Jackass waitor, killer ride ops 10/10/03

After a really bad experience with the park the first Halloweekend and then two rain-outs, I was really hoping this Friday would be better. For the most part it was, but we had one snafu.

We ate dinner at Johnny Rocket's. It was adequately staffed so it looked like a good plan. Boy were we wrong. We waited 15 minutes to be waited on, then 30 minutes after that to get our food, which was cold, and we never saw the waitor again until he brought the bill. I complained about the cold food and he snatched the fries right out of Steph's hands! Jackass! He took the fries off of the bill, but we still didn't tip him for being an ass. What made the whole thing worse is that he only had four tables, and if he didn't spend so much time dancing to the same three songs over and over, the service might have been better.

So we went to guest services and filled out a complaint form to get it out of our system. The cutie working there was too cute to yell at, so that helped things. :)

So off into the park we were surprised to see how crowded it was for an October Friday night. Fortunately, unlike our last visit, the park was otherwise up to the challenge. Raptor was running like the well-oiled machine it should be, in a manner that would make Walter and Claude proud. Not a single train stacking and the line never stopped for the 15 minutes we were in it. It was the first ride I had since July, believe it or not, and what a way to go. I wish I'd get more chances to ride Raptor.

While Steph hit the fortune tellers in the old Pirate Ride building, I took a spin on Blue Streak, which was apparently open in place of Wicked Twister, which was down (again). You know that BS is running well when you can feel the upstops slam up against the track. It was running really well, and could've been even better if they lubed it a little more (lots of squealing on the turn-around). Blue Streak has really become one of my favorites again this year.

At that point, I was content and had my fill. Friday nights for us have mostly been about just being outside in the fall air, and this night was perfect, full moon and all. We did a lap around the park, and one point of the Fright Zone I think was too dark to be safe, as a light or something seemed to be missing there.

Dragster was running in the most consistant manner I've seen it run ever, and the trains are moving around in a way that's significantly more efficient. I didn't see how fast the hook was resetting, but clearly the trains were moving quickly and overlapping blocks as they should from one place to the next.

Here was another good sign: They actually had the fries stand across from Gemini open, and it was really busy. Good call, as that back end of the park is nearly useless on Friday nights. I still think they should try to scrounge together a Camp Snoopy crew if they can, because giving the kids that little bit more to do would I think round out the offering for the entire family.

So aside from the jerk at Rocket's, we had a good time, and we're glad to see things running more up to speed.

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

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giving the kids that little bit more to do would I think round out the offering for the entire family.

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Amen to that. At the beginning of the season, we had originally booked a two-night Halloweekends stay at Lighthouse Point for the Last Family Unit Fling. However, with kids aged 2 and 5, both under 46", the park is a bit sparse for them, even with factoring in an early bedtime. Combine that with the fact that nothing kid-friendly starts until noon on Saturday, and it's an easy call to save the $175+tax and skip out on Friday night's stay, driving up Saturday morning instead. Which is exactly what we did.
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It's not war, famine, or pestilence; it's only downtime.

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Jeff said:

...We waited 15 minutes to be waited on, then 30 minutes after that to get our food, which was cold, and we never saw the waitor again until he brought the bill. I complained about the cold food and he snatched the fries right out of Steph's hands! Jackass! He took the fries off of the bill, but we still didn't tip him for being an ass. What made the whole thing worse is that he only had four tables, and if he didn't spend so much time dancing to the same three songs over and over, the service might have been better.

Funny that you say that because that waiter was my roommate. He came home and was talking about you and how you were complaining about the food (which he took off) while you kept eating those cold fries. If food is cold, why keep eating it?

Any Johnny Rockets' dancing is signature to that company. You of all people should know this, so don't be surprised when they are dancing to some songs.
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MANTIS ROCKS 2002 & 2003

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*** This post was edited by Brian Short 10/27/2003 10:46:38 PM ***

Please... your roommate was a rude jackass who couldn't wait tables to save his life and should've been fired.

Not surprised one bit that you'd defend the tool.

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

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Brian Short said:

Funny that you say that because that waiter was my roommate. He came home and was talking about you and how you were complaining about the food (which he took off) while you kept eating those cold fries. If food is cold, why keep eating it?
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MANTIS ROCKS 2002 & 2003

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Here's the thing...I would have gladly complained about my food when it was brought out and asked for them to remake it. Problem solved! However, it took an insanely long time just to get it. Other people (who were seated after us) were getting their food before us. Then, the waiter never returned to see how we were doing. It's the cardinal rule of serving that you come back in five minutes to see if there are any complaints! The next time we saw our waiter was when he brought us the bill.

So, yeah, I ate cold food. After sitting with my food for 20 minutes and the waiter was no where in sight, I realized I wasn't going to get warm food, so I decided to eat it since I'd be paying for it anyway. I was starving! We were already pushing an hour spent in that dump and I wasn't going to wait longer for more mediocre food and the chance for our waiter to continue being a jackass to us.

Sure, the dancing is fun, but would it hurt to take 10 seconds to tell your tables that you'd be right with them? Or is it better to run past and not say a thing, letting your customers grow more angry? Does it take that much time to stop by and ask "is everything okay here?"

As the wait staff, there's no need to be an ass to your customers. I wokred as a number of years in food service and dealt with every type of situation possible. When it comes down to it, the waiter/waitress is responsible for making the guest feel welcome and bringing us our food (i.e. in a timely manner and the way you ordered it). If there was a problem in the kitchen, it's the waiter's job to explain that to the people waiting for their food. Ignoring them doesn't make them happier nor does it make the problem go away.

Our waiter had an attitude from the start. Maybe he just had a bad day, but I don't care. I'm starving. I want food that is edible and then I want to get the hell out. You would have done the same thing.

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Stephanie

There is no excuse for poor service. I work in food service and I know this for a fact. It doesn't take anything away from your time as a waiter to go out and tell your customers if there is a situation where their food will be a bit late. Actually if it would have been me, and I got the bill like that after NO checkup and crappy food, then I would have taken the bill up to the counter and told the manager on duty to take care of it and exactly why he should do just that. (but that's just my personal way to handle it) Always remember folks, "Never confuse tolerance for acceptance". ;)

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This ain't no book you you can close, when the big light hits your eyes. Cropduster-Riot Act-Pearl Jam

i like chili fries with cheese and onions. theyre good

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:james
magnum crew 2002
johnny rockets 2003
*** This post was edited by magnumjames 12/11/2003 4:53:54 PM ***

You are making excuses and your attitude sucks just as much if you think it's acceptable. You realize that the park reads this stuff, don't you? I sure hope you don't plan on returning next year.

Service worker news flash: Nobody cares about your problems, especially at an amusement park. People don't enter amusement parks in a bad mood, something has to put them there, something like this moron waitor of yours.

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

I work at with the public at a gas station. Granted, it's not the same as waiting tables, but it is still dealing with the public.

I can see both sides to a point, but I am leaning towards Jeff's side because he is right in that people are normally in a good mood at an amusement park. I deal with some rude people but that’s just in the mix of the public -- you get your share of nice people and your share of people who suck.

Basically what I am getting at is that there are many factors which could have influenced this.

And Jeff you are right, people don't care about your problems when you work with the public. This guy seems to be truly insensitive to the customers.
*** This post was edited by Etrain 12/8/2003 6:27:09 PM ***

I've worked all of those jobs. They are not easy jobs, but you know what? For the most part they require little to no higher thought process to do. Steph and I have talked many times about how much easier it would be to work in a retail or food job (where we've been before) in comparison to the high-paying stuff we do, because it's so much easier to just do it, leave it all at work, and come home worry-free.

Yet another reason why no one is interested in your problems...

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

rocket doubles are my specialty.

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:james
magnum crew 2002
johnny rockets 2003
*** This post was edited by magnumjames 12/11/2003 4:54:36 PM ***

i think flare pants are going out of style.

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:james
magnum crew 2002
johnny rockets 2003
*** This post was edited by magnumjames 12/11/2003 4:55:37 PM ***

But people should care Jeff. The higher pay jobs may be more important and include more thought, but I disagree with you thinking it would be easier. My Mom has worked both also and she still thinks retail is much more demanding.
*** This post was edited by Etrain 12/8/2003 6:27:53 PM ***

No, my assumptions are not wrong. This moron couldn't multitask. He was a slacker. The other tables around us were irritated with him too. He should never have a job working with the public. When you see a server from a neighbouring section more than you do your own, that means he's worthless. I can't believe he even made it through the season without getting canned.

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

It most of been one of those days. I go there all the time on my time off and I really never saw a problem with my servers. Hey it happons, but saying to have fired because of what happon? I don't know, I wasn't there to tell.

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Kelly aka the Mighty Kell Dog
Magnum xl 200 ride op in 2003
Season Pass Holder for some of 04

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magnumjames said:
i think flare pants are going out of style.

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What does that have to do with this topic?

I would have stopped the waiter when he was dancing and told him to think of his customers for a change, and serve the food right, and quickly. There are coasters to ride, people don't have time to sit and wait for food all day!

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Millennium Force is MY baby.
Where would we be without CP?:)

Its part of there job, deal with it. If you don't want to wait for food while there doing there job, then there is other places you can go to. It's not like the rides are going to go anywhere.
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Kelly aka the Mighty Kell Dog
"It's ok he is just on some really big power trip. "

Oh! Silly me! I'm should expect cold food and poor service. What was I thinking?

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

SweetCoasterFreak said:
Its part of there job, deal with it. If you don't want to wait for food while there doing there job, then there is other places you can go to. It's not like the rides are going to go anywhere.

Well, some people (who aren't passholders) come from far away and only have a limited time at Cedar Point, and they don't want to spend hours waiting for cold food. Some people want to have fun before the park closes.

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Millennium Force is MY baby.
Where would we be without CP?:)

*** This post was edited by MF310 12/23/2003 3:55:44 PM ***

I understand that, but you have to understand they have a job to do as well. I do agree, I woudn't want to have cold food either. Unless you really want that. That's up to you.

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Kelly aka the Mighty Kell Dog
"It's ok he is just on some really big power trip. "