Bad Crew Experiences

Last Sunday, I had a run in with one of the worst workers I've ever seen at CP. She was a big girl working on Power Tower on one of the up-towers. She had a big bored look on her face and took her good old time SLOWLY walking around pulling on the seat belts, while not even looking at them. She didn't break one smile or even make eye contact. She looked like she hated being there. I can't believe they would hire someone like that. I mean, when I have someone dealing with my safety like that, I want to make sure they're being careful. Then, in the back of the park in the restaurtant right by the old WWL queue, I asked for a water and the girl didn't smile or say thank you. Then when I thanked her, she didn't say anything. People like that just ruin my day.

I mean, the workers on other rides are great. We always have fun talking to the Gemini workers, and I love the people who operate the launch of Wicked Twister. On Sunday, he kept launching on "2" or suddely. Once he even said "Ready, set, go!" Then hit it. They make it an overall much more fun ride. Plus, when have them working hard, it makes the load time faster. When I went on Skyhawk, this woman was literally running checking every restraint. She was seriously getting a workout.

So, anyone else have some horror stories about employees? *** Edited 5/31/2006 4:40:47 AM UTC by matt1027***

I assume you are talking about Power Tower?

People have bad days. Ride operators work long hours in summer heat. I'm not saying that I like to see people like that, because I don't, but I don't really blame them and I would never let one or two people like that "ruin" my day.

If that's a "horror" story, then you're in good shape, buddy.

I haven't exactly had the best of experiences with the Power Tower crew so far this year, so I can understand where he is coming from. I'm not sure this is the best, most constructive way to air these complaints, however.

I mean I don't let it ruin my day at all, but it really does make me disppointed to see that. If someone is that unhappy with their job, I's sure someone else would be happy to take their spot. And all the other workers have to deal with the same heat and long hours, but they still manage to have fun and make me enjoy it a little bit more. They knew what they were getting into when they took the job, so they shouldn't take it out on us, especially when they're dealing with our safety. *** Edited 5/31/2006 4:46:12 AM UTC by matt1027***

I can understand. I had a bad experiences last week in the shops in food sales. At Stockade I went to get an elephant ear and the line was huge. There was one girl there making them and working cash. She looked so lifeless, no sense of emotion whatsoever, but I can understand since she was in that situation. Then they got another girl come help but these two clearly were not good team workers. They didn't communicate at all between the orders and what food belonged to who.

Later in the day at Pagoda I bought something and the girl at the till was also emotionless. She didn't speak. She rang in the item, didn't say the total, and when she gave me my change she actually slapped it down into my hand and said nothing.

On the otherhand, I had some really good experiences that brightened my day. We were eating our food at the tables across from Gemini and an employee came up to us and made general conversation. She asked how our trip was, what we rode, and how it was a bummer that Millennium was down. It was nice to see that interaction. The same went with the guy operating Midway Carousel. He made conversation about hockey playoffs and about how our day was before we got on. I guess it all depends on the person.

Were they really "taking it out on you"? You still got your ride and your water, didn't you?

I'm just saying that you sound kinda spoiled. There are some places where a smile or a "Your welcome" is a rarity. We're lucky that most of the employees are as nice as they are. Just because two out of several hundred employees decided not to smile and say "Your welcome" at that certain time does not mean that they are "taking it out on us". Thats not saying that's how they are all of the time, it just indicates how they are feeling at that time. People are bound to have bad days, not feel well, or not get enough sleep. (A lot like I am right now. I'm supposed to be typing up a spanish paper. :/ ) Not to mention it is work, although some people enjoy it so much, they woudn't consider it so.

Not everyone enjoys Cedar Point as much as we do. Some people see it as an opportunity to make money. I don't blame them a single bit.

However, I am on the same page with our safety. That is something that should not be taken lightly.

The issues I've seen on PT are more deep rooted than just someone not being enthusiastic.

Well I know because I have a job where I interact with people and the very minute a smile left my face, my boss got on me and told me off saying that "when you have a job dealing with people you have to smile and remain cordial no matter how you feel. And always hustle." I'm not saying that he's right because hes a terrible boss, but I can see where he's coming from. And I would understand later in the summer, after working for monthes of long hour days. But we're only in week 3 and who knows how long shes been here.

On the other hand, one of the game workers in one of the big nice booths called me and my friend over and we had 20+ minute conversation with him. He was one of the nicest people I've ever met and really easy to talk to. Then when he got a customer, he would take care of them right away. He was a great worker and really made for one of the best parts of my day. *** Edited 5/31/2006 5:24:12 AM UTC by matt1027***

It sounds like those "deep rooted" issues are seperate from what Matt is talking about.

What do you mean by "deep rooted?"

Overall this year the crews and all the employees in general have been amazing. It's such a huge improvement over how things have been the last several years. When you have thousands of workers, there's always going to be a person or two having a bad day, or maybe they're just a bad apple overall, but the total experince I've had so far this year has been awesome.

Last year during Halloweekends I picked up some extra hours during the days working in admissions. It's so easy to forget that each person passing you by deserves the same courtesy as the person before them. I still tried my hardest to make sure I at least smiled at every person who passed me by. 90% of the time I'd try to say something like "enjoy your day". It's really not that hard of a thing to do, but then again, I got to scare the crap out of those same people later in the day, so that may have made it easier. :)

matt1027 said:
On the other hand, one of the game workers in one of the big nice booths

"game workers with big nice *mammories*" is what I saw when I first read that. Wow, I'm tired and you can tell that my mind is in the gutter.
-----------------------------------

Back on subject:

I'd hope that any boss would tell that to one of their employees, however, in one of the biggest amusement parks in the world, there isn't a "boss" around everyone of the hundereds of employees to get them in line.

I'm glad to hear more stories of employees "making someone's day" rather than ruining it.

matt1027 said:
On Sunday, he kept launching on "2" or suddely. Once he even said "Ready, set, go!" Then hit it.

That was probably me; I say that all the time! Although, one guy said "Ready, set, go" a couple times later that same day (I think he copied...oh well).

I try to make as much fun out of the atmosphere as possible. Seeing 8,000 people each day who are psyched up to be taken from zero to sixty in less time than the most hi-powered sports car tends to rub off.

For me, the weather is by far and away the biggest contributor to how I work. Today it's supposed to be 88 degrees, but after you figure in humidity, it will feel like it's almost 100. This is debilitating; it just drains every last bit out of someone who's constantly moving around for upwards of 10 hours that day. For me, this means it usually takes the entire 1-minute load/unload period to check my harnesses. I try to combat this as much as possible (for one, I drink obscene amounts of water on days like this). If it were 70 degrees and mild (not humid), I work *much* faster and can be done in 40 seconds or so. This doesn't stop me from talking to the guests when the train is going.

My only pet peeve is when someone tries to rattle my cage. They all have different ways of doing this (i.e. saying "Hi ____", or "What's up, ____, my main man?", or trying to hi-five me while checking their harness or whatnot)...I guess we can call that "fake rapport," but to me, it essentially says "we're both here, but I'm having fun and you're working"...I don't care for that very much. That's my only rant.

If I'm at crowd, I try to accomodate everyone as they would like. It is a general rule of thumb that a group of friends/family would do anything (even risk ejection) to stay together. In knowing this, I try to keep everyone together on the ride as much as I can.

You've probably seen me at Entrance. When I'm there, Wicked Twister is the only ride in the park with a 64" height requirement. I'll sit there with a normal expression as if that's the way it were to begin with. Most people see what's going on and just walk right by, but it's that one group out of a hundred that gets a laugh out of thinking they're not tall enough, then realizing what I'm doing that makes both parties have a bit of a fun experience.

Twisted Wicker said:
You've probably seen me at Entrance. When I'm there, Wicked Twister is the only ride in the park with a 64" height requirement. I'll sit there with a normal expression as if that's the way it were to begin with. Most people see what's going on and just walk right by, but it's that one group out of a hundred that gets a laugh out of thinking they're not tall enough, then realizing what I'm doing that makes both parties have a bit of a fun experience.

That's HILARIOUS. :)

I would have to say the Great experiences I've had this year far far far outweight the bad. In fact, 99% of this season so far has been nothing but good experiences, from Skyhawk Media Day all the way until last Thursday when I was in the park. The employees have been very friendly, so I don't want to make my former posts here sound like I am slamming the park, because I am not.

The only bad experince that I have had at the point is when I went this last visit. I wanted to ride milli and so I went up tested the test seat and everything worked out and i was good to ride.. Waited twice for a train.. Both times the ride ops said sorry sir you are to big to ride and kicked me off... Now how depressing is that. I mean if i fit the test seat then I have every right to ride .....

OK, so she wasn't enthusiastic, but she didn't do anything that should "ruin" your day. Get a grip.

I think that generally speaking operations in general are running very compared to last year. Food service still consistently seems to suck everywhere but the sit down restaurants, which is disappointing.

Eleazar721 said:
I mean if i fit the test seat then I have every right to ride .....

No you don't. You still need to fit properly in the seat that will be going 93 mph. However, management needs to work on this situation to make the test seat more consistently and closely resemble an actual ride seat.

They haven't been able to do anything about it for years. What makes you think can now?

MrScott