Analysis of queue management in theme parks introducing the fast pass system

Area of Science:

• Operations Research
• Tourism Management
• Behavioral Economics

Background:

• Long wait times significantly detract from the theme park visitor experience.
• Improving tourist satisfaction is a critical challenge for theme park operators.
• Effective queue management strategies are essential for theme park success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a queueing model for theme parks incorporating a Fast Pass system.
• To derive an optimal pricing strategy for the Fast Pass system based on profit maximization.
• To analyze the impact of the Fast Pass system on tourist satisfaction and park profitability.

Main Methods:

• Development of a mathematical queueing model for theme parks with heterogeneous tourists.
• Integration of tourist satisfaction (travel utility) into the objective function.
• Analysis of equilibrium outcomes under profit maximization for the Fast Pass system.

Main Results:

• The Fast Pass system, when optimized for profit, can simultaneously improve tourist satisfaction and theme park profits.
• The model demonstrates that a profit-maximizing Fast Pass strategy leads to a more acceptable outcome for operators.
• Shanghai Disney theme park serves as a case study for the model's application.

Conclusions:

• Implementing a strategically priced Fast Pass system is a viable solution for balancing visitor satisfaction and operational profitability.
• The developed queueing model provides a framework for optimizing theme park operations.
• This approach offers a mutually beneficial outcome for both tourists and theme park management.