No Autospiels -- Has it helped morale?

Maybe "brace" wasn't the best word to use, but my point is the same. If it doesn't matter, then why do some people like a trick countdown? It obviously adds something to your ride. Doesn't it make sense that the same feeling that is "awesome" to you, isn't "awesome" to everyone?

Who's to say that the "many" enjoy a "trick" countdown? Why should the needs of the few who do be put before the many who don't?

I prefer an accurate countdown launch, myself.

MrScott

Try turning your head and looking at the line before the launch. Then maybe you will understand why the trick countdown is painful sometimes.

My second time ever riding I was talking to my girl when I we got a trick countdown. My head snapped back and it hurt like a bastard.

Not fun.

cedarpointlover said:
I was suprized, this past week I rode Wicked Twister over 20 times...I heard no great jokes, no funny countdowns, nothing. I was looking foward to that part. :(

Ok heres why, supervision is crackin down on us and we had alot of guest complaints about our random/fun countdowns so now we got to do the boring Clear, Launchin in 3...2...1 wooooooosh. Blame the guests not the ride ops

I figured those fake launch counts were going to cause problems eventually. Hopefully the leadership and supervision can use good "common sense" judgement to let people have fun on spiels, but at the same time, still get the message across. Personally, the messed up count did nothing for me. But then again, there are impulses at other parks with no countdown whatsoever (and Dragster doesn't have a "3, 2, 1" and they don't forbid deaf people from riding WT either), so I think the "someone could get hurt" argument is weak as well.

I guess the moral of the story is that clowning around completely on spiels is only going to get us back to autospiels again and no one wants that. I think the return to real spiels has been positive for employee morale and guest satisfaction.

Andrew1 said:
so now we got to do the boring Clear, Launchin in 3...2...1 wooooooosh.

Because getting launched 200 feet in the air at 72 MPH needs help? I'm convinced that fake countdowns (and other stupid spiel tricks) are merely for the amusement of the employee. I'm a big believer in real spiels, but there's a difference between enthusiasm and going overboard.

MDOmnis said:
But then again, there are impulses at other parks with no countdown whatsoever (and Dragster doesn't have a "3, 2, 1" and they don't forbid deaf people from riding WT either), so I think the "someone could get hurt" argument is weak as well.

The point isn't whether or not there is a countdown. When there is no countdown, or if you can't hear it, you should be prepared from the start.

As a former employee, I have to agree. The overboard speils are just to help pass the time and amuse the employees.

I've actually seen an entire station laughing at a fake countdown on WT. You would think that common sense would take over for the riders after seeing at least one launch that, gee, this thing gets moving pretty quickly, maybe I should be ready. Of course, this is assuming they actually have a brain in their head. Of course, with the way my current generation acts, I'm surprised when any common sense is shown. *** Edited 7/15/2006 1:46:41 AM UTC by BlueStreak64***

TThrillD420 said:
On Dragster on memorial day, the girl that was doing the speils was into it and said some funny things, but then she started talking about the color green and she talked about it for about ten minutes without letting any trains go because people were saying "no reds better" and etc., and the ride op finally said ok lets go!! I mean its fun when they tell jokes and screw around a bit, but not if its making you have to wait longer to ride...

hahaha, That was me. I know this because I LOVE the green train. And it wasnt my fault. I wasnt holding up operation, it was holding itsself up. I was just trying to pass the time. I didnt let any trains go because I didnt have the thumbs up. Dont make me out to be a blabbering idiot!

It's amazing what a difference such a minor change makes. Letting employees be themselves is a great idea

Which is EXACTLY why I worked Paddlewheel

It went in cycles this summer. Every now and then there would be a "crackdown" on what we said while spieling, which would last for a few days. Then it would go back to everyone not really caring for a few weeks...rinse, repeat, you get the idea.

I worked Paddlewheel for several weeks in July. If you got a good boat that was willing to play along, it was a blast. And, of course, if you got a boat that just sat there and stared at the back of your head it was awkward at best.

As far as WT, people need to understand that the ride doesn't launch when the op presses the "Launch" button(s). I believe there is a delay of several seconds. I'm not trying to say that that is the the cause for all of the "mistimed launches," but it is a factor.

I really disagree that spiels are just for employee benefit. They were fun at the beginning of the year, but they got old real quick. I constantly found myself tempted to just drone on with the usual warnings and maybe a stat or two, if I felt like it or if there was time. But instead, I did my best to keep the enthusiasm and the joking up because people (GP for the most part, and enthusiasts at CoasterMania) really did seem to like it.

As a guest, the spiels were my biggest complaint this season. Actually, my only complaint. I was happy to hear the "generic" spiels gone on the rides like Magnum, Power Tower, etc.... But, I REALLY missed the "themed" spiels on MF, TTD and WT. The music in the stations just wasn't the same without the voices. But, the biggest letdown was ID and Cork. Uh yeah, AWFUL spiels. Of all the ones to keep, they chose those?? They could've at least TRIED to make the one for Iron Dragon fit with the theme of the ride. Then again, they killed any chance of a theme when they crayola'd the track.

Anyways, I didn't think the spiels on TTD or MF were good at all. If anything, the ride ops sucked at spieling. They were good at moving people, but not good at spieling. Maybe it was because I went late in the season, but none of the spielers were good. I couldn't even understand the ones on Gemini.

I believe the ID and Corkscrew spiels had more to do with interval and the ride ops not being able to get everything said and the train checked in the amount of time.

Yeah, I know that's what the park says. But, that doesn't negate the fact that the spiels are AWFUL. They put effort into "theming" the MF and TTD spiels when they existed, so if ID and Cork's spiels are a necessity, why not put some effort into them?

Iron Dragon didn't have a spiel when it opened, did it? What about Cork?

Thank the Lawyers.

I agree with haltd I really didn't mind the Auto spiels on the newer rides. I did in fact feel like there was something missing when I went in June. But in August I just got used to it.

Lawyers mandated awful spiels that sound like chipmunks speaking? Wow, I didn't know they had that much power.

Back on topic though, I don't think the morale was up this season because of the lack of autospiels. Maybe on some rides, but not on others. That's the difficulty with spiels. As the season goes on and employees get bored, the spiels suffer. And, the guest experience suffers too. With an auto-spiel, the guest experience is always the same. That's why Disney uses them. It keeps the experience the same.

I do love the Corkscrew spiel.

Welcomebackriders!Howwasyourride!?Whenthetraincomestoacompete....

You get the point.

'I didn't think the spiels on TTD or MF were good at all. If anything, the ride ops sucked at spieling'

all i can say to you HALLTD is 'oh no ma'am'