A question for all of you ride ops...

I was just wondering, how do you become a ride op? When working at CP do you have to work your way from the bottom (food services or sweeper) up? Or can you just apply to be a ride op for any coaster? What are the job requirements and responsibilities of a ride op? What was your training like?

I'm just curious. :) It seems like it would be an awesome job!

You can just apply to become a ride op.

It's really not as glamorous as it seems. Trust me on that one. :)

^ I just thought it would take more than applying for the position, because you would want someone trust worthy to be running a roller coaster. I am sure doing test rides would be pretty cool though. :)

Test rides were ok. It's the humidity, long hours, low pay, and annoying guests that make it not so great! ;)

Oh, I bet. Especially when you get to sit there watching them ride all day long.

^ I didn't lose 26 pounds the summer I worked at CP, by "sitting" and watching the guests ride. Most ride host positions require constant movement.

BUT I DEFINETELY RECOMMEND THE EXPERIENCE!!!

^Oh, I am sure you guys wern't sitting on your butts all day long. I was more less saying that it would suck to watch people ride coasters all day long, while you were really busy and couldn't.

Well then the next day off, you go to the park for free.

Hoping to become a Ride Op later, (next year first time but only 17 then... games probably... still fun.

Why do people think that you have "work your way up" to be a ride op, and think that "sweeping" or "foodservice" is the bottom rung of the ladder? Every department is equally as important.

...and how do they determine what ride that you work on? like i know that they obviously choose but do you have any say in the matter at all?

It depends... I have heard of times where people are just assigned to their ride, but in my case both years I was given a say in what ride I wanted...

Top Thrill Dragster said:
Why do people think that you have "work your way up" to be a ride op, and think that "sweeping" or "foodservice" is the bottom rung of the ladder? Every department is equally as important.

I think that "sweeping" or "foodservice" is the bottom of the ladder, because those are the jobs I personally would not want to do. I am not saying that they do not work hard...

Just because you wouldn't want to work those jobs doesn't make them any less important than other jobs. If there were no sweeps the park would be filthy and if there was no one working in foods, then well, I wouldn't be able to get my cheese on a stick!

Hm...Once again, I never said that they were less important. I said "working from the bottom up." Which doesn't mean they are not important. It means that I would rather spend my hard work doing something I enjoy. Trust me, I worked in retail for a few years now...and while it is very hard work...I would consider working as a cashier or sales associate being at the bottom, rather than being a manager which is at the top. Wouldn't you?

I think any seasonal first year position at CP is considered working at the bottom. Food service employees usually get paid slightly more than the rest though, maybe they are a little higher up the ladder? ;)

^ lol I guess so then. All I know is that when we were at CP we would talk to all of the employees we ran into. When we asked the people in food services how they liked their jobs, they said that is sorta sucked. Then when we asked what their favorite coasters were, we found out that a lot of them still hadn't even rode MF yet.

But on the other hand when asking ride ops how they liked their job (from the small flats to the big coasters), they all had said that the really enjoyed it. And when we asked what their favorite coasters were, most of them said one of the bigger coasters, and went into detail why.

So just by observation it seemed that the ride ops had a lot more fun working at CP, than the employees in food services did. Therefore I came to the conclusion that food services would be at the bottom of the ladder, and ride ops at the top.

Case Closed! :) lol.

I hope to be a ride op next year too....i just don't want to be the one on the microphone

Someone correct me if I am wrong, bu I am pretty sure that they all rotate positions. So everyone gets to do every part of the job.

Yes, when you are contracted to a ride, you learn all positions on that ride, and rotate throughout the day. It is supposed to be every 30 minutes-1 hr, but that doesn't always happen.

I would say do Foods FIrst or something that will get you hired cause that is what i did

2008: Food Serve Chuckwagon inn