Beware:Platinum Passport Information

[inkkognito]

I purchased platinum passport mainly for the re-ride benefits on Manta. When I bought it the other day, I specifically asked, "I can use this to reride on Manta after the May 22 opening, right?" and they said correct. Later, I called the passholder line to confirm that since I didn't see it on their website. I got the same story: "Yes, it can be used on Manta."

Guess what? I specifically got my butt out of bed early to be one of the first in line so I could ride it a couple times before the line got nuts and of course use my rerides. No dice! I was extremely ticked to say the least, since I would have held off purchasing it. I spoke with Guest Services, plaining I had been reassured twice that it was good for Manta. They admitted they had gotten other complaints, and I will say they gave me a couple of lunch voucher, but I'd rather have gotten my two rerides on Manta since the line was over an hour at that point.

The moral of the story: If you're buying platinum to reride Manta, you CANNOT believe what they say...even if multiple people day it multiple times. Believe me, my butt would NOT have been out of bed at 7:30 on a Sat. morning if I knew that. I wouldn't even have bought the pass yet.

 

[ChrisK]

The ride just opened. I wouldn't expect re-rides right away. All their major attractions have re-rides. You can even re-ride front/back row.

Give it some time, it will come.

 

[inkkognito]

I don't mind waiting. The thing that ticked me was that I asked specifically when I purchased it and then when I called the next day, since I thought there might a delay. Otherwise I would have just bought it later. Oh well, the passholder mornings will placate me somewhat.

 

[twinglesmome]

My understanding is that the ride opens early each day for passport members only until June 30th. Everyone who arrives that early would be a passport member and expect to ride in a timely manner. If re-ride were allowed during this time frame, then I would think there would be passport members who arrived early and then didn't get to use the benefit of arriving early. OP: I would have been happy to be among the first to ride w/o long(er) lines plus receive free lunch vouchers. Look on the bright side: if you had waited to purchase the pass, you would not have been entitled to the early openings.

 

[inkkognito]

The early previews don't start until May 26, so we could have bought it a week later. Oh well, as you said, the lunch was nice. They just need to get their info. straight, as they told me right out that I was not the only one who had complained.

It was a mess this morning with the ride opening too. Pretty much everyone headed to Manta after rope drop; DH and I were second and third in line at the coaster's plastic line barrier, with a mass of humanity behind us. After a few minutes, a worker told everyone, "It's not opening now, and we don't know when it will be." DH and I and the people in front of and behind us continued to wait and he said, "We don't know when it will open, so don't form a line here." There were DOZENS of people in line, and no one was about to leave. He told us the same thing several more times, but no one moved and there were mutters of, "This is all I came here to do. I'm not losing my place" from many. Sure enough, not even ten minutes later it opened. There would have been a lot more majorly POed people if they'd actually listened. Obvious they still need to get it together where Manta is concerned, but I'll forgive them because it's such a majorly awesome coaster.

My understanding is that the ride opens early each day for passport members only until June 30th. Everyone who arrives that early would be a passport member and expect to ride in a timely manner. If re-ride were allowed during this time frame, then I would think there would be passport members who arrived early and then didn't get to use the benefit of arriving early. OP: I would have been happy to be among the first to ride w/o long(er) lines plus receive free lunch vouchers. Look on the bright side: if you had waited to purchase the pass, you would not have been entitled to the early openings.

 

[drenalin'junkie]

I was right behind you Saturday.We rode 3 times with the longest wait of 25 minutes when the sign said 45.Of course the rain helped.
Walked onto front row of Kraken @ 9:45.
Hoping for re-ride privileges by Sept when I can get back.

 

[inkkognito]

I was right behind you Saturday.We rode 3 times with the longest wait of 25 minutes when the sign said 45.Of course the rain helped.
Walked onto front row of Kraken @ 9:45.
Hoping for re-ride privileges by Sept when I can get back.

Front row of Kraken walk-on? Sounds great!!

Our waits were minimal for the two times we rode (no wait the first time since it had just opened, and maybe 20 or 25 mins. the second time). After that the sign said 75 mins. so we opted to feed the dolphins, buy Manta t-shirts, and flee before the rain hit. I figure they'll start the re-rides after the passholder mornings end on June 30.

 

[SandrA9810]

I rode manta a couple weeks ago, 3 times in one day with the longest wait about 30 minutes.

I asked back then about the re-ride, and they said it won't be on manta. I'm assuming for only the first month or so since it's so new. But at sea world the left hand doesn't seem to talk to the right hand. So I wouldn't take anything seriously until talking to some one at the attraction.

 

[RabFlmom]

I purchased platinum passport mainly for the re-ride benefits on Manta. When I bought it the other day, I specifically asked, "I can use this to reride on Manta after the May 22 opening, right?" and they said correct. Later, I called the passholder line to confirm that since I didn't see it on their website. I got the same story: "Yes, it can be used on Manta."

Guess what? I specifically got my butt out of bed early to be one of the first in line so I could ride it a couple times before the line got nuts and of course use my rerides. No dice! I was extremely ticked to say the least, since I would have held off purchasing it. I spoke with Guest Services, plaining I had been reassured twice that it was good for Manta. They admitted they had gotten other complaints, and I will say they gave me a couple of lunch voucher, but I'd rather have gotten my two rerides on Manta since the line was over an hour at that point.


The moral of the story: If you're buying platinum to reride Manta, you CANNOT believe what they say...even if multiple people day it multiple times. Believe me, my butt would NOT have been out of bed at 7:30 on a Sat. morning if I knew that. I wouldn't even have bought the pass yet.

was over an hour at that point.>>>>>>>>>>>



But with that platinum pass you have entry into the park an hour before regular guests to ride Manta from the May 26th to June 30, so you will have many opportunities to ride when the park is not crowded. You get free parking, discounts on food and only pass holders get the option for all day all you can eat plan, free concerts, get to meet and greet and get the best seats when Jack Hanna is there so the annual passes are worth it in my book.
I would guess the ban on reriding is because of the long lines for the new coaster .
I know that if I were standing in line for an hour or 2 and found out they were letting people ride over and over while I waited, I would be upset.
I would also imagine that it will change once the ride has been there 6 months and the lines are more normal.

 

[inkkognito]

I would guess the ban on reriding is because of the long lines for the new coaster .
I know that if I were standing in line for an hour or 2 and found out they were letting people ride over and over while I waited, I would be upset.
I would also imagine that it will change once the ride has been there 6 months and the lines are more normal.

I don't mind the policy itself; the thing that ticked me was that two people gave me misinformation when I asked them very specifically. If we had been given the correct information, we wouldn't have purchased the pass until the passholder mornings started.

 

[geliebter2]

We were given the same information at Passholder Guest Services that Manta would allow rerides for Platinum passholders. I had my doubts when I didn't see any signs posted on Manta, and confirmed when we were very rudely told no by a certain cast member. We pretty much get nasty comments from guests in line every time we've used reride at Sea World and Busch, but it's really no different than paying for QuickQueue. I find it quite funny that people complain so much when they didn't bother to pay for the priviledge.

 

[inkkognito]

I'm sorry to hear that they're still giving incorrect information. Guest Services assured me that they would make sure everyone was on the same page with the same information (ha!). I know what you mean about other guests getting rather miffed by platinums. We've only used ours a couple of times so far, on Kraken, and the comments are downright nasty. It doesn't bother me a bit tho'; if they want to pony up a few hundred bucks, they can have the same privilege.