Flash Pass Question

[1way7]

Will someone please explain to me how the flash pass works? I saw on the website that there are three choices. One of them says the wait time is equal to the current wait time, the second one (gold) cuts the wait time up to 50%, and the third (platinum) up to 90%. Is there a separate line that you would go into once your reserve time comes up (similar to Disney World's fast pass line for those that have been there)? If that is the case, is it where for the gold FP, if the normal wait time was 60 minutes, then your wait time would be 30 minutes, and then for the platinum, your wait time would be about 5 minutes?

The flash passes would be for my wife and me, as our two children do not like to ride most roller coasters. While it sounds as if we got the platinum FP, we could basically ride with almost no wait, if we got the regular FP, we thought we could let the kids ride other rides while we wait for our reserve time. We are trying to decide if it is work the extra money to get the gold or platimum.

[GreatAmerica1995]

Which flash pass you get (if you get one at all) depends on two things:

-The crowd at the park on the day you're visiting
-Your tolerance for long lines. Some people don't mind a half hour wait; some would go crazy with a half hour wait.

The flash pass is a handheld device that gives you a choice of ride times. Let's say you pick up your flash pass at 11:00am. Your flash pass might have the following options:

Demon 11:05
Eagle 11:06
X-Flight 11:45
Raging Bull 11:30
and so on and so on.

Your family might say "let's do the Demon since it's right here." Or they might say "Let's go on X Flight. That's a newer one" Whichever one you decide, you click the button to reserve it. Let's say you chose X Flight. You would have from 11am to 11:45 to get to the ride. You can sit, eat, play games, or even ride a ride with a shorter line.

When you get to the ride, look for the flash pass entrance. Most often, it is through the exit. Sometimes, it is through the entrance, but just on the other side of a silver handrail, like Xflight and Demon.

Your descriptions of the different passes are accurate. But remember with Platinum, not only do you wait only 10% of the time, you also get to stay on and ride TWICE. (for most rides)

[Foltzy]

Which flash pass you get (if you get one at all) depends on two things:

-The crowd at the park on the day you're visiting
-Your tolerance for long lines. Some people don't mind a half hour wait; some would go crazy with a half hour wait.

The flash pass is a handheld device that gives you a choice of ride times. Let's say you pick up your flash pass at 11:00am. Your flash pass might have the following options:

Demon 11:05
Eagle 11:06
X-Flight 11:45
Raging Bull 11:30
and so on and so on.

Your family might say "let's do the Demon since it's right here." Or they might say "Let's go on X Flight. That's a newer one" Whichever one you decide, you click the button to reserve it. Let's say you chose X Flight. You would have from 11am to 11:45 to get to the ride. You can sit, eat, play games, or even ride a ride with a shorter line.

When you get to the ride, look for the flash pass entrance. Most often, it is through the exit. Sometimes, it is through the entrance, but just on the other side of a silver handrail, like Xflight and Demon.

Your descriptions of the different passes are accurate. But remember with Platinum, not only do you wait only 10% of the time, you also get to stay on and ride TWICE. (for most rides)

Platinum is by far the best deal. You should wait for 1st row.
1. Because your wait from when you first make your reservations to the time it takes you go to get to the station for many rides is like 15-25 minutes.
2. You get the front row twice
3. The look on the peoples face in line to go on is priceless

[sfgam-fan]

That's the first I've heard about the Platinum flash pass. Getting to ride two times in a row is crazy.

The website says that prices for the passes vary day to day based on the crowds. Does anyone know what the prices are for each one on a typical day?

[anewman35]

3. The look on the peoples face in line to go on is priceless

Sure, if you like people hating you.

[CoasterCale]

That's the first I've heard about the Platinum flash pass. Getting to ride two times in a row is crazy.

The website says that prices for the passes vary day to day based on the crowds. Does anyone know what the prices are for each one on a typical day?

On most Saturdays, which should be as high as it gets; Regular-$45 Gold-$70 Platnium-$110

[Foltzy]

3. The look on the peoples face in line to go on is priceless

Sure, if you like people hating you.

But when will they ever see you again?

[GreatAmerica1995]

Lol you guys are reminding me about a time 3 summers ago when my friends and I got platinum passes. We pulled into the Raging Bull station after our first ride, and sat there waiting for our 2nd ride while the people waiting for our row glared at us, not sure how to start this confrontation. We told them we had platinum passes, and the teenage girl behind the airgate said "I hate you!" So my friend said, "don't hate us, hate your poor parents!" And her mouth dropped. It was so rude yet so funny.

Rarely, the ride operator will tell the people in line that they will have to wait because there's a platinum pass person riding again. But most often, there's a tense standoff between guests, and platinum pass holders earnestly trying to explain the situation to the agitated person trying to get in their seat.

Just last week on Viper, I was with a group of 6 and we had painstakingly arranged with another group of 6 to be in the same train. Then wouldn't you know it: a platinum pass duo pull into the station. By the time we realized it, half of the group was already buckled in.

[xcheetaht]

I have a question.
I will buy a gold flash pass for my best friend. I'm just wondering how long can we wait for our reservation time? It will be our first time.

Please tell me what's the difference between regular and gold flash passes? Explanation, please. Thank you so much!

[super7]

You will still have to wait in some kind of a line at Great America with any Flash Pass other than the double rides on the Platinum. The Flash Pass merges with the regular lines well before the airgates, so there is still a several train wait behind all of the people already in the airgates.

Your only difference in the levels of Flash Pass (other than the double rides on teh Platinum) is the time that the Flash Pass tells you to come to the ride.

My experience at Great America was that there are so many other rides there, that the regular Flash Pass worked for me. I went on the last Friday in June and wait times on most rides were 15-40 minutes. The regular Flash Pass told me to come to the ride 15-40 minutes after i asked for it, so I did other things in the meantime.

If you only want to ride the Flash Pass rides, the gold or platinum might work better. They say you can only get on Goliath once a day with the Platinum.

[stockboy300]

They should sell single ride flash passes. I'd pay $5 for a single ride.

[Jodon]

Kings Island does something really smart in front of all of their major rides. They have a $5/spin game wheel (think a vertical wheel of fortune). On the wheel are buy one get one free coupons for popcorn, games and some other stuff that no one wants, but two of the wedges have 2 "exit line" passes for any ride where they typically use the Fast Lane entrance.

It creates a buzz by the entrance for the ride, creates easy money for the park, and let's people skip the lines for a nominal fee.

I'm kind of surprised that SFGAm hasn't started this "game," but I wonder if it has something to do with Q-Bot and a non compete or something like that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Carlo]

Cedar Point has a similar game and I played it and I won the grand prize which was a 4 pack exit passes. There game is Plinko like they play on Price is Right.

[GreatAmerica1995]

It seemed like last year the exit passes were getting out of hand. Especially at X-Flight. Every time I went on it, when I was 3 or 4 trains away from getting on, there would be a flood of people coming in the exit and they would all be accommodated and given their choice of seats. Sooooo many people doing that last year.

Last summer at Magic Mountain, my nephew and I paid 30 dollars to cut the line for X2, which was totally totally worth it. But that 30 dollars was on top of the money we already spent on a general flash pass.