AIBU to get my DD a fast track pass for a school trip to a theme park?

[Coconutmeg]

She's so excited to go, never been before, she's a bit of a thrill seeker and watches ride POVs on YouTube etc. I can't do spinning etc at all anymore. This is her opportunity to get on some rides with her friend.
Her friend has asked if she can get a fast track pass as her mum has said she can get one.
I am thinking of saying yes. But I'm uncomfortable about if that then becomes a bit of a haves and have nots with it being with the school trip.

The people saying you should say no so she learns the art of patience are complete fun sponges! I'm a teacher and I regularly take trips to Thorpe Park. At this time of year it is very, very busy (even on weekdays) because every year 11 and 13 student in the country is on their summer holidays. So I would definitely get her the fast track if it's a possibility, or there's a good chance she'll only get on two or three rides all day.

My daughter has just been to Drayton Manor, and they are basically left to their own devices.
If it's just her and her mate who will be going round together and they both have one, I don't see the issue. A larger group of friends with only 2 having a fast pass, then I'd say no.

Not with 7s and 8s. They'll turn feral at best, but at worst, that's exactly how kids have horrific accidents in theme parks.

That was our experience at that age. Check in point and time around lunch time is then dial one at the end of the day.

One member of staff at a central base all day for other issues outside those times. Often a cafe area.

May not be allowed to just be in pairs though. Often it's a group of 4.

Her friend is getting one so she wouldn't be in her own.

I works, however, recommend for those without one to use single rider if it's available as that can shorten the queue a fair amount on some styles of rides.

Yes I would

If I ran a school I wouldn’t do a trip like this at the end of term, as the parks are rammed and poor value. But if I did there is no way I’d permit the purchase of fast passes, not a chance. I’d have it as a condition of being allowed on the trip.

Imagine - a parent struggling financially (like many these days) who has stretched to coach and entry only to be told by their kid that everyone else in their friendship group is getting a fast pass. So parent shells out more - and the fast passes are generally more than the trip itself - or their child spends the day without their friends. Absolutely not. I cannot believe schools allow this.

I don’t think a school is the time or the place for this imo.

You never pay for priority boarding at an airport then? Or a nicer hotel room? Or first/business class on a train?

No to the first and third. I've never understood paying to sit for longer on a plane.

And the second... Me having a nice hotel room doesn't mean someone else's gets worse. Theirs is the same. But if you get a fast pass, someone else waits longer. That's why it's different, and shitty.

Personally I think your thoughts on haves vs have nots is correct- it’s going to split groups

My experience of school theme park trips is you all just go and do your own thing and can be groups of whatever size you want

I would hope that schools expressly don't allow this.

To have kids queuing for a ride, watching their classmates with more money go past them isn't really what school trips should be about.

As for kids from families with less money learning that life isn't fair, they already know. They don't need reminding if it on what should be a fun day. And what exactly is it they'd be learning anyway, where their place is?

The last time I was at Alton Towers I went on a motorbike with a group of other bikers. It was a long time ago though.

It's amazing how many people will say, "do you want to go in front?" to a group of hairy people in leather.

I don't think year 7 and 8 could pull off the biker gear though.

Sorry useless post but it brought back good memories.

Ah, theme park communism. Who knew?

Fast pass is stark ‘haves and have nots’: a shit dynamic for a school trip.

I think definitely speak to school to find out what the grouping arrangements are - if her and her friend are allowed in a pair and if school are ok with it I guess it’s up to you, but if there’s a chance they’ll be allocated to a group with students who don’t have fast passes, it would cause problems (say they were put in a 3 with someone without a fast pass).

Just get it. She may not be permitted to use it but hey you tried, right. And dd can take any repercussions on the day

I 100% would

On a school trip - absolutely not.

Not for a school trip. If your DD was just going with friend and her parents, then yes.