Housing pictures/information

All I can say is that if I worked at Cedar Point, I would just live at my parents summer home on Catawba Island... Its just off the second exit across the bay bridge, 20 -25 minute drive... but A/C, full kitchen, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, cable, and no roommates!!!

Bayside is the "holy grail" of CP housing, but unless you are processing in during April, good luck getting it. Both years that I was at CP I stayed in Commons. One year in the 1400 building and the other in the apartments. Although the apartments will provide some stories I will never forget...::shakes head::... I must say that I prefer the dorms. The A/C is actually effective, and you actually feel like you have your own space. The apartments feel too much like a community area... oh yeah, and my Gamecube and my roommates X-Box got stolen during our last week at the park... Let me know if you have any other questions!

God Bless TSTNC (the store that never closes)

Is theft really a huge issue at the park? I never really considered it to be a large factor, but something as simple as a locker could play a large roll in my decision.

Do you think it would be a wise idea just to keep valuables in the glove-box of my car? It seems that that would be a safer location than inside the room somewhere, which is in a sense a "public" area.

Yes, it is a big issue. Since the amount of “quality employees” is dropping, the amount of theft is going up. My first year it was rare to hear of a room being ransacked of all its valuables. Now, it seems like it happens 3 or more times a month.

As far as your car, I wouldn’t recommend putting anything of value in there. But if you do, it will only work if you LOCK your car. Don't count on the fact that your car is out in the open to stop a thief.

Last year, I really didn't hear about theft until the bonus weekends when people would go home and leave some of their stuff in their apartments/dorms, while some people stayed all week. I would recommend staying in the commons dorms so that you get a locker and then get a good lock. People will steal whatever they can and then sell it to The Exchange or to other places. So be careful. I would never bring my xbox, but I do brong my laptop, but it's a piece.

Do the dorms and other housing facilities stay open during the week in the post season? That seems rather strange, but I guess that they would have to in order to keep some employees there well into the season.

Yep, they're open during the weeks. It's not like the people who come to work there from far away have anyplace else to go if they're staying until the end of the season.

*I should clarify that I meant during bonus/Halloweekends. Although I'm pretty sure they now keep Bayside open all year for Castaway Bay employees. *** Edited 4/12/2006 5:06:10 AM UTC by Ralph Wiggum***

As a former Housing Supervisor for Cedar Point..a word of advice....I have many fond memories of Cedars dorm, both living and working there scanning those IDs...but I would not let my dog live there. The Victorian charm was lost a LONG time ago and fallen into utter disrepair. It is a fire trap.

HOWEVER: You "must" weigh your options. Honestly...how often will you truly be staying in your room? Long enough to sleep or perhaps more? Do you have a car or the patience to wait for the next bus? Do you want to live with 6 other people? There are pros and cons to all of the housing options. Take your time, chat with employees, see if you can visit, etc. and then go from there. It "will" impact your summer experience.

As far as the rude Housing employees...yes I worked with quite a few...hehehe. They tended to be the retirees. Remember that more often than not, they were just trying to do their job the best of their ability and set in their ways. For those who may recall...I worked at the Cedars front desk ('95-'96) with my over the top co-worker Jon...and we generally created a party atmosphere and let some people in without scanning, planned themed "movie nights" in the Lounge, etc., etc....much to the dismay of Kathie Morrow- Housing Director. It was a job that I will always treasure and I miss those who passed by my desk!!

Is it possible to visit the housing facilities the summer before to help me make a good decision?

And, if that were to happen, would my parents be so disgusted by the conditions that they would not allow me to live there? ( I know that is a subjective question based on personal opinions, but for the most part, parents tend to think alike ;))

You need to be less concerned with what your parents think, dude, or they need to get off your back. If you're living at CP you're 18, so it's about time. Trust me, you will be happier.

Heh - my parents only visited once. I don't think they were too impressed with living conditions.

Well, I heard others have done the same in the past. I know that I wouldn't mind the conditions, but I have heard other people say that their parents have been very concerned with the living conditions there. But, oh well, I'll just tell them to meet me in the park or somewhere else for a visit.

A few years ago, I spent two weeks in Cedars. My dad came to visit me once to drop of some of my stuff, he took one look and said, “I had better living conditions in Vietnam”. Sad thing is, he is probably right!

And I disagree with what Hosier said about TopThrill‘s post.. Even if you are 18, your parents can still care about where you live and in what conditions your living in. There not on his back, just looking out for there kid. Same thing with my parents, I am very much on my own, but my mom would never have me living in the ghetto if that was all I could afford. That doesn’t mean she isn’t letting me grow up.

“I had better living conditions in Vietnam”

That's a pretty good sum up of the employee living conditions.

As I've said elsewhere, the sad thing is that the housing could be a great asset if Dick and the gang had any vision at all. Unfortunately, the dorms don't go upside down or fast so it is of little interest to the powers-that-be.

Every year quality employees walk into their housing assignment, turn around, get in the car, and go back home. Even if they didn't want to raise wages an improvement in the living conditions would go a long way.

When I was on the recruiting tour it took all I could muster to try and "sell" the idea of living/working at Cedar Point, particularly when I was asked what the dorms were like.

Now, don't get me wrong, I lived dorm life. I spent all my college years in campus dorms. But, the worst dorm I had at college was better than the best dorm at Cedar Point.

And, Cedars and Gold must go. Seriously, how the leadership can drive past those buildings and not be ashamed of themselves is beyond me.

Cedars should have been leveled before I worked there, and that was over thirty years ago.

My honest opinion would be to go for Commons Dorms. I know it's more out of your paycheck per week, but it's air conditioned, you have cable, and in the end I feel it's just the nicest of the 3 options you have. I would only suggest Cedars if you have trouble getting up and having enough time to get ready and be there to start your shift. With Cedars you have the ability to roll out of bed and be into work in 5 minutes. But the cheap price and the location weren't enough to win me over. The cable I could have survived without, but considering how hot it got some days last summer, I'm GLAD I payed the extra money to live in Commons.

It really is a shame CP can't put more budgeting into Employee Housing... Yes, I know that the rides and attractions are the reason people come to the park, but giving employees a comfortable, enjoyable place to live would not only increase the number of high-quality employees, but also would likely raise the spirits of those employees at work, thus making a better experience for the guest... If the guest has a more pleasant time, they will spend more money in the park... which ultimately allows the original investment to be profitable.

That and the fact it was always miserable to climb into bed at 2 AM and see the thermometer in your room still reading 88 degrees... How did I survive??

How do they go about placing you in a dorm/apartment? I'll be starting in mid-June, will they put me where there's room, or do I have a choice?

You will have a choice, unless your choice is filled up. Then its whatever is open. But there is always at least ONE bed somewhere.