Six Flags Rolls Out Lo-Q Virtual System?
Has anyone out there used the system at Six Flags Over Georgia called Lo-Q?
From dan edward
Posted February 5, 2002 at 10:05 AM
Has anyone out there used the system at Six Flags Over Georgia called Lo-Q? I live in the UK and used the system at Thorpe Park, which kept me out of lines... A friend of mine told me that Six Flags plans to put it into most of its big parks, but I have not heard if it will be in Europe or not. Thorpe Park does not use the system any longer, but I think Lo-Q was just trailing it.
[Is this the same thing as the "Fast Lane" system at Six Flags Magic Mountain? That's a paid system, unlike Disney's "FastPass" or Universal's Express systems.--Ed.]
From Mr. D. T.
Posted February 5, 2002 at 6:16 PM
I looked up this Lo-Q thing-a-ma-bobby-pin on the official Six Flags website and the results are -- It works a lot like Fastlane used in most Six Flags parks, except...
This Lo-Q system will allow guests to reserve rides simply by pointing the rented Q-bot at any Reservation Point around the park. And then, one small second later, you hear a beep and see a message confirming the reservation has been made. Once it's time to ride, BEEP! The Q-bot points out an entrance for you to use.
The daily rental costs an individual $10, with $5 an extra guest. Takes up to 6 riders.
SFOG currently takes reservations for claim before 1:00 PM, while an additional $5 will be added to the regular charge. There will be no refunds.
Lo-Q is currently Lo-qated (lol) in the British Section. For more information, log on to www.Lo-Q.com
Thanks for the link. This is NEAT technology.
Imagine a FastPass with a brain. It beeps you at your reservation time. The system can handle multiple requests, so you can get a reservation time for your next ride as soon as you step off one. It can reschedule you in case of breakdowns. You can even use the system to track your kid.
Potential weirdness: The system could also be used to pitch you on certain stores or restaurants as you walk by them. (Kevin, you could ask 'em to beep you whenever you walk by a funnel cake cart!) Done right, this could be cool. Done wrong, and you're getting spammed while walking around a park. Not cool.
Of course, I hate the idea of paying extra to jump lines when I already paid dearly just to get into the park. But that doesn't make the technology any less cool.
Did someone say funnel cakes????? Though I would be quite irritated if it was just plain funnel cakes with no ice cream and cinnamon apples and maybe some caramel and a little chocolate and...
Anyhow, I hear our little Marine World will be getting this Lo-Q garbage this year. I don't think it is a bad idea for SF because MW was soooo overcrowded last year with all the Season Passes they sold that loads of people would probably pay extra for the privilege of line-jumping. Which makes the lines for everyone else that much longer. I think in small parks like this, Lo-Q has the chance of really angering the public and keeping them from buying Season Passes next year. SPs will probably go down this year just because of the overselling last year. I wish our park was the size of SFWoA!
Let me get this right, Lo-Q will be at an extra cost, whilst some Six Flags parks will also have FastLane, another extra charge? Which of these two amazing schemes is better value, and if FastLane is a more expensive option, how much is it, and what does it give you that Lo-Q doesn't?
I am confused, although this does seem like a bit of a con, allowing Six Flags to take more of your precious money at a themepark.
Phil C (Also live in the UK)
Fast Lane is not an electronic system. It's basically a ticket that allows you a certain number of line jumps a day. (Four people can jump one line, or one person can jump four, etc.) I've not used it, or any other paid virtual queue system.
As I understand it, Fast Lane is not a reservation system. You just use it to jump to the front of the line. In that respect, it is more valuable that Lo-Q, FastPass or any other ride reservation system.
I doubt that a park would use both--too confusing. I suspect Six Flags will look and see how each system performs at the parks they're running in, and then make a decision as to which one it'll use company-wide.
My guess: People might pay for the child-tracking feature of Lo-Q. But until Disney starts charging for FastPass, companies are going to have a hard time getting people to pay for reservations. That, and the lack of a license fee for the low-tech FastLane (I'm assuming...), would seem to weight things in that direction.
From Anonymous
Posted April 29, 2002 at 6:17 PM
I've read all the posts here and I would like to clarify something. Lo-Q is not line jumping. The quests using the Lo-Q Qbot still have to wait just as long as the other guests that stand in line. The quest makes their reservation and will be beeped when it is time for their party to return to the ride. This system is basically time management. Instead of standing in long lines all day, the guest is enjoying the rest of the park. I've used the system, and I feel that it is great. Although the prices are different this year, it is still worth the money to be able to actually enjoy the day with your family insteaad of standing in those long, hot, boring lines for hours at a time. Especially with small children I feel this is a must.Your time at the park is spent with your family or friends having fun!
We used fast lane tickets to ride X, and still has to queue for 45mins. They didn't have any staff at the side of the ride the fast lane people came in so we all milled around trying to decipher the confusing queuing system.
Anything that replaces fast lane (it was faster than the regular queue, but hardly like a Disney fast pass) would be good. I disagree with having to pay extra for it though.
I only want to pay my admission - nothing else.
From Anonymous
Posted May 27, 2002 at 10:25 PM
I hear that the lo-q system infringes on a couple of U.S. patents for cellular child locating technology and is going to get sued out of existence by silicon valley as soon as it shows how much money can be made.
From Anonymous
Posted May 28, 2002 at 8:09 AM
I think it's bad that Six Flags rips it's guests off. You see the bigger parks, Universal and Disney (who are usually HUGR money grabbers) offering this service for free.
I grew up at Six Flags, and I won't return unless they change their ways.
From Anonymous
Posted May 28, 2002 at 3:35 PM
Have you read about them doubling their prices? It seems that it has been popular and so they are jacking up their prices. Do a search on lo-q at www.google.com. That is their contractor for building this stuff. Read how much money they expect to make off the poor folks next year.
From Anonymous
Posted July 8, 2002 at 9:49 PM
i have used the q-bot and i can tell you it makes you wait longer than if you standed in line. we tested this by q-ing a line(at 6 flags GA) the q-bot gave us one hour and forty five mins. we then waited in line. the q-bot was off by an hour. we continuosly got wait times of over an hour and a half. and as a result only got to use it for about 3 rides. what a waste of 50 bucks!(although i must admit we felt like kings on those few rides :)
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