Merlin plans to let Ride Access Pass guests wait for rides through an app at its UK resort theme parks. The first phase is due to begin at Alton Towers toward the end of 2026, followed by a wider rollout in 2027.
Guests will choose a ride in the app and receive a return time based on the standard queue. They can wait in a quieter or more accessible part of the park. As their turn approaches, the app will notify them to head to the ride, where a host will help them enter through the designated Ride Access Pass entrance.
The change will replace Merlin’s current “reverse queue” system once fully rolled out. Under that system, guests ride first and wait before joining another ride. Merlin says Ride Access Pass eligibility will stay the same, and guests can still bring up to three companions.
Merlin expects full implementation ahead of the peak summer season in 2027. It also intends to phase out advance Ride Access Pass slot bookings over time, after the new system has proved effective.
Source: Merlin Entertainments’ Ride Access Pass announcement.