2012 Hopeful - Questions

Hi everyone! I plan on applying for the 2012 season as a new employee but I had a few questions. Well, two actually. First, I won't be 18 when I fill out my application but I will be 18 by the time I start working, so what do I do about housing? Will the application still allow you to choose housing even if I'm not 18 when I apply? Second, when I was at CP over the summer one of the ride ops said that if I wanted to get a coaster I should tell the interviewer I don't like working with kids and that way I'd avoid a children's area. Is this true or if I say I don't like working with kids I'll be shooting myself in the foot? Thanks guys!

cpfreak612 said:
Hi everyone! I plan on applying for the 2012 season as a new employee but I had a few questions. Well, two actually. First, I won't be 18 when I fill out my application but I will be 18 by the time I start working, so what do I do about housing? Will the application still allow you to choose housing even if I'm not 18 when I apply? Second, when I was at CP over the summer one of the ride ops said that if I wanted to get a coaster I should tell the interviewer I don't like working with kids and that way I'd avoid a children's area. Is this true or if I say I don't like working with kids I'll be shooting myself in the foot? Thanks guys!

Hiya and welcome!

1.) You'll still be eligible for housing as long as you turn 18 before you process in.

2.) I don't necessarily think that you'd be screwing yourself over by stating your preference for wanting to not work with kids. That being said, it's the luck of the draw with most. When I interviewed, I was given a choice, but I'm pretty sure that's only because I was one of the first people Karrah interviewed for that year. From what I remember, they'll ask you if you prefer to work with kids or adults, fast paced or slow paced and if you're afraid of heights. Keep in mind though (and I feel like I'm a broken record when I say this) but it's not the ride that makes your summer, but your crew. :P

1- you would just click no to housing when you're applying, because you can't say you need housing if you're under 18. it's exactly what i did when i applied. you just will wait till you're 18 to be able to process in.

as for your second question i worked in foods so i have no idea how the managers work in rides, and like the person above me said your location really really really isn't what makes your summmer, it honestly is your crew. an unforgettable crew makes for an unforgettable summer. if you get one of the rides in kiddy kingdom or snoopy land, don't knock it till you try it.

-best of luck (:

When you interview just tell them upfront what coaster you would like to work on. Its been a few years but I had a couple of friends that worked there and in the interview they asked for specific rides (Mean Streak and Mantis) and got to work where they wanted. I would never tell them in an interview that you don't like something, if they know you are a team player you will be treated as such.

I have worked rides for the past two seasons...I don't know the answer to the first question because I was 19 my first summer, but I can answer the second.

If you say you like working with kids, just say you could do it. Don't say "I love working with kids." because then you will end up in a kids area. that is what happened to me my first year. When they ask what kind of ride you would like to work on, tell them a coaster, if you want a coaster.

Depending on the manager that interviews you, you can request certain coaster. There are three areas and each area has different coasters.
If Debrah interviews you, she is in Area 1. In Area 1 there is Raptor, Blue Streak, Wicked Twister, and Disaster Transport.
If Brian interviews you, he is in Area 2. Area 2 has Dragster, Millennium Force, Magnum, Corkscrew, Iron Dragon, and Wild Cat
And if Steve interviews you, he is Area 3. Area 3 has Gemini, Maverick, Cedar Creek Mine Ride, Mean Streak, and the Kiddie Coasters.

Hope this is helpful. Don't be afraid to ask me anymore questions.

Thanks this really helps! I had a few more though...
I won't process in until late May like the last week. How does my training work then if the park is already open? If I get there early on my process-in date and finish early would they put me on the schedule for the last shift to get started? And for housing, will there still be room in common dorms that late? Thanks a lot! I appreciate all the help!

cpfreak612 said:
Thanks this really helps! I had a few more though...
I won't process in until late May like the last week. How does my training work then if the park is already open? If I get there early on my process-in date and finish early would they put me on the schedule for the last shift to get started? And for housing, will there still be room in common dorms that late? Thanks a lot! I appreciate all the help!

You'll be fine. A lot of colleges and universities don't get out until June, so it's not really a big deal. When you process in, you'll go to Park Operations, do your training and drug test through them. The next day, you'll come in early to your ride location to do your downtime responder (lit walk, etc) and be trained on all of the non-visual board positions.

I don't know what you mean for the "last shift to get started."

And as for housing, people are always coming and going, so I can only assume that there should be spots left in commons.

you'll probably want to find roommates before you go down so you don't get put with some randoms. more people will be posting on here as it gets closer to the season.

Ya just find a roommate with your friend or meet someone and get to know them and see if you like them or not. Then if they go to process in before you make sure they reserve you as their roommate. Last year I went in on the first day and I met my roommates on facebook and when I processed in housing they just asked when they were coming, their first and last name, and their job detail is.
Also, anywhere you go to work in the park your going to deal with kids and young teenagers. At rides you'll be dealing with kids trying to get on a ride their not tall enough for, crying that they don't want to go on and that screws up your intervals, you'll deal with kids with attitudes and be stubborn, and the worst part is kids shaking and sitting on the freaking sitting on the gates. So no matter where you work your gonna deal with kids from ride host to being a sweep

Next season will be my first season as well, i am terrified but excited. Working at an amusement park has always been my dream but i want to stay on point at Cedars. Is there a place to get food and do laundry on Point? and also can't you still get housing if your 17 but have graduated high school? i turn 18 on June 4th and i want to be a ride op. but i want to process in in May, I live in Southern Illinois so i don't know anyone at CP would me and my best friend also be able to live together?

you cannot/will not be a ride op until you turn 18. they would probably have you be a sweep until you are 18.

the employee cafeteria is on point and you can get food there when it is open. there is an employee convenience store in commons.

golds and cedars don't open until june and yes you can live in housing if you have graduated from high school

Thank you! but can we choose our roommate?

Cafe is evil :D If you want to save money pack your lunch. If you start paying at the cafe each time you go on break prepare to spend I'd say maybe... $35 a week wouldn't you say maybe? Go to walmart on your day off and get some walmart brand food. Also Commons also tries to rip you off so only go if your desperate for a snack or a soda.
You cant live in the Dorms till your 18 sorry :( My guess is that if you try to get a job you would have to put that you cant work till June

Someone from HR told me i could live in dorms as long as i had graduated even if i wasn't 18 :( but i guess June wouldn't be that bad would i still have a good chance of getting on Rides if i apply when the apps are first available?

you can live in the dorms if you are 17 and graduated from high school. but you cannot get a ride host job until you are 18. my sister had a roommate our first year that was 17, so it is possible.

but i can apply for rides right? i just can't start till after my birthday?

Antonio said:
but i can apply for rides right? i just can't start till after my birthday?

Correct. You'll just have to put your start date as your birthday when you apply.

Thank you!

okay so since apps went up today I have another question...
Is your start date the same as your process-in date or do you process in before your start date?

How old must you be to be a security guard and how do you go about becoming one?