Actually they are cool with it. Me and one other guy request the slow windows, everyone else hates them. He does consulting for restaurants, working up business plans and processes.
Off-topic, but is there a reason they don't use ski-lift-ticket vending machines, at least at the slow windows where the per-ticket labor cost of manual vending must undoubtedly be rather high? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alta_Ski_Area#Recent_developmen...
Eventually, users will be able to track their vertical and lift ride data online and purchase Alta Cards using "ticket vending machines".
We do have them, but a lot of people either don't notice them or would prefer to buy from a person. We also sell lesson packages, redeem special discount vouchers, do will-call, and answer questions.
However, I do wonder sometimes if the offsite windows are economical.
Based on what you said in that first paragraph, I predict that in five years the average ski resort will have less than half as many employees as it does today. People may tend to prefer to deal with in-person people, but this competes against the value provided by automation and tele-help (e.g. questions can be routed to centralized, inexpensive call-centers).