That's one of the classic debates among theme park fans. At least, it's a debate among people who haven't yet gone it alone to a park. I visit Disneyland and other theme parks solo all the time, and I actually find it way more convenient to visit on my own: it's faster and easier to walk through crowds, there's no debate over what to do next, and those single rider lines help me skip a lot of wait time.
But this is a discovery that each theme park must make on his or her own. And that's the topic of a new short film I just watched — Single Rider.
Create by college film student Kace Colwell, Single Rider lured me with a clever set-up that actually made me laugh at a couple's break-up. (You'll understand when you watch it.) From there, the film lays out a blend of fictional narrative and video travel blog that plays like a love letter to Disneyland.
"I went through a rough breakup last year, had recently moved to California, and didn't know a ton of people here, so it was great to have Disneyland nearby to escape from reality," Kace told me in an email. As a film student, Kace shot the movie guerrilla-style between September an December of last year.
"I'm used to working on student films in a somewhat controlled environment, so this was kind of a different experience, but at the same time I've been making short dumb YouTube videos out in public for years, so making Single Rider was really just taking skills I picked up filming those and attempting to take them to the next level," Kace said.
The video says it's "Episode 1," and Kace is waiting to gauge reaction before committing to episode 2.
"If there's enough interest, I would love to make more episodes of the show. Now that I know more people interested in filmmaking I think I have the potential to make something more cinematic; I'm just not sure if I want to go to the trouble of filming a narrative short at a theme park again unless a fair amount of people will watch it," Kace said. "Otherwise, I have my sights set on a surreal sci-fi short about social media."
Tweet
I agree...too many people is like herding cats. You never get anything done.
In a perfect themepark world you would have to sign a waiver and wear a wristband that indicates that you understand the purpose of the single rider line and will abide by the rules for it. I'm not sure if it would completely eliminate this behavior, but providing extra steps that a person would have to do in order to become a single rider might negate the extreme scenarios of it.
It sounds ridiculous, but for anyone like me that has tried to ride Gringotts or Hannah Montana's Rock'n Roller Coaster by themselves in the single rider line becomes frustrated when they see the line consists mainly of groups and families all attempting to one-up the regular line wait time. Instead they have only accomplished driving up the wait in the single rider line and have made the wait longer for themselves as well.
I appreciate having the option to use the single rider line when I'm traveling alone. When it is being used the right way it's great. Seats that would normally be empty are filled. I've noticed the last couple of years in Orlando that both Universal and Disney's single lines are being populated more by folks trying to game the system (and complain and get their way to ride together) rather than people that are truly on their own.
In fact, that's a great thing when you're on your own, more time to really enjoy the park around you, the details, the environment and such. I notice things on my own I don't when around a group and makes me admire the detail Disney or Universal puts in. Plus, the sheer convenience of being able to slip into a line much easier.
So yeah, love going with family but really, being on your own does help you appreciate the parks even more.
This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.
