A smooth check-in process sets the tone for an enjoyable experience once guests are inside your haunted attraction. Instead of letting your entry line pile up, use these tips to process guest tickets faster so they can enjoy your haunt.
Use Timed Ticketing
The worst bottlenecks happen when large groups of guests arrive at your haunt at the same time on a busy Saturday night. Spread out the crowds by allowing guests to select their arrival time slot (say 8-9 p.m. or 9-10 p.m.) in advance. Guests will be happy knowing their wait time will be shorter when they arrive, and you’ll be able to better plan for staffing and crowd control.
If a time slot sells out, guests can simply pick a different time or date. You can even incentivize guests to come during slower times & days by offering a lower ticket price for those time slots.
Offer Self Check-In
A virtual queue can be a great solution for haunts to manage guest flow. Your guests actually check themselves in on their mobile devices when they arrive. This automatically adds them to a virtual queue and lets them know they’re “in line.” Until it’s their turn to enter, guests are free to wait in their vehicles, visit the gift shop, roam the midway, or enjoy some concessions.
You decide how many guests you can process at a time, and when one group is completed, the system will automatically notify the next group of guests that it’s their turn.
Want to learn more about virtual queues on HaunPay? Schedule a demo to chat with a haunted attractions expert about how we can help!
Scan Offline
Scanning tickets in the middle of a cornfield can be a challenge. Who hasn’t experienced the struggle of dropped wifi or a lost cell signal?
Look for a ticketing platform, like HauntPay, that offers an offline mode for scanning. We automatically sync your list of tickets purchased with your device whenever the system senses a wifi or mobile data connection. It makes scanning faster (less than 2.5 seconds with HauntPay) and it means that you can continue checking in guests even if you temporarily lose signal.
Add a VIP Entrance
Skip-the-Line or VIP passes are not only a great way to shorten the lines at your haunted attraction, they’re an excellent way to boost your revenue. Guests pay a higher ticket price for expedited entry and possibly upgraded amenities inside the haunt. It’s a win-win!
Bring All Hands on Deck
For many haunts, there’s a rush of people arriving all at the same time, usually around 8-10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. The more people you have scanning guest tickets, the quicker you’ll be able to process that check-in line.
Assign a few extra team members or volunteers to scan tickets during the busiest guest arrival times. With HauntPay, ticket scanning can be completed using any iOS or Android device, and you can assign limited scan-only access to those helping with guest entry. You don’t need any special equipment; your team can use their own mobile phones to help scan, then return to their normal haunt duties once the rush is over.
Separate Check-In from the Box Office
Don’t make guests who have already purchased tickets wait in the same line as those who are buying on site or picking up will-call orders. Make sure your box office is separated from your entry queue and make sure it’s clearly labeled so that guests who already have tickets don’t mistakenly wait in the wrong line.
Post Clear Signage
Information is power, and arming guests with the information they need to check into your haunt gives them the power to make that process easier on themselves. Use simple, easy-to-read signage near your attraction entrances to communicate with guests. Let them know there are multiple entrances, and clearly label the VIP vs. general admission lines. Ask them to have their tickets ready to scan. Is there a bag check? An ID check? Let them know so they can be ready when they get to the front of the line.