For Cedar Point Employees...

I'm glad someone who has been around so long and has been so happy in years past has spoken up. I'm glad for two reasons.

One, I'm happy that I'm not the only one being critical, so I don't look like a whiner :-P lol...

Two, I'm happy that someone who has achieved what Sam has in his signature has weighed in and, just maybe, has helped CP see the light.

We got a guest compliment e-mail sent with our packet the other day. I'm sure it has nothing to do with my earlier post, but I'd like to believe that this has helped...because the past couple days have felt a little better!

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Alan
PTC02/ScrewCrew02
ScrewCrew03

Hey, take care of my little sister on the ScrewCrew...

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - Sillynonsense.com
DELETED! What time does the water show start?

Alan,

I'm just glad that I'm not alone, and I know I'm not the only one who feels like this. Many of my crewmembers expressed similar concerns. I know that management reads this board on a regular basis, and I hope that they see my post. I want them to know why I quit, and why morale is down. I just hope it helps you guys out.

Sam

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

I'm on the crew with Alan, and I'm unable to talk about past experiences since this is my first year. But, this is all true, morale is bad. I love my job, don't get me wrong. But, there needs to be more leniency with policies. No matter what the policy, there is ALWAYS exceptions. A guest told me "F U" yesterday. I understand that I am in charge of making sure that the guest is happy, but supervision needs to make a better effort to understand we will work better when complimented, not insulted. Everyone works better with positive feedback, not negative.

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Formerly the imbecile known as ddogg
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2003 Screw Crew

I have been reading the posts and now I have to step in with my $.02 cents. I do agree that morale does seem to be lower this season and we do work better when instead of being criticized for our mistakes they are brought to our attention with ways for us to improve upon what went wrong. While some guests do go over the line a little bit and we should just grit our teeth and bear it I still think that some things are just uncalled for. I also think that if there is ever something that bothers us and it is noticed by someone in charge or a supervisor or a manager I think should try talking to us and work on fixing the problem that ,imo anyway, could help boost morale. Anyway just my $.02
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Crow: Mike can I have a car like that?
Mike: You can't drive.
Crow: I can drive, I'm an excellent driver; I'm not wearing my underwear.

Camp Snoopy 2000-2002
Mean Streak 2003
*** This post was edited by Crow_T._Robot 7/6/2003 10:23:14 PM ***

I think understaffed is better because we can always hire more people but we can not lay people off or just start firing people so the fact that they hired too many people is still retarded.

-Doug-
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I am a Mechanical Engineering major not an english major so pardon my horrible grammar

Very funny click Here
Refinedmadness.com

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Sam Adams said:
Alan,

I'm just glad that I'm not alone, and I know I'm not the only one who feels like this. Many of my crewmembers expressed similar concerns. I know that management reads this board on a regular basis, and I hope that they see my post. I want them to know why I quit, and why morale is down. I just hope it helps you guys out.

Sam

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

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It is a shame that you quit! It would have been better if you really mean it to stay and strive to be a good sup or more. That is the true way to improve working conditions for all!

I hope that some of the folks that feel the way that you do heed my words. Been there done that as they say.

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Erie: The only great lake you can walk from end to end and only get oil on your shoes!

In relation to what you guys are talking about regarding staffing, check this out:

http://www.coasterbuzz.com/2003-188-256506.htm

I appreciate you keeping your negative comments as more matter-of-fact instead of blasting managers by name and making it more of a personality issue. Bringing up bigger picture issues lends a lot more credibility to what you have to say.

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - Sillynonsense.com
DELETED! What time does the water show start?

There is no excuse for being treated poorly by a boss. A supervisor should have the intelligence and experience to know that will never solve anything. You can't improve people by beating them down.

That said, I suspect that what everyone is feeling on the midways stems from farther up than your leads or area supervisors. With the stress of a broken ride and poor early season weather I suspect that those people are hearing it from further up the chain. That doesn't excuse them from transferring it to you but it might explain the differences in years past and this year.

I can't recall a year when Cedar Point experienced anything like what they are dealing with now. The reason we are all so vocal about it is because it is so unusual. If this were like Six Flags we would all be like, "well...that is par for the course" and we'd move on.

I guarantee you that everyone from Dick Kinzel down is feeling awful about the new ride not working properly and it really hurts their pride. It hurts because they give so much year in and year out.

I hope they can all take a step back, breath a little, and keep this from infecting all of the hard-working seasonal employees...who they really rely on. Without the seasonal employees it would be tough for Cedar Point to make any money at all.

Well, this week was good. We did receive a complimentary e-mail that was sent to us in our morning "packet" and that made me happy. There was less complaining from above, the employees got along better and treated the guests much better...Everything, at least this week, has gone alot smoother.

Unfortunately, Thursday is my last day, and I'm off tomorrow. I'm going to use tomorrow as my last opportunity to ride...and spend time with my best friend, whom I will be leaving behind with the park. There is an upside, because I found a job that pays 13.75 an hour and is first shift...but there is a downside in the fact that I was offered the job as things were improving and I'm going to miss it regardless of how bad it was on certain days.

Well, it's one of those bittersweet moments when you realize you won't be around for Crew Shirts for Big Bash...

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Alan
PTC02/ScrewCrew02
ScrewCrew03

What was the compliment about? Something specific? It would be nice to hear some good things said about the park.

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Chief Wahoo said:

I hope they can all take a step back, breath a little, and keep this from infecting all of the hard-working seasonal employees...who they really rely on. Without the seasonal employees it would be tough for Cedar Point to make any money at all.

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That is the best comment I have read in this thread so far. In the job I have (not at CP), working in a computer environment, I know only too well what happens when systems are not working right, and the reaction of our users. It is easy to feel down when something that is your pride and joy is causing problems. What is important to focus on is all the things that are right.

From a guests perspective, the park seems to be running well, outside of TTD. I've actually had more times of better service from foods this year than in recent memory. Both at sit down places and fast serve. Rides also seems fine.

What I have noticed is a trend to more restrictive policies, such as no loose articles on Corkscrew, which wasn't there in years past. I think the more you try to regulate people, the more complaints you get. It's not the fault of the seasonals, and management was probably forced to put those policies into place because of the legal environment in the U.S. at present. I wouldn't be surprised if that was the root cause of some of the F.U. comments from guests.

Overall, from what I have experienced, I think the seasonals are doing a great job, as always. It's too bad that some of you are experiencing bad morale, it makes it harder to get up to go into work. There are still thousands of guests that leave happy though, for every one that complains.

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I'd rather be in my boat with a drink on the rocks,
than in the drink with a boat on the rocks.

*** This post was edited by Pete 7/9/2003 12:39:59 AM ***

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ron skinnner said:

It is a shame that you quit! It would have been better if you really mean it to stay and strive to be a good sup or more. That is the true way to improve working conditions for all!

_______________________________________________

Ron,

Don't get me wrong man, there are other reasons I quit. The serious lack of hours and income was a major problem. I couldn't pay my bills so I had to seek better employment. The primary issues I listed only compounded my problem and assisted in my quitting.

Sam

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

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*** This post was edited by Sam Adams 7/9/2003 1:41:56 AM ***

I have never worked at Cedar Point, but as a fairly regular guest, I would like to add in my $0.02.

Visiting Cedar Point this year 8 times (I think), I have truly realized that you folks that work at the Point are members of the greatest staff around. Twice this year I have given complements to Park Operations, and twice this year, I have received back form letters thanking me for the compliments. I don't know if any of you on crews I have written about have gotten copies of the comments I have made, but if you haven't, I hope you do.

My experiances at the park this year truly have shown that having the BEST STAFF IN THE WORLD! (sorry for yelling) is why the park is the best park in the world. Things may be off, and morale may be down, but as a paying customer, I am happy to see how amazing the staff has been despite these problems.

As I wrote in my last comment that I gave to Park Operations, I feel I have sometimes taken for granted living less than 90 minutes from the greatest park in the world, with the greatest staff in the world. Sure, there are problems, and maybe not every seasonal employee turns out to be Cedar Point material. What is important though, is how hard you all work to make us happy!

Anyway, please excuse my rambling. I just wanted to let you all know that regardless of all the problems you may be having, in my eyes you are still all doing a great job.

-Sam
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Avalanche Run - My first Roller Coaster.
Magnum XL-200 - The BEST Roller Coaster!

Corkscrew enforced this policy just the same last year. As a matter of fact, it's been going on for quite some time. Demon Drop, Dragster, and Millennium Force are the same...and Wicked Twister used to be, but guests have told me that they have a dock box for the guests this year. We haven't allowed carry-on items for awhile...but it does seem that 3 times as many people are finding it necessary to bring their entire house with them, stuffed in a bookbag, just for a day at an amusement park.

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Alan
PTC02/ScrewCrew02
ScrewCrew03

The only problem I've encountered are lapbar slammers this year. Not to me, but to my wife. I'm not one of those enthusiass complainers, as a tight fit (even on Dragster) still yields that precious airtime, but my non-enthusiast wife has experienced serious pushing on lap bars, especially on MF and WT, to the point of discomfort. That's not cool at all.

Other than that, I've noticed pretty quick operation in the food stands this year, and that's probably the one area in particular that has never been very good. That's a welcome change.

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - Sillynonsense.com
DELETED! What time does the water show start?

I must be going to the wrong food stands (cough)SkyRide Refreshments(cough).

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It's not war, famine, or pestilence; it's only downtime.

I have never worked at CP but have known many people who have. I have held a season pass since I moved back to Ohio (4 years) and have been going to the park since I was a child in the 70's. I have always realized how difficult working at CP is. I hope that every employee who is reading this thread realizes how much they are appreciated. They can build a record breaker every year but if not run properly the park wouldn't have near the success that it has. I hope that management doesn't loose sight of this and recognizes all employees as the true value that they are. Judging from the park's success they do. Perhaps they just need reminding occasionaly.
*** This post was edited by malibu stacie 7/10/2003 2:36:29 AM ***

I understand those employees who are upset at the lack of hours due to overstaffing, but at the same time, I suspect there will be some weeding out of employees who don't perform up to the strict standards CP sets. It means the employees who ARE there will have to prove their worth.

Believe it or not, that includes learning to deal with managers and supervisors who may be difficult to work for. I've been working for a clueless, controlling boss for several years, and as difficult as it can be at times, I've learned some very valuable skills in dealing with difficult bosses.

Also being in a customer service job, I've learned how to deal with upset faculty/staff/students who don't understand why our rules for computer access and passwords are so strict. Of course, being a mom of a teenager also helps when dealing with college students who are rude and abusive. (I had one student who came at me with "you can't talk to me like that, you aren't my mom" to which I replied "darned straight I'm not your mom because if I were you wouldn't be as rude as you are").

The fact remains that the economy sux right now. I have a husband who can't even get a job at McDonald's because the market is overflowing with high school and college students looking for work. Maybe you aren't getting the hours you want, but at least you have a job.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
http://www.webtechnik.com/ebony/CPLady.htm

OldCPer, if you have to deal with upset faculty members, I have the utmost sympathy.

Professors: sometimes wrong, but never in doubt. ;)

Brian Noble
Morris Wellman Faculty Development Asst. Professor
http://www.eecs.umich.edu/~bnoble/