Awesome Line Speed

I just wanted to give CP a huge compliment on their ride line speed. I visited Busch Gardens Tampa over the weekend for the first time (Sheikra was really cool by the way) and realized how much faster CP is with getting guests on and off the rides. I was amazed by the inefficiency of the Busch Garden ride ops. I kept pointing out how CP did things differently amd the impact it had on the line speed. That and one of the ride ops kept talking on her cell phone between load and unloads of the trains. I guess I was spoiled growing up with the best park in the world. Again, just wanted to say Good Job to Cedar Point and keep up the awesome work. Can't wait for my homecoming visit later this month!!
*** Edited 6/7/2005 1:37:56 AM UTC by HandsBK***

There is a reason why Cedar Point keeps winning the best capacity award.

Seriously though, while BGT is not one of the worst capacity parks they are far from the best. CP amazes me every time I visit. Their operators take a lot of pride in their job and hitting their intervals. The Raptor crew is borderline insane, I have never seen a ride crew work harder than them.

Ha..Yeah. The Raptor crew is incredible. The line literally never stops moving unless it breaks down. I think it is amazing how much pride and effort the Cedar Point crews put into their jobs. It really makes me appreciate it after going to other parks.

I couldn't agree more. My home park is SFOG, and the ride ops are HORRIBLE at dispatch intervals, filling empty seats, and overall caring about the guests' experiences. I went on a rant one day about it on the forum, and included a reference to how CP did such a good job of keeping lines moving, and generally caring about the experience of the guests. Several people replied back and cheered me on. It was a trip.

Bottom line, even when CP is packed, you still don't spend an eternity in the lines (MF and TTD are the exception). It's enough to keep me driving up from Atlanta. That should say something...

A ride op at BGT had their cell phone on the ride platform...and was talking on it?

Wow.

One time I was at SF:DL in October. It was packed and they were only running one train on Superman. The line was reaching 2 hours. I asked the Ride Op why they werent putting on the second train and he just said "It will take to long for us to put the 2nd train on the track". I was thinking wow and this is saving any time.

You'd be surprised at what Ride Ops at parks that don't care can get away with doing. I went to GL back in its SFWOA days, and let me just say that those ops had 10 other things on their minds before running the ride. I saw them on cell phones, goofing around, eating, and other magical things that made me laugh, shake my head, and thank God for CP.

Magnum is up there too! That crew is doing awesome as well as the Raptor crew! Keep it up!

Many people might not notice but Mean Streak has a great crew. Very friendly!

TopThrill420120 said:
Ha..Yeah. The Raptor crew is incredible. The line literally never stops moving unless it breaks down.

Why thank you.

Now... It would be even better if people stopped blocking the turnstile while trying to wait for the front. *** Edited 6/8/2005 1:47:34 AM UTC by Rider***

That's part of the ride op's job at turnstyles. Aren't you guys either instructed to limit the number of people who are waiting for the front seat or have them line up along the side of the station? that's just one of those little quirks each ride has that you guys have to deal with.

*** Edited 6/8/2005 1:58:51 AM UTC by CP_bound***

With the park budget 'problems', have they actually had someone at turnstiles at Raptor?

Sometimes we do and sometimes we dont. It depends on staffing levels.

When we don't is when the line gets blocked.

There usually is someone there. Lately there hasn't been. So on the platform if I see someone blocking the entrance, I ask them to please move to an empty row so others can enter the station. A lot of them don't realize that there are other rows than just row 4!

Heh. You wont believe how many people think row 7 is the last row. We send so many 8s empty (or fill them at the last second).

Yes, Raptor crew is without a doubt the best in the park. They keep the line moving at an amazing pace, and it's one of the few rides not "blessed" with an autospiel, so the ops can have fun while still getting the info across ("There's the floor, you're out the door"...I love that!). Definately one of the most painless rides to get on and off, thanks to the crew. Good job!

**Another thing I noticed in my last visit...a group of people line-jumped and the guy working Raptor's FreeWay caught them and kicked them out. I wish that would happen on all rides!

I have to say that Raptors crew always seems to be one of the best. Magnum is also up there too. Their lines consistantly move and the crews always seem to be curteous and quick moving to get the train unloaded, loaded, checked, and out the door.

I don't think people give the Dragster crew enough credit. Those people work their tails off in a rather frustrating environment all day to keep the capacity up on that thing. I get more and more impressed with the Dragster crew each year.

There's the floor, you're out the door
There's the floor, its time to soar
You're clear, you're outta here
You're about to find out why Raptor rules the sky

"Another thing I noticed in my last visit...a group of people line-jumped and the guy working Raptor's FreeWay caught them and kicked them out. I wish that would happen on all rides!"

That might have been me. But it really could have been any of us. We really enjoy catching line jumpers at Raptor (we've gotten so many so far the police have given us a full time guard). There is nothing I enjoy more then the "Thank you"s I get from other guests when I kick jumpers out.