Knott's Berry Farm

[Jake S]

Haha...don't go to Orlando then. Every single park out there has a locker policy. I was wondering how long until it made it's way here.

The lockers at the Orlando parks are free.

 

[Southerncoasterer]

The lockers at the Orlando parks are free.

I should have said Florida as I was just at Busch Gardens and they were not free. It will be the same here, Universal and Disney will include amenities in the admission price, while others you will have to pay. That's just the way the industry is going.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Lol

Its also funny that locals are what keep the park alive and they will be the most effected by this....

 

[Clive]

I should have said Florida as I was just at Busch Gardens and they were not free. It will be the same here, Universal and Disney will include amenities in the admission price, while others you will have to pay. That's just the way the industry is going.

Okay, it's terrible there, and it's terrible here, too. The industry doesn't have to go this way, but if they want to make their parks unpleasant places to be (and reduce their overall guest satisfaction and retention in the process), that's their right, I guess.

 

[Southerncoasterer]

I'm mixed on it honestly. I think they should be free for a period of time it takes to ride the attraction, or cost for the entire day.

 

[deadbydawn]

I'm mixed on it honestly. I think they should be free for a period of time it takes to ride the attraction, or cost for the entire day.

I don't necessarily think anyone is against the idea of ride lockers. They should be the same as other local parks and be free for a certain period of time, though.

I am curious how the messaging on this will be done once the lockers are ready. The cubby system has been in use for a quite a while, and is what most returning guests and locals are going to expect. Having an updated (and safer) system is great, but being required to either pay, split your party, or skip the ride entirely isn't going to go over well with people - especially with how popular these specific rides are.

 

[Clive]

I don't necessarily think anyone is against the idea of ride lockers. They should be the same as other local parks and be free for a certain period of time, though.

I am curious how the messaging on this will be done once the lockers are ready. The cubby system has been in use for a quite a while, and is what most returning guests and locals are going to expect. Having an updated (and safer) system is great, but being required to either pay, split your party, or skip the ride entirely isn't going to go over well with people - especially with how popular these specific rides are.

When you're required to pay (and the cost is exorbitant), you're going to get a combination of people who sneak loose articles onto the ride (which creates more safety hazards like phones flying) or disruptions at the station that slows down operations (people arriving with loose articles, arguing with employees, and then having to go back down and presumably loop back up).

You also have Knott's constantly giving everyone large objects that can't fit in a pocket, like the refillable cups.

It's a lose-lose for everyone. You'll only get regular compliance if the lockers are free and easy to use.

 

[Rideguy70]

I know this is Knott's, not Cedar Point, but since I was just there this past summer (and it seems like the way they're handling things is trending to how Knott's is/will/may do things), I can add:

Certain rides at CP (SV, TT2, and Siren's Curse) not only required lockers, but metal detectors. They also did not allow anything in pockets, even if the pockets had a zipper or other closure. I was nearly sent back to the lockers for a single chapstick in a zippered pocket. They did allow glasses with straps.

Other CP rides (MF, Raptor) required lockers only for items that didn't fit in pockets.

And then oddly, Maverick--one of the wilder, more aggressive rides they have--had no locker requirement at all, and totally allowed people to bring up stuff and put it on the side.

So while the majority of rides required lockers, specific policies varied from ride to ride. We didn't ride Rougaru, Valravn, or Gatekeeper, so not sure what their polices were, but I think it was required lockers for the latter two. It was a bit of a mess to not know what to expect.

So... good times likely ahead for Knott's as they navigate this.