Things to know - What: Flash Pass virtual line program eliminates waiting in long lines for popular rides.
- Cost: varies by park. The per-person price generally drops with additional guests for the Q-bot program.
- Where: Click here for participating Six Flags parks.
Waiting and waiting (and waiting) in rat-maze lines is as much a part of the theme park experience as riding roller coasters. Enduring 90 minutes of inching along in stanchion hell is the price you must pay for 2 minutes of coaster heaven. Or is it?
Parks have been introducing programs to alleviate the bottlenecks and move people out of lines. Six Flags' version, called Flash Pass, is actually two programs with the same name. Depending on the park, guests can either purchase low-tech, go-to-the-head-of-the-line paper tickets or a high-tech, electronic "Q-bot" device. In either case, if a park is crowded, Flash Pass may be the way to go.
Flash Pass Q-bot gets you out of the queue
Essentially retrofitted beepers, Q-bots are like virtual placeholders. They calculate the amount of time you would have waited in line, then vibrate and flash a text message when it's time to report to the ride--while you're off doing other things.
Six Flags says that the Q-bot version of Flash Pass is fair because guests using the device wait the same amount of time as the Q-bot-nots; they just don't have to suffer in infernal lines. While the explanation sounds convincing, it still feels as if you are pulling a fast one when you sashay up the special Flash Pass entrance and walk past the huddled masses to the front of the line. Having said that, it's incredibly satisfying to skip a one- or two-hour queue and hop aboard a popular attraction.
More Flash Pass Info:
Next page: Does Flash Pass work? Is it worth it?
Participating Six Flags Parks
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