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Fast Lane is an optional, pay-per-person line queue system offered on select rides at Cedar Fair amusement parks. The system provides shorter lines, and guests who want access must pay a fee in addition to general park admission. They are given a wristband for identification, and an unspecified, limited number are sold each day to keep wait times under control. First piloted in 2011 at Kings Island, the system was rolled out to the rest of the Cedar Fair chain in 2012. An upgrade called Fast Lane Plus is available at some of the parks, which features additional rides.

History

On July 18, 2011, Kings Island announced the introduction of Fast Lane, a separate line queue featuring shorter wait times. The upcharge for access during its debut year was $50 per person, and the purchase did not include park admission. It was also only active from noon until 7:00 PM originally, but the system was later expanded to all-day availability. Cedar Fair wanted to test the system before deploying to every location, and Kings Island was chosen for that purpose. Fast Lane received positive feedback, and it generated nearly $1 million in half a season. Cedar Fair deemed it a success and decided to roll out Fast Lane to the rest of their parks in 2012. Cedar Fair's Fast Lane differs from the virtual queue system utilized at some competing parks such as Disney's Lightning Lane, which allows guests to reserve their place in line without actually standing in line.

Fright Lane, a Halloween version of Fast Lane, is also available during the fall season at Cedar Fair parks. In 2013, Canada's Wonderland, Carowinds, Cedar Point, Kings Dominion, and Kings Island introduced an upgraded tier called Fast Lane Plus, which adds a few additional rides not available to the standard Fast Lane tier. Dorney Park and Worlds of Fun followed suit in 2014, introducing Fast Lane Plus for water park attractions at Wildwater Kingdom and Oceans of Fun.

In 2017, Michigan's Adventure launched a season pass add on which allowed users to receive a fast lane wristband every time they visit. This was later expanded to the other Cedar Fair parks in 2018 and 2019.

California's Great America, Gilroy Gardens, Kings Dominion, and Knott's Berry Farm are the only parks in the Cedar Fair chain to offer Fast Lane during the Christmas season, also Fast Lane Plus at Kings Dominion is converted into regular Fast Lane during this time due to a decrease in operating rides. At California's Great America, the only ride not operating during the Christmas season that uses Fast Lane is Rip Roaring Rapids.

Rules

Visitors can purchase Fast Lane access at the park or online, individually or as a group, with group pricing offering a lower price per group member. Those who purchase access will receive a wrist band that allows them to enter the Fast Lane line queue at the park's most popular attractions. Fast Lane is not included with season pass purchases, and the amount sold per day is restricted to an unspecified amount.

Reception

The priority queuing system was originally controversial. An earlier version implemented at Cedar Point in the early 2000s allowed guests to enter a virtual queue, similar to Disney's FastPass at the time, where riders could return to a ride hours later and skip to the front of the line. It was first called Ticket to Ride, and later it was renamed FreeWay. The system was discontinued in 2004 due to negative reception; guests were uncomfortable with the park "sanctioning line-jumping". Fast Lane received higher marks when assessed internally by Cedar Fair, and the system has been in place at all Cedar Fair parks since 2012.

List of Fast Lane attractions

California's Great America

As of October 24, 2021:

Canada's Wonderland

As of October 24, 2021:

Carowinds

As of October 24, 2021:

Cedar Point

As of October 24, 2021:

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom

As of October 24, 2021:

Gilroy Gardens

Fast Lane passes at Gilroy Gardens allows guests to enter through the exit of any ride at the park, with the only exception being the Bonfante Railroad Train Ride in October, which is renamed Boo Train for the Halloween season.

Kings Dominion

As of October 25, 2021:

Kings Dominion Winterfest

As of November 7, 2021:

Kings Island

As of October 25, 2021:

Knott's Berry Farm

As of October 25, 2021:

Michigan's Adventure

As of October 25, 2021:

Valleyfair

As of October 25, 2021:

Worlds of Fun

The Fast Lane Plus option at Worlds of Fun is a combination of the Fast Lane passes for Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun.

As of October 25, 2021:

See also

• Disney's Fastpass, the virtual queue system for the Disney Parks
• Universal Express Pass, a virtual queue system for the Universal parks

References

1. "NewsPlusNotes: Kings Island Announces Fast Lane". Newsplusnotes.blogspot.com. July 18, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
2. "Kings Island – Fast Lane". Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
3. ^ Glaser, Susan (April 28, 2012). "Pay to get in the Fast Lane and you'll wait less at Cedar Point: close to home". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
4. ^ "Cedar Fair Is Looking Fun Forward". NewsPlusNotes. January 21, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
5. "Cedar Point 2012". PointBuzz. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
6. ^ Glaser, Susan (July 30, 2011). "Amusement parks offer different ways of letting people skip long lines". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
7. "Fast Lane". California's Great America. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
8. "Fast Lane Passes & Deals". Canada's Wonderland. Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
9. "Fast Lane". Carowinds. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
10. "Fast Lane". Cedar Point. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
11. "Fast Lane". Dorney Park. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
12. "Fast Lane". Gilroy Gardens. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
13. "Gilroy Gardens Update for November 30th 2014". Coaster Kings. December 2, 2014. Archived from the original on October 25, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
14. "Fast Lane". Kings Dominion. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
15. "Fast Lane". Kings Dominion. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
16. "Fast Lane". Kings Island. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
17. "Fast Lane". Knott's Berry Farm. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
18. "Fast Lane". Michigan's Adventure. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
19. "Fast Lane". Valleyfair. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
20. "Fast Lane". Worlds of Fun. Retrieved October 25, 2021.

• Cedar Fair