these warnings now and make an educated decision if this is something you should try. They are everywhere from bright yellow signs that lead up to the building to several flat-panel video screens throughout the entire queue area that do nothing than repeat warnings of motion sickness and spinning in big letters. Not to mention you are now bombarded with warnings in both a visual and audio format during the first pre-show, BETWEEN the two pre-shows and again during the second pre-show and then given one final chance to exit from a CM before they close the pod doors. During the previews, there were just a few warnings in each pre-show that differ a bit from the new warnings.
In the case of MS, what makes folks sick is actually the sensation experienced as the centrifuge starts its spinning and as it stops, not necessarily the speed it attains in the end. Changing the spinning speed would do little to decrease the probability of experiencing motion sickness on MS, which is why I don't necessarily believe any of the "toning down" stories.
Again, from personal experience, I haven't seen ANY change in intensity of the G-Forces on MS at all since it opened. What happened before they opened it to the public is something I don't know.
I completely agree about the bag check. I fail to see how "peaking" through someone's bag with a small stick really uncovers lethal weapons. Of course, this doesn't stop the zeal of the bag check. I was witnessed some poor guy being hasseled about a gold chain he was wearing around his neck.
Heck, with the DCA Taste Pilots grill, to get your discount, all you do is swipe your AP or CM card after ordering, but before paying...
It can be done, heck the grocery store machines allow you to use coupons, all you do is swipe the barcode, then insert it in a slot (honor system).
BTW, we were just Bronze passholders early in the summer, later upgrading to Silver, and this was our first year of ever being BGW passholders.
Also, I never had a very long wait for either the bag check or the entry gate at BGW, regardless of how crowded the park was. By contrast, I did have a couple of times at King's Dominion where the wait to get through the entry gates was at least 15 minutes (the metal detectors were the slowdown). Since BGW doesn't have metal detectors, the ticket line moves a lot faster.
BTW, I'm probably one of those "photoless" pass holders (used to have a photo till I upgraded to Platinum from Silver) delaying the entry line. However, as the season went on, I did seem to get the knack of it, almost always getting it right the first try.
Incidently, when I visited Orlando last Autumn, I had to do the hand scan thing at Sea World. But at Busch Gardens Tampa, on each of my two visits they simply scanned my pass and waved me through.
I think the first self-serve kiosks I saw were at Magic Mountain about 10 years ago... they still remain, but are out of service and have been for years.....
Universal Studios Hollywood has had them for years, and still actively promote them. When the lines get long, an employee gets on a mike and brings up the fact that machines are located on each end of the human staffed ticket booths. All of the main ticket choices are available including different types of Annual Passes, and VIP and Front of the Line passes.
So Busch is not the first park to offer them, but I wouldn't be surprised to see more of them at other parks, as a machine is a big labor savings..
Heck, at DCA, you now order and pay on a self service kiosk at Taste Pilots Grill.
Also, the article mentioned this device...
>>Indeed, Busch pass or ticket holders will have a side express entrance of their own. They swipe their pass. A scanner records a topographic map (not fingerprints) of their hand in two seconds and compares it in a Busch database to ensure the dimensions match the passholder.<<
SeaWorld San Diego has had this system for about a year, and has closed down their Passport Processign center. Each Ticket Window can sell the actual AP or Fun Card instead of a Voucher, and no photo is needed (which allowed the closing of the processing center). In fact some gift shops have been equipped with machines to print AP's for those who want to upgrade after entering the park....
SeaWorld San Diego also has a special Passport Member entrance, though it is only open during busy times.
Another interesting thing SeaWorld San Diego offers Passport Members is a daily sheet of coupons, and an occasional Surprise Gift. All you need to do is go to a set of machines and scan your AP next to Guest Services.
I have gotten free soda, popcorn, a key chain, and gallon of free paint (from a park sponsor), plus free plays in the arcade, and discounts on food, merchandise and park tours. The San Diego Padres Baseball team has the same type of machines in which they offer coupons and perks to returning fans. (There is a posted schedule, the more games you go in the season, the more prizes you get.)