The return of theme parks does not mean a return to the ways things worked in them before. Theme parks around the world are planning new operating procedures for when they reopen, in an attempt to welcome guests safely during the ongoing pandemic.
Since the risk of contracting the virus increases the longer that people are in close proximity with one another, many theme parks are looking to virtual queuing as one way to keep visitors from having to spend long periods in cramped spaces that were not designed for social distancing. Today, industry technology provider Accesso announced that Holiday World will use its LoQueue virtual queue service when the park returns next month.
"The health and safety of our guests is our top priority as we plan for our opening day on June 14. Partnering with Accesso to provide virtual queuing for all our theme park attractions means our guests can maintain social distancing and have a more enjoyable visit," Holiday World CEO Matt Eckert said. "We can't wait to see our guests again, and virtual queuing will help us welcome them back in the safest way possible."
Holiday World guests will be able to enter the park's new virtual queues via their mobile devices. The system will send guests a notification when it's time to ride, then ride attendants will scan the QR code on the guests' devices to admit them to the attraction.
"Our decades of virtual queuing innovation and the relationships we have built with theme parks and attractions around the globe provides Accesso with a unique opportunity to help Holiday World and the broader leisure industry welcome loyal visitors back again," Accesso CEO Steve Brown said.
Accesso previously announced that Walibi Holland in The Netherlands will use its virtual queuing tool when that park reopens on May 25.
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I understand why parks may feel the need to do this in the short term, but I really, really hope it doesn't become the norm. I hate having to take my phone into a park, hate having to be tied to it, and don't want to have to plan every moment of my day. It's why I avoid Disney these days (a trip there is more work than fun now), and one of the reasons why I've never ridden the Jimmy Fallon ride at USO (that and the fact I couldn't care less about Jimmy Fallon...).
I know that to most people this isn't a big deal, but I'm just one of the few people who doesn't feel the need to carry my phone everywhere and would rather not... And I also admit that I've been very spoiled by years of unlimited express at USO when staying onsite.
When it's all said and done, I'll be happy to just go to a park again, but I hope it's not in some dystopian new reality :-(
Dear Holiday World,
Please please please please please buy one of the international destination brand parks. Your customer friendly policies will be a welcome change to the industry
Love
International travellers.
Re: Melanie Howe
I can see the paper Express pass at Universal studios being replaced by something like a QR code on your phone in the name of hygiene and sanitation.
Well it's either that or introduce an improved version of Tapu Tapu for the parks in lieu of paper passes
The free sodas have to go for the time being, both at Holiday World & Lake Compounce. It's been about six weeks since Wawa stopped allowing customers to pour their own coffee and this was clearly a wise move. I'm not happy about the fact that the nearest Whole Foods has moved almost exclusively to self checkout but at least employees are wiping down the kiosks after every customer. There's no way that Holiday World would be able to exercise that degree of control.
Great job holiday world on implementing a virtual line system to help with social distancing. I could see them staffing their free walk up drink locations and having a staff member get you drink for you.
Robert I would also like to personally thank you for the article you post the other day on assessing you risk in different situations. That has been a BIG help to me and my family moving forward.
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The main problem being left out here is whether Holiday World will do anything to limit the park's capacity or any changes to attraction operations and/or existing park policies (like the free self-serve soda fountains, which is a HUGE differrentiator of the park over its competitors). It's one thing to keep people from crowding in ride queues, but LoQueue doesn't do anything to manage the distribution of guests around the park and along narrow pathways, of which Holiday World has many. In fact virtual queues increase the number of guests walking around since there are fewer people standing in physical lines. Perhaps Holiday World is instituting other policies that guests won't see (like limiting ticket sales and keeping careful watch on overcrowding on pathways), but LoQueue only impacts one small aspect of park operations that will need to change to address coronavirus concerns.