Advice

I second Rob's advice...In fact, I'd third it as well.

On the practical side, if your first summer at CP is also your first time away from home (before your freshman year of college, for example), here are a few tips...

- Don't pack all your stuff the night before you leave. Make sure you have plenty of time to ensure that you have everything you wanted to bring. (If Cedar Point is 6 hours or more away from your home, like it is for me, this is important, since you can't just run home and grab something you forgot). This includes blankets as well as fans -- it can get really cold, as well as super hot, so you need to make sure you prepare for all ranges of temperatures (CP does provide sheets and all that, if you like, but they're the kind without elastic that come up if you move around at all). Bring a variety of different clothes, too, including ones that can get dirty (especially if you're going to be at the park before it officially opens).
- Bring your trusty phone card, and/or writing materials and stamps. You want to be able to communicate with the folks back home and tell them all the awesome things you're doing!
- Lock important items up; don't leave them out in the open. Never tempt anyone (even people you think you can trust) by leaving your money, jewelry, keys, cell phone, etc. out on a kitchen table or on your dresser in your room. Things like that easily "walk away," whether your roommates or their friends help them along. I have a small metal toolbox that's short enough to push under my bed -- I lock it shut with a padlock and chain it to the bedframe so it can't be picked up and taken away. I've never lost anything this way. On the same note, be careful what types of electronics you bring with you to the park -- bringing computers, video games, DVD players, etc. is super fun, but you have to be sure losing them is a risk you're willing to take.
- Find a mentor. Whether it's someone on your crew, a roommate, team leader, supervisor, whoever... Build a relationship with someone who has worked at the Point before and is easy to talk to -- that way, if you have any questions or aren't sure about something, you have someone you can ask and who is experienced enough to point you in the direction of answers if they don't know themselves.
- Keep an open mind. You are going to be working in a very diverse environment, where people's life experiences, beliefs, ideas, and goals are probably going to be very different from yours. Don't automatically judge people on first impressions or stereotypes -- this will build a wall between you and your roommates or crew. Step out of your comfort zone, get to know people and learn about them; just because people are different from you doesn't mean they aren't valuable.
...and most importantly...
- Have FUN!!! You are in for one of the most exciting and amazing summers of your life -- take advantage of it and have a blast!!

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~Lee~

Group Sales ATL '01
Group Sales TL '02
Park Admissions Supervisor '03
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"The greatest leaders don't take credit for their actions; they don't have to."

Good advice Lee.. I'm kinda lucky living in Toledo so I can run home if need be but all your points are pretty good.

I know we had one PS2 walk out of our room last year as well as a ton of DVD's. Lock up your stuff..

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June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100
VertiGo Rides - 82
Technical Services 2002
Fright Zone Screamster 2002

Good advice, Lee. Yeah, definetly be careful with what you bring and where you leave your stuff. You never know who will end up being your roommate(s).

But I don't want to make it sound like the employees are a bunch of kleptos, don't take it that way. I've been very lucky these past two summers as far as the roommate situation went. One of the main reasons I picked Commons was so that I would have a locker, but my roommates and I ended up never locking them. (Or, for that matter, closing them...our lockers were wide open at all times and looked as if they'd thrown up. But at least the three of us had the same ideas in regards to cleanliness). Ha.

Even if you can trust your roomies, it still pays to be careful. I've heard several stories of employees who were fired and ended up taking a bunch of their roommates belongings before skipping town. Also, be sure to direct-deposit your checks - don't cash them and have money laying around. And any large amounts that you do have, it would probably be best to carry around with you (but not to the mall).

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Park Services '01-'03

"Am I still in Cedar Point?"

Does anyone who has worked at the Point before have pics or links to pics that show the inside of the dorms? I'm kinda curious to see what they look like...thanks!

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Chief Wahoo said:
Apparently, you don't know much about Louie's.

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that is so true... anyone can get in there if you know the right poeple

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rip cord and race park 2002

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DianaMarieMTV said:
Does anyone who has worked at the Point before have pics or links to pics that show the inside of the dorms? I'm kinda curious to see what they look like...thanks!

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have you ever been in college dorms??? if you have just like that... you walk in you have 3 lockers a dresser and a night stand and on the other side of the room you have either 2 bunk beds or one single bed and a bunk bed... there not very big... but last year it was all i needed.. with 3 other girls in the room it kinda sucked when you all were getting ready for work at the same time.. but the amount of time you send in them you dont need that much.. and i have to have good AC... i like it cold... at night :o)~ hope i helped a little

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rip cord and race park 2002

Any new people to cedar point if you like to msg me on aol ..my screen name is taztwisterkelly02 and check my profile....it has my websight..as well

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Kelly aka TazMaster
CP@LE RR 2000
White Water Landing 2001
Wicked Twister/Kiddy Kingdom 2002
Ast. Team Leader GCA 2003
RIP STEVEN CROWE 8-6-82 1-4-03
MY CRAZY LIFE

If anyone is interested in the layout of the rooms, on the Cedar Point official web site, there is a link under "Housing" to pictures and layouts of all the different rooms and apartments.

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~Lee~

Group Sales ATL '01
Group Sales TL '02
Park Admissions Supervisor '03
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"The greatest leaders don't take credit for their actions; they don't have to."

First of all, i am lucky, in knowing who my roomates are going to be. Second, this may be a really stupid question, but one that hasn't been straight out answered, are there locks on the doors, just wondering. Third, i went to the housing section, but you don't really get a clear idea of what they look like, so the explainations really helped. In fact, eveything that you guys have said has really helped in making up my mind. I can't wait until May!!!!!
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Cedar Point, here I come!!!

Actually, I was pretty surprised when I moved into Bayside last year and discovered that there were no locks on the bedroom doors. They don't assign you bedrooms there; you just pick whichever one has an open space. (Commons Apartments is different; you get a key to your apartment and a key to your room -- they assign you bedrooms). I was pretty worried about this until one of my more experienced roommates suggested that I buy a doorknob with keys and change the knobs for the summer, then change the knobs back before I left. If you know how to do this without breaking the door (it really isn't that difficult) it could be a solution. I really hope that Cedar Point adds locks and keys to bedroom doors in Bayside soon! It just increases that feel of personal safety.

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~Lee~

Group Sales ATL '01
Group Sales TL '02
Park Admissions Supervisor '03
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"The greatest leaders don't take credit for their actions; they don't have to."

Really I dont understand that at all. You would think that CP housing would have locks there to as everyone else has.
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Kelly aka TazMaster
CP@LE RR 2000
White Water Landing 2001
Wicked Twister/Kiddy Kingdom 2002
Ast. Team Leader GCA 2003
RIP STEVEN CROWE 8-6-82 1-4-03
MY CRAZY LIFE

Do the commons dorms have locks on the doors?

Ok.. here how it goes... The key thing is getting the roommates to actually LOCK the main door to the dorm/apartment.

*NOTE* When I say "common lock" it means that only people who live in that room/apartment should have a key to it.

Commons apartments have a common lock on the door to the apartment. then there is a lock on each bedroom that only the peopel in those rooms are supposed to have.

Commons dorms.. a common door lock then 3 lockers where you need to provide your own lock.

Bayside.. A common lock on the door to the apartment but no locks on the bedroom doors. Although, people do install locks on the bedroom doors but it is a violation of the housing rules and you can be fined.

Gold/Cedars Dorms have a common lock on the room and that's it.

Hope it helps... bring a padlock just incase..

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June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100
VertiGo Rides - 82
Technical Services 2002
Fright Zone Screamster 2002
*** This post was edited by Red Garter Rob 1/17/2003 1:07:22 AM ***

Thanks Rob!

I agree with you, Rob. It isn't so much about locking your own room, its more about getting the rest of your roommates to lock the main door.

Going back to the advice topic (I'm a little behind since my computer blew up) I agree with a lot of what Lee said. Be open-minded. You will learn a lot about life and grow from your expierence at CP as long as you keep an open mind. If you don't, you will just become a bitter, hateful person. Its important that you accept people foir who they are.

If you arn't happy in your job, you don't have to stay there. You can always transfer to a different place. You should never be in a situation where you feel threatened. This is one of the best summer jobs in the world, and if you arn't happy while doing it, it will reflect on your work.

Be ready to work hard. And good luck!

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~Sabrina~
2001 Gemini
2002 Gemini/Corkscrew/Live E: Hooray for Hollywood

Best advice I can give is DON'T GO TO THE BAR!!!!!! lol Seriously, This job is a very outgoing and vocal job and if you are not that way already, then you are going to have to learn to be. Don't hesitate talking to people and socializing. Jake was right when he said that the people you work with and meet here become like your family for the 4-6 months that you are living in Sandusky. also, cut corners and SAVE MONEY. if you are smart, you can walk away with at least $1,500-2 grand after your contract is over. Oh, and don't be a slut. yup, there's some advice for you.:)

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'Screw Crew '01
'Screw Crew TL '02
Snake River Falls TL '03

Oh, don't bring in doughnuts on your second day of work or else your TL will stereotype you as a slut :)

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Justin
Corkscrew ATL 2003
Corkscrew Crew 2002
http://www.msu.edu/~kemppai8/ --- My stupid website

Oh, is the donut rule in effect for 2003?
My crew still owes me some from last season!

I third the motion to stay away from the bars though. Unless it's a crew activity or something I never go to the bar. Maybe 2 or 3 times a season does it for me. I try to find other things to do with my crew that are fun.

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2000 CP & LE RR ATL
2001 White Water Landing TL
2002 Monster/WW TL
2003 Paddlewheel Excursions TL

Research possible escape methods from "too much to drink" nights

You must learn to escape from "Coyote Uglies" and how to avoid the effects of beer goggles.

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Dave
Cedar Point Employee 1997 - 2000
Kansas Wesleyan University Sports Information Director
It's CP for life

I officially found out I got a job today! What fun stuff is there to do around Sandusky?

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'03 Merchandise