CP ADMINISTRATIVE PHILOSOPHY

Having worked for both companies I can say that the philosophies between the two companies are not that dissimilar.

WDW has had periods where they cracked down harder on the SOP and spiels and then times when they've been more lax. On the Jungle Cruise I deviated from the script pretty regularly but not in any way that was off color or inappropriate. But, I understand that in the years since I have been there they have put supervisors out in the jungle to listen to spiels and then disciplined cast members for deviating even when it wasn't inappropriate.

I found that Cedar Point/Fair did some things better than Disney and some things not as well...as one would expect. WDW has more than 60,000 cast members while Cedar Point has 5,000 or so. There is a lot less interaction with one's superiors at Disney than there is at Cedar Point. That can lead to more disciplinary problems.

You can't get a true feel for corporate culture just by visiting either of the parks. Work there for a while and then come back to me. I might be inclined to go back and work for Cedar Fair someday but I'm not inclined to got back to Disney, for various reasons.

Keeping employees happy means giving them responsibility and accountability.

Although foods may not seem "glamorous" it really was fun. At the Frontier Inn when I was on duty taking care of the dining areas I could "free lance" in that if some pretty girls had a camera I would offer to take their picture. I got in 50% of those pictures as well. And had alot of fun with alot of park guests. I would also offer the same to families.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the turnover has always been high and there have always been bad employees, but it seems like we're dealing with many people these days who might never do any better for themselves than Cedar Point.

While I know that there are probably a lot of people who come to work at Cedar Point because it is a sort of last resort, there are also people who make CP their "career" because they just love it so much, and not because they can't do any better. I knew several people who had been coming back for years, decades even, as base-rate employees, just because they loved it so much. They love their friends and take a lot of pride in their work.

When I started out I wanted to make Cedar Point my career, as a base-rate employee. (I have no desire to be in positions of power). After three seasons of everyone telling me I was nuts to go running off to work at an amusement park, I finally settled down with a serious full-time, full benefits job. The money is nice, and so is working in front of a computer in a climate controlled building. But I don't think I will ever get over missing CP, even being several years removed from it. I loved the park, I loved Sandusky, I loved all of the friends I made and the people I worked alongside (which were one and the same). I loved the excitement of having an amusement park be my home. Nothing I have experienced since has really come close to comparing with that, at all.

I still regret listening to the people who gave me grief for working at an amusement park and insisting I finally "grow up." Logically, seasonal amusement parks jobs are meant more for students and not adults who need to make a living for themselves. But I'll always be jealous of the people I know who did and continue to make CP their career and keep returning year after year, making it work out somehow. I have tried to comfort myself with the thought that I can just spend a few weeks vacationing at CP...but the truth is that I can't even visit the park as a guest without becoming depressed. Because it seems so unfair that I have to leave again.

So, on paper, I did better for myself than Cedar Point. But at the same time I doubt I will ever be as happy, carefree and fulfilled as I was when I worked there...

^ You never work a day in your life if you are doing something you love. Something we all need to remember.

I agree, 100%

I miss it 26 years later!!!

the "ride-op" type guy was hilarious

For what it's worth, you probably encountered Maynard, who takes his "cast member" act farther than practically any other CM at any Disney park that I've ever met. They certainly are not all like that, and there are many Disney fanatics who think Maynard draws too much attention to himself.

I think he's hilarious, though! Missing Maynard is one of the downsides to our decision to stick in Eastern Time for our winter Disney vacations these past few years. Mansion without Maynard just isn't at all the same!