EAS September 2008 1

Lo-Q plc - World Leaders in Virtual QueuingLo-Q plc - World Leaders in Virtual Queuing

management of queue-management of queue-lines in theme parkslines in theme parks

Leonard Sim

Lo-Q plc

September 30th 2008

EAS September 2008

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AgendaAgenda

1. Queuing basics

2. Queuing currencies

3. Passes and reservations

4. Virtual queuing secrets

5. Q-bot park experiences

6. Vision - a park with no queue lines?

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Theme Park Queuing Theme Park Queuing BasicsBasics

Queues are a perfect self-regulating system

Queues show supply and demand in action

Parks cannot provide unlimited capacity

Leisure time is precious, but queues build anticipation

Queues measure ride value and park success

Tolerance of queue wait is proportional to ride attractiveness

A queue length near the tolerance level diminishes the ride

Guests don’t join lines beyond their tolerance level

Tolerance of waiting has fallen

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Two Currencies in Theme Two Currencies in Theme ParksParks

Money

Guest have a wide spread of disposable income

Many will pay for freedom from queue line imprisonment

Time

Spending precious time in long queues is poor value

Most guests want a mix of thrills and leisure

Hard time or easy time?

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Passes and Reservations Passes and Reservations 11

Front of line - paperUniversal, Busch, Tussauds

Six Flags in 2003

Front of line – magnetic ticketDisney Fast Pass from 1999

Developed from DDS/Alton

Q-bot virtual queuingTrials televised July 1998

Six Flags, Dollywood, Legoland …..

Patent dated 1995

Guest pays a fee

Free to guest?

Guest pays a fee

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Issues with PassesIssues with Passes

Front of line passes

Cause two tier resentment and operating difficulties

Parks limit the number of passes to control disruption

Fast Pass

Can be all gone early on a busy day on major rides

Moves wait time on a major ride to other rides

Guests don’t join lines beyond their tolerance level

Can mean extra walking for guests

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True Virtual Queuing True Virtual Queuing

Fair to all guests

All guests wait the same time

Reservations are available all day

Availability of all rides is the same for all guests

Can extend to 100% of guests

The Q-bot

Reservations made anywhere in the park

All ride times shown on the Q-bot screen

Shared by groups up to 6

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Virtual Queuing SecretsVirtual Queuing Secrets

Measurements, predictions

Queue lengths (people or time)

Real time ride throughput data

Collection of real time data

Communication of ride times

Screens, print outs

PDAs and mobile phones

Q-bots - friendly, simple, robust

y = 1.4118x - 8251.5

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Q-bot ExperiencesQ-bot Experiences

Q-bots produce $millions

Payback within first season

High revenue source

High per capita

average is well over $1

Park commitment is key

Signage, staff, ride access

Operational experience

Lo-Q has over 30 park years

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Six FlagsSix Flags

In operation since 2001

First with Six Flags Over Georgia

9 parks using Q-bot

Over 3,000,000 guests have used the Q-bot

Gold service brings a large upper in price

Gold service is like renting three Q-bots

Q-bot demand as Six Flags Great Adventure opens

EAS September 2008

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DollywoodDollywood

Now in second year

9 month long season, wide demographic

Show reservations

Q-bot gives access to the reservation kiosk

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LEGOLANDLEGOLAND®®

Started March 2008

Almost all of the medium and large rides on Q-bot

Young children focus

Very low tolerance of queue lines

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A Park With No Queue A Park With No Queue Lines?Lines?

Is there a technological solution?

Yes – VQ2020

Can the parks cope?

Where do the guests go? What do guests do?

What are the benefits?

Longer more relaxed stays; Shorter, more active stay

Parks can compete with emerging attractions

Interaction and communication with guests

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Lo-Q plcLo-Q plc

Lo-Q, with offices in USA and UK, has supplied patent protected systems to the theme park industry since 2001

Its customers include: - Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags Over Texas, Six Flags Great Adventure, Six Flags New England, Six Flags St Louis, Dollywood, Six Flags Great America, La Ronde, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, LEGOLAND, Madame Tussauds, London Dungeon

HEADQUARTERS

Lo-Q plcThe Smith Centre, Fairmile

Henley-on-Thames, OxfordshireRG9 6AB, UK

www.Lo-Q.com +(44) 1491 577 210