51 replies to this topic

[RedTaff]

Just wondered what people's experiences were of the late-night queing system for Arcadia etc.

We only used it on the Sunday night and it seemed to work well enough. I don't remember stopping once. We just flowed nicely into Arcadia and it was all pretty easy from there...
I can't comment on how it worked on the other nights?

Any bad experiences? Or did it get a general thumbs-up?

[rachmac]

We didn't use it - we saw no headliners on Saturday and went over there early.

The queue was ridiculous on Thursday (we were just going for a wander) but they added a zig-zag after that I think.

And I swear people were queuing on Sunday before the system was in place as security wouldn't let them through early?!**

EDIT: ** - this is my interpretation of what was occurring!

Edited by rachmac, 30 June 2011 - 06:42 PM.

[dingbat2]

I think they should only have used the long route once it was full. On some nights we went straight in having walked the long route to get there, it seems a bit pointless. I think they should have kept the exit routes open until the place was full and once full, then made people use the long route. Just seems very long

[Craigston]

On Thursday the signs said the area was completely shut, Friday and Saturday we left just before the end of the pyramid headliners and got straight in.

I Heard they closed the queue on saturday late on but on sunday some of our party went there (also no prob) but we just went up on the hill to chill.

On the whole From my own experience, a positive move over the railway line shuffle.

[rachmac]

Thursday Arcadia was shut but the others were open initially (I don't know if they shut the other areas later on due to over crowding or not - we were just walking past around 11ish)

[Sketchead]

Only went once and this was before U2 had finished on the Friday and we walked straight in.

[youareagoat]

On the friday went to Arcadia early so missed the queue.

Saturday after the chems we had to use it. It was quite a crush in the beginning as you entered and went through the zig zag bit but in it only took 30mins max. Security where saying it would take 1hr 30m/2hr, lots of people turned round on hearing this and left causing more ball ache. They had closed Arcadia when i there so had to make a

Glad i stayed as i got to see Atomic Drop in Arcadia which was one of my festival highlights. And then Orbital.

It worked.  As long as people don't act all impatient and start barging through.  There is no perfect system to guide at least 50,000 pissed/f**ked/high on life people to the South East corner of the site. Arcadia is now the third biggest stage at the festival.

Its a simple choice between either Pyramid/Other headliner or go early and get in on the rail track. Simple

[LusciousLucy]

 youareagoat, on 30 June 2011 - 08:24 PM, said:

There is no perfect system to guide at least 50,000 pissed/f**ked/high on life people to the South East corner of the site. Arcadia is now the third biggest stage at the festival.

If this is the case, then why was there only 10,000 or less people watching Orbital at 2am? The field can potentially hold up to 40,000!

[jris]

friday strait in longer queue for PGC to get out
sat massive queue. then a women telling all it was closed and to go back to you tents, over the speakers.
sun went early no problem
so if you want to get in go early or when it's pissing down.

[*Stevie B*]

Went Sunday night. Must of of took about an hour to get there, after Beyonce had finished and had food. Didn't have to wait long at all, maybe about 10 minutes or so. Well worth it!!

[halfpint]

Thursday went early doors so didnt use the one way system.  Friday after U2 walked straight in.  Saturday after Chems went up was absolute nightmare, couldnt even tell where the q started and the signs said 120 mins so came away again - wished i'd stuck it out by what has been said of the q afterwards.  Sunday didn't bother.

[Bort]

I hate the idea of the new system. I never had any problems getting in and out last year. Only problem was in 2009 when it was rammed and when I wanted to leave Trash City and go back to my tent, they made me walk through all the other areas to leave.

[geebus]

Seemed as good as any other system we've had.

[krisskross]

the crowd in shangri-la was still massive at 3-4am on saturday.  didnt really experience the queuing though thanks to Lucys planning!

[Ed209]

 LusciousLucy, on 30 June 2011 - 08:26 PM, said:

If this is the case, then why was there only 10,000 or less people watching Orbital at 2am? The field can potentially hold up to 40,000!

the whole late night area capacity is supposed to be kept to 25000 i think, although they can get upto 45000 in there

[Vieuphoria]

It was a cock up. Didn't seem as well planned out as it should have been.

It forced people into holding pens and allowed for the ruder, less decent human beings, to run and push their way in front of people. The gates were easily navigated and changed (I saw loads of people just lifting the gate and walking though. I didn't actually mind the queuing, but I just wish they'd planned it better. That said I don't remember there being a problem last year, so i'm still confused as for the need to change it. I think they should split the late night areas or create more on the other side, as to split the crowd somewhat.

[Ed209]

 Vieuphoria, on 01 July 2011 - 12:13 AM, said:

It was a cock up. Didn't seem as well planned out as it should have been.

It forced people into holding pens and allowed for the ruder, less decent human beings, to run and push their way in front of people. The gates were easily navigated and changed (I saw loads of people just lifting the gate and walking though. I didn't actually mind the queuing, but I just wish they'd planned it better. That said I don't remember there being a problem last year, so i'm still confused as for the need to change it. I think they should split the late night areas or create more on the other side, as to split the crowd somewhat.

they can't. sound pollution problems mean they have to have it there. The neighbours'll get their nickers in a twist otherwise

[Couchy]

Got held up for a bit near some portaloos. The entrance should have been on the railway line, avoiding the "greener" areas that many going to Shangri-La etc aren't bothered with, & on the harder ground.

[Feststation]

Checked it out on the Thursday (half of it open) and then Saturday after last headliners, didn't notice much of a queue and had steady trek towards all the mad stuff. Loved it, gets better each year in my opinion and think one way system is the way to go.

[gooner1990]

I'm actually a bit annoyed at what the signs were saying on saturday night.

Our group (30 of us) gathered together after people had either watched Chemical Brothers, Coldplay or Flogging Molly with the intention of having one big campsite night out, by the time we'd met and got there it said 2 hr queue.

10 people or so said "f**k that" and went off to the dance village, another 5 or so went back to camp and another 15 of us propped up a bar till 3am, before heading off to the Stone Circle for a bit.

From what I heard, there was no 2 hr queue at all? So why were the signs saying this? Me and another mate are pretty big Orbital fans and were pretty pissed off to miss their set, even more so when we heard the queue wasn't a fraction as bad as what we were being told at the entrance to it.