Huge Viper Improvements

[Danhockey04]

Two big things that I saw at Viper

1. Viper now has Fastlane, it is up the exit of HH.

2. This is the big one, for all of you that complain about Viper's station. It has a GROUPER!!! The fastlane guy groups Viper's station!

[GamRCFreak]

It's about time. I would spend 5 min getting into that station and 45 waiting to get on the ride. This has been needed for a while.

[Coasterchick92]

I have a question, i just dont want to get the wrong impression. I kinda know, but what EXACTLY is a grouper (i just want to specify) is it where they group you before you get into the station? I just want to know if i right or wrong. Thanks

[Maggie&meSFGAm?]

There job is to put people together, and kind of group people together. If there's a single person, they will try to put someone else with them.

However, there "real" job is to stop people so the station doesn't get overwhelming such as on Viper. In the end though, as I've said before groupers aren't a great option. You have to hire an extra person (except if you are using someone as a fastlane person), they usually force people into rows, and they aren't always perfect. There have been times that I've seen empty rows (that weren't broke) on trains with groupers present.

Let's say that the grouper is the only option for some of these rides. Why not let two trains of people in the station at a time? People can pick there own row, and will eventually fill up all rows. There are some impatient people that will pick any row just to get on. The groupers don't have to work as hard assigning people, and the people don't get forced into a row they don't want to. The other thing is that with three or four people for each row, the station will not be overbearing.

[LAFFfan4lyfe]

i like the improvements. I know that viper's station can be really crazy, and stuff, so it's great they've got a grouper. Sometimes it just takes forever to get though that station.

[m-force 4 ever]

yep the viper station can get pretty crazy. Iam glad they got a grouper, should make it easier to get a ton of rides on it this season

[Bob O]

Having someone manage the Viper station is excellant and long overdue.
The addition of fastlane is awful news!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And will increase the wait time and make me more determined to spend as little money in the park as possbile.

[DejaVu The Ride]

Actually, the grouper is not right at the entrance to the station and WILL NOT be assigning rows. He/she is 1 train length away from the station and will just let a bunch of people go into the station at once. It worked great.

Fastlane is not yet available for Viper however. It will be soon.

[Aero737]

Good news, the grouper will be much like the V2 grouper, only lets a select amount of people flow into the station every so often.

About the line, How long can it really get now that the switchbacks are closed. I expect to see that line spill out onto the midway on full days.

[Dmrbug]

If you look at photo 5-28-05 (57) in Hurricane Harbor 2005 section of my photos (click my WWW link) that is the grouper for viper.

[Binks Drake]

Yeah, I noticed that yesterday.

[Mr. D.T.]

"Remain seated with your hands and feet inside the car."

"Welcome back! When the train comes to a complete stop, push down on yor harness and exit to your left. Thanks for challenging the Viper, and enjoy the rest of your stay at Six Flags!"

"Welcome to Viper, once you are seated, pull your lapbar as far down as it will go. Remain seated with your hands and feet inside the car, and your head against the headrest. Please secure all personal belongings, including hats and glasses. Enjoy your ride!"

And so on, and so on, and so on.

I'm glad they somehow finally improved the loading inside the station by a 'grouper'. I'm with the rest of you; it took me almost 20 minutes from the time I entered the building to the time I boarded the ride. I thought that was insane.

Don't you get tired of hearing those same words on the speakers over and over and over?

[Raging_Bull]

ha yeah I used to run up the Viper queue thinking wow there is no line this is great and then when I got to the station entrance I hit a roadblock and ended up waiting a half hour inside the station. I'm glad this has been implimented.

[DejaVu The Ride]

I would never wait more than 15 minutes once I was in the station. You just needed to know where to go.

[sfgam]

When I was at the park yesterday, raging bulls fastlane person also acted as a grouper. He would stop the line untill the line into the station got just to the top of the stairs, and then he would let the line go. I think this is pointless because the raging bull station isn't bad at all, and the grouper just made the stairs empty, not the station.

[Dmrbug]

^^ they do that on superman as well. I think its a safety thing not to have people waiting on the stairs. It also makes less of a wait for the speed passes.

[diggerg56]

Not to be picky about terminology but these people aren't really acting as a "grouper" in the true sense of the word. They're doing que management to keep the stations from getting too crowded, not assigning people to rows like they do sometimes on Vu.

As an often single rider I would appreciate an actual "grouper" though. I usually try to find another single or match up with an odd number group to avoid too many empty seats. I try to be conscious about n ot messing up groups that want to ride together. More often than not they ask me to go ahead of them.

[Maggie&meSFGAm?]

When I was at the park yesterday, raging bulls fastlane person also acted as a grouper. He would stop the line untill the line into the station got just to the top of the stairs, and then he would let the line go. I think this is pointless because the raging bull station isn't bad at all, and the grouper just made the stairs empty, not the station.

They are really doing that for three reasons. Yes, these stations can get crowded. For RB station, and SUF you don't need a grouper. It is more for the fastlane people. They block the other line, so the fastlane people can go ahead. The other reason is that people can get injured waiting on stairs. Okay, I'm trying to make an excuse for not letting people on the stairs.

[sixflagsguy5]

Yesterday at the end of the day they were assigning rows for Viper. We ended up gettting a row that I have never tried before that I liked alot more than other seats.

[w00dland]

[little girl voice]omg omg omg![/little girl voice]

Great news, it was what Viper needed.

[twixmix0303]

As an often single rider I would appreciate an actual "grouper" though. I usually try to find another single or match up with an odd number group to avoid too many empty seats. I try to be conscious about not messing up groups that want to ride together. More often than not they ask me to go ahead of them.

Yeah, that's what's nice about four seaters. If there's a group of 3 people about to board, just ride with them (and you're not messing up groups, either). You can almost always skip the entire station, and the conversation is nice if you find someone that is really into coasters.

[chiatrain]

The "grouper" wasn't in the station today, considering the park is still a little understaffed. What made matters worse was that rows 4-6 were blocked off on one train, which only added to the mayhem.