Some thoughts on elite privileges, from Megan McArdle (who is now blogging at Bloomberg).
As someone who fast passed at California Adventure on Monday (without paying extra, I might add), I didn’t notice this phenomenon. But perhaps it’s different, because they aren’t rationing by price, but instead by first-come, first served.
I’ll gladly play Devil’s Advocate on this topic.
There have been times in my life, where I had the ability to live quite high on the hog. There was also a time where, but not FROM that previous living, I wound up in bankruptcy court. At the times where I had the wherewithal to live large, I was hardly an ‘elite’. And even in tight economic madness like we currently have, I don’t see getting a front of the line pass at a theme park, as making someone a member of America’s elite.
In the 21st Century, I don’t think most of the ‘elites’ are the hard core. evil, Conservative business people we’re most often told are our problem. Most of them seem to be the Kerry / Gore / Soros / Gates Progressive, Tree Hugger crowd.
And they’re WAY too important and busy telling us that WE are the problem, to do something as plebian as spending the day riding the vomit comets!
Disney is actually in the middle of changing its Fast Pass service, with the first round of testing having just completed. The basic change is that you only get three a day – and you reserve them in advance! Up to sixty days in advance.
Details may change as they figure out what works and what doesn’t, but it seems to be pointed at the major vacation crowd, letting them plan their days out, and at the expense of the day-trippers and those of us who prefer to just wing it.
Honestly, I have never been a fan of Fast Pass, in either form. I prefer to out-maneuver the crowd, bend like a reed in the wind and all that. Fast Pass takes all the fun out of being too smart to wait in long lines.
Why don’t they just sell Time tickets to some of the rides. Essentially have
a line for those who want to take advantage of opportunity but also sell
time stamped tickets.
When the Tut Exhibit came through town, the museum sold time stamped tickets. you paid the same price but, it had a time to arrive at the exhibit hallway.
Disney could sell half the rides with a time ticket and let the other half go to the Line. That way those who wish to plan an outing could buy a reasonable path through the rides and those who wish to daytrip, well they pick a line and go with it.
add a minor processing charge, and there you go.
I thought the article was about more than easy access to theme park rides. It was about a whole class of people who seem to be cutting in line in all sorts of areas. The connected flaunt laws with abandon while wanting to make the rest of us criminals for doing the most harmless of things.
“Oh, it’s only a short line, we don’t need to make use of the fast pass”. What a crazy person.
The few times I’ve had the fast pass I’ve always used it and I’ve never had anyone give me sour looks. The looks I have gotten is a judgement of “sucker”. People simply don’t see the value of the fast pass, and that’s why they don’t buy it. They like standing in line.
Then there is Asiana airlines, where you can pay for a business class ticket and get a 3-point “shoulder belt” so you can walk away if someone crumps your airplane. The same kind of belt you get in a general aviation (typically single-engine) aircraft. Or the government mandates in your car.
Or you can save considerable coin and go with Economy class with a simple lap seatbelt. And risk getting disabled or worse from spinal fractures in the rare event that cockpit crew comes in low on the “meatball”, you know, taxi to the Number 1 Wire in Navy parlance.
At least on Asiana you get a Libertarian “economic choice” of paying a large amount of money as protection against the rare eventually of your airplane getting crumped. (A crash that does not result in total destruction of the craft in the industry is known as a “crump”). Am I correct that U.S. flag carrier don’t offer the option of better seatbelts?
Upgrade to Coach Plus on Smelta! For an extra 40 dollar fee charged to your credit card, you too can avoid the rare possibility of ending this flight with permanent disability!
In Italy you can call head and reserve (free) your admission times to the great museums. Arrive and walk in while most tourists wait 1-2 hours. Thanks Rick Steves, you Obama tool!
I bought a scheduled time pass for “Bodies: The Exhibition” online when it came through Dallas. They were queuing up people who just walked in and bought a ticket into separate holding pens like cattle. There was like a 45 minute wait or something like that. But I just showed up at my allotted time and they just let me go right in past all the other people standing around. It was great.
I wanted to take my lady to that show when it came through town, but scehduling and otehr issues intervened. Hope you had a good time.