No Autospiels -- Has it helped morale?

Right? If I was still around when they started giving away that spectacular solo speiler award, I SO would have dominated.

I know as a passenger I tend to tune out the recorded autospiels. But if there is someone with a personality on the mic then you really listen. As you said, it gives the Ride Host the chance to interact with the guests. I remember when Magnum 1st opened, it had a dreadful spiel in the que line which had to be about 10 minutes long, and it was looped. Over and over- in the sun, for 3 hours- you felt brainwashed! That was when Magnum was a chick-ride, there was no gum wall, no seatbelts, the chaser lights on the lift actually "bounced" up and down the lift, and the strobes and other disco lights in the tunnels were accompanied with FOG!

Anyone else remember?

Does anyone else not understand the Arrow-not spieling from the controls thing? To my knowledge Arrow Dynamics is not in business anymore. Cedar Point Standard Operating procedure for each ride dictates what the ride ops do/don't do. Some rides are more physical than other and the headsets free up the employees hands. However, I remember the Ride host spieling from the controls on Mine Ride the one year after they changed the brake/computer blocking system. Unlike when I worked there 100 years ago- when we had an unload 1 position which did infact unlock/lock the lapbars on the pedals. Talk about guest interaction! DEEP BREATHES NOW- SUCK IT IN- "CLICK"- thumbs up.