Advice for New Employees

Advice from me regarding housing:
I know it won't make a difference, but treat the bathrooms and common areas with respect; other people have to use these areas and they can get trashed real quick. For example, put your bag of garbage in the dumpsters provided that are conveniently on your way out (of commons) and not in the bathrooms. Also, don't steal the cushions off of the couches in the lobbies, that's just ignorant.

Don't bother fighting for "princess parking" or "rockstar parking"... if the lot is full, park across the bridge. It's a lot easier than circling the lot for an hour or parking in the guest lot (even though guests are not permitted after 12am) and then arguing with the housing ladies about where you parked. As much as you will hate it, you need to learn to become friends with the bridge. Along with that, you'll also need to learn to deal with the few sour housing supervisor ladies. They have many really dumb rules of which they don't know the reason for their existence, so just deal with it.

Of course, a lock is crucial if you're in the dorms and a mini fridge is VERY nice to have. Learn how to cook ramen noodles before you come if you're into eating those (but as stated above, I think that only applies to internationals haha). Shower shoes are also important. I've always brought my own comfortable bedding and towels because the stuff housing provides is not good at all. Everyone else has pretty much stated the same stuff so moving on...

It definitely helps to know people you're rooming with before you get there, as there are some shady people working at CP. If you can't find anyone beforehand, you can always move if you don't like your roommates or feel that you can't trust them.

As a new employee to Cedar Point, you might feel a little bit lost the first few days. Just stick with it and try to make the best out of it and you'll have a great summer. Make an initiative to hang out with your crew, as they will be like family for most of the summer. Most crews go out to dinner together or just hang out and do stuff after work... just don't blow your money. You can either come home with nothing or save quite a bit (many people go the first route their first season). Maybe I'll think of more later... don't be afraid to ask questions though.

How does one go about picking up someone else's hours? Like if i wanted to work more how would I no whether or not there were hours to pick up?

Are the trips to different places worth the money if you go to like KI or Washington DC or Niagra Falls? Or is it just too short of a trip and the bus is crowded?

How busy are ride nites? I would think that everyone would wanna ride the ride so in essence there would still b an hour or two wait....is that true?

I'll prolly think of more questions later

dustymop8 said:
How does one go about picking up someone else's hours? Like if i wanted to work more how would I no whether or not there were hours to pick up?

Are the trips to different places worth the money if you go to like KI or Washington DC or Niagra Falls? Or is it just too short of a trip and the bus is crowded?

How busy are ride nites? I would think that everyone would wanna ride the ride so in essence there would still b an hour or two wait....is that true?

I'll prolly think of more questions later

If you have a cool TL makin' the schedule just ask & most of the time they'll give u more hours.But if that's not possible u can always go to park operations and ask if they need any extra sweps or anything..at least I did that twice in 2007.

I never went on any of the trips. After work I was too tired on my day off to really do anything.

Depending on the ride, Ride Night isn't really crowded. The longest I ever had to wait was a 1/2 hour for TTDragster and I got on it 3x.

dustymop8 said:

Are the trips to different places worth the money if you go to like KI or Washington DC or Niagra Falls? Or is it just too short of a trip and the bus is crowded?

Kings Island? No. The trip cost like 30 dollars, and we get in free. Get a couple of friends, one with a car, and you can go to Kings Island for 5 bucks or so.

The other trips are pretty good deals if I remember correctly.

The Kennywood trip was a good deal. I believe $30 for the bus ride and ticket. I'm sure CP does some kind of ticket trade to make the tickets essentially free to them, but it's still a good deal.

The ride nights are fun. Many people ride once and go home, so they tend to be more crowded right as they start. By the time I ever got there from Ripcord (since we close 30 minutes after the right nights begin) there was usually a walk on.

BJ said:
bring lots of socks! Bring atleast two pairs of white tennis shoes, one for sunny days and one for rainy, and lots of quarters lol to dry then when they're wet.

also, alarm clocks are a plus, make sure they are battery and electric because when the electric goes out, it's not an excuse when you come to work at 11:30 and suppose to be there at 9:00 lol. That was a fun day.

make friends with people because they will be your de-stressers.

=a definite on the socks...Its nice knowing you have plenty of socks...working long hours, your feet can become disgusting if you don't bring extra socks...especially if it rains in the morning and gets hot later in the day...but your shoes never dry...trust me this isn't a good thing. I'm a sup and still occasionally forget and get stuck with a soaking pair of shoes and socks all day...not fun... LOL

And a definite on alarm clocks...I use an electric as a last resort, usually never hearing it because I use my cell phone as my major alarm clock.

AND YESSSS you need your venting tools, make friends, enjoy the park...stressing when you don't always need to makes the summer harder than it needs to be. Go ride rides, enjoy a relaxing day at Soak City, head out of the whole sandusky area. Whatever... Sometimes I simply take walks and listen to my Ipod around the apts and dorms.

I've worked there for a total of four years now...going on the fifth this year. Last year I spent a total of a year and a half on point working at Merch at CP during the summer and CB in the winter. I made lots of friends, didn't realize how close they were and how important they were to me until I moved back (Ohio is my home, but I've been out here in WY many times mostly during the winter)...out here to Wyoming. So lol here I am going back to CP and can't wait!!!!

dustymop8 said:
How does one go about picking up someone else's hours? Like if i wanted to work more how would I no whether or not there were hours to pick up?

There is a phone number you can call, for more hours. I'm not sure if this works for Rides and Merch.

it works for merch...we just tend NOT to have available hours...a lot of our people are searching for hours elsewise during July...

If you need extra hours, wait until about the 2nd week in July and then start looking at foods. There are almost always extra hours available.

do we get discounts at the shops in the park?

last year it was 25 percent off in all participating shops until a certain day in August...doesn't begin till you've been at the park certain number of days...and usually doesn't begin until June 1st. These things change every year....and even during the year...I know I work in Merch...lol. Just ask a merch employee once you get there...they usually know...maybe not right away but soon enough. We also have a discount store called lol Commons...at well Commons...it doesn't have the cheapest food in all of Sandusky (hello...Walmart!) but its convenient and always opened during mid season. We also have Cedars Munchery in the boys dorms..Cedars.. We use to have another one at the park but something happened last year (my lips are sealed) and I doubt it will be reopened this year for discounts. Oh and lol we have a Subway in the rec center...I know random but I liked it. (Rec Center by the way, holds computers for internet use, the mail center (mid season), a work out gym, ping pong table and other rec activities. Plus its the meeting place for ESD activities...like the Talent Show and things like that)

also on above note...discount is certain days of the week...I believe it was Friday last year but I could be wrong...didn't really think about it unless we had an employee sale lol

oh really?
i wanted to buy the tye-dye blanket..btu didnt want to pay 35 bones lol

as long as you don't mind waiting a bit...lol you can for a discounted price...about 27.50-28 with discount

Hey Tiffany, yes the discount day last season was Friday, sometime after Memorial day it started. An employee had to have completed I believe 30 days of service, in order to get the discount. I don't know if it will be restricted to certain stores this season or not. They'll let us know at some point I'm sure.

Generally, the best advice for CP Noobs is this:
By all means, give it a shot. But it's not for everyone, so don't give up something too important to you. And make sure you have a contingency plan, just in case.

Point blank, there are just some people who don't make good CP employees. (And I'm not just talking about the drug addicts, tattoo afficionados and other assorted freaks). Each year, some of the well-qualified and friendly employees who would outwardly appear to be good for the positions flush out for no discernable reason.
If you like to do things your own way, this could be an issue. CP has an incredible amount of inane and archaic rules that must be followed and even seemingly non-serious violations can get you canned. For this reason, CP is not a great place for mavericks. (unless you're a roller coaster by that name.

CP also tends to tailor its experience to the lowest common denominator. If you like drinking, dorm life, ride nights and being a member of a team which is as strong as its weakest member, this may be a great summer. If you like to read, sleep, engage in quiet activities or be responsible for yourself or are overtly conservative or religious, not so much, unless you're a sweep.

If you are a follower, this may be a great job. It doesn't matter if you're old, young, straight, gay, extreme, tall, heavy, etc. If you can blend in to some extent, you'll get along fine.

If you're more into sleep than parties, it may be best to look elsewhere. As a local, I worked for years on 250 at "feeder" businesses for CP. If you can find housing, this can be a great alternative.

I like my alone time and sleep just fine (when I don't have the hours)...guess its just what kind of roommates you have...I must admit, first two years I stayed at my parents house...but the past two years and this year I'll be staying in housing. Now admittedly first year I was in a quiet room, second year I was in 800 building with fellow sups who lol were barely home so it was very quiet. If I had issues with loud music or whateve...I turn up my headphones (thank God for computers with music and ipods!!!!). I'm not a big drinker...in fact drank once or twice my whole time at CP and know of many people who don't...we still have parties just people actually remember them afterwards.

I'm still very much and always will believe in God and I know many people at CP who do...or whatever they believe in... However I LOVE the fact there is such a large cultural difference at CP!. I don't care what you believe in (not that I'm not interested in learning, just as a fellow employee manner), as long as you're a decent employee who gets the job done...who cares? So if you can be open-minded, enjoy meeting new people, don't mind long hours, and lol true on the weird rules and regulations..but you get use to them and heck its only a summer. I stay among the longest for seasonals...most stay around two to three months because of school.

So if you're interested in trying it out...go for it. Just remember to follow the rules (even the weird to you ones, there's probably some odd but necessary reason for them), try to have fun in your off time and meet new people. I'm not a get out there and meet as many people as I can kind of girl...I like my quiet life...but I love CP and I LOVE many of the people I've met there.

After I say this. I do agree...There are some people who just don't make the cut as CP employees. Maybe they take advantage of the "freedom" they're afforded from parents AND school. Maybe its just too much for them. WE doooo have a lot of people come into CP and many positions deal with those people head-on all day long. Sometimes this is great, sometimes...well not so much. I know many people who I thought were great employees, recommended some even for a promotion and then we see their true side. Sometimes this is just them, sometimes its others. However and whomever it is, the employees usually don't last the year or just have a bad enough experience that when they say they're never coming back again...they never do.

But this isn't the majority...obviously...since the park wouldn't be able to run if we lost all our people. Just follow earlier advice, be prepared, know the rules, follow the rules, have fun, make friends, and enjoy the park.

Okay now done with rant...

I'll throw my two cents in. Ok there are some people who just aren't cut out to be a summer employee for Cedar Point. I will openly admit I am one of those people. I still have this need to be a part of cedar point and last year I found the best way to do that. Being a screamster was the perfect fit for me. So if your looking to be apart of something special and working with some great people but just aren't cut out for the summer environment please consider Halloweekends.

My hats off to all the seasonal employees out there keep up the good work and have a great year.

^ This is true. Also good if you want to work at CP but have other jobs/commitments that prevent you from doing so, which is why I was a Screamster for 4 years before I finally worked a full summer at the park.

^too bad the screamsters are all huge weirdos and come up with names and personalities for their characters.