Ride Operators!

I plan to work on Cedar Point after I graduate High School in a couple of years... and I was wondering, any ride operators out there (preferably the roller coaster operators, because that is what I want to do) descirbe an average day, or tell me what kind of things could go wrong...anything is appreciated.

edit: I plan to stay away from TTD until its fixed...although I wouldnt mind riding it and catching a roll back!

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LaUnCh...420 feet, 120 mph, 4 seconds....brakes...breathe
*** This post was edited by Playa21 7/22/2003 2:38:48 PM ***

i cant help you playa but i think thak WT is the best ride to work on as you can have fun with count downs

ha ha

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Matt - '02-'03 WT crew
Awwwww man, I think I got dain bramage!

I wanted to work on Wicked Twister, Millennium Force, Top Thrill Dragster, Raptor, or Mantis!

3..2..1.. Go!

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LaUnCh...420 feet, 120 mph, 4 seconds....brakes...breathe

You'll begin to learn that doing something over and over trains muscle memory. I was working Dragster and almost started popping pedals like I was at Corkscrew. You just get so used to it.

I would highly recommend knowing your job before you get there. The quickest way to get respect is show up your first day and work like you've been there for years.

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Formerly the imbecile known as ddogg
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2003 Super Screw Crew

Be prepared for COUNTLESS hours on your feet. It's not easy your first few days, but you get used to it easy. PAY ATTENTION TO DETAIL! Coasters are the harder of the rides to work. The three hardest? Mantis at 1, Gemini at 2, Mine Ride at 3. Easiest? Dragster at 1, Twister at 2, Milli at 3. Whatever you do, have fun!!

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2003 - Gemini & Antiques Triangle

Hey now, I think a couple more coasters than that were easier than Millennium Force. Maybe it's somewhat PHYSICALLY easy, but the whole "no lining up for any seats but front and back" bit when I was there (maybe it's changed) was a pain to enforce, as well as the "no backpacks/purses/anything in line" thing. It's a mentally exhausting ride!

Wildcat is a pain to work if you have to open, sandbagging blows. That goes for Gemini and Mine Ride as well. I never worked on Mantis but I've seen twisted arms in controls. :D

Gemini's controls are wicked fun.

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Natalie
Mine Ride '99
Thunder Canyon '00
Millennium Force '01

As far as coasters go I imagine Raptor (and WT) for that matter would be considered one of the easier coasters work on basically because there is no bending over to check seatbelts. On the flip side, there is the getting kicked by guests. Long hours is so true, and with exception of controls, entrance and freeway, you WILL be on your feet. Working at CP is my "fun" job during Halloweekends and I look forward to it again this season, hard work or not! :)

Jo
2000 Raptor Crew
2002 Raptor Crew
2003 Raptor Crew
Lifetime Raptor flights: 763 :) (goin for 1k in 03!)
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It's all about getting around the barrels, or over the fences, right leads, no faults, fastest time and looking pretty when done. What's so hard about that? :)

I'll agree with the comment about twisted arms in the Mantis control booth ;o) I'd also have to say that I've been having a blast working there so far!

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Jeff Tobe
tobejeff@pilot.msu.edu
2003 Mantis Crew

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Wildcat is a pain to work if you have to open, sandbagging blows.

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I just did it about 12 hours ago, I didn't think it was so bad.
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Eddy the retard is awesome.

Honestly I know that coaster people are pretty proud of their rides. And i'll admit it is fun to work on coasters....i've worked on a few myself this year. Two of which are TTD and Mean Streak....but no matter where I go I always seem to run into the fact that there is some serious drama on every crew....every crew except my own. Power Tower rocks forever....2003 crew is the best by far. Anyway the average day on Power Tower isn't to bad...except for the fact that so many guests seem to need to take IQ tests before they are allowed in our park. All I have to say about it is no matter how many hours you work...and how many guests irritate you beyond belief...it is definately an experience of a lifetime

I dont know if any of the Operators for Top Thrill Dragster read this at all...but if you are out there I just wanted to say Thank you for all your hard work! I am sure you guys get hit with a lot of questions like "why isnt it working?" "what happened now?" "when will it re-open?". I dont know about you but that would drive me crazy after a while. And when the ride is open, you guys do your best to make sure every train goes out as quickly and as safely as possible. So Thank You for all your hard work...I hope one day I can be an operator of Top Thrill Dragster!!!

Yea, I would imagine that TTD is a hard ride to deal with, just the massive amounts of questions. The concerned park quests asking and demanding answers. Great Job! The following are the coasters I want to work...now that I know Mantis is a harder ride, I dont know if I wanna operate it, in fear that I would mess it up..hehe, they go from greatest to least desired..

TTD, MF, WT, Raptor, Screw, MS, Mantis, Blue Streak, Thunder Canyon, Snake River Falls, White Water Landing, Cedar Creek Mine Ride...

Some of the coasters are abbreviated [DUH!]

I would really be honored to work on any coaster, or any ride for that matter!

Be prepared to work quite a few hours a week. It’s helpful to know the common shifts, as follows:

Open – Close with two 45 minute breaks or a 45, a 30, and a 15 minute break

Open – Eight with one 45 minute break and a 30 minute break

Open – Six with one 45 minute break and one 15 minute break

11:30 – Close with one 45 minute break and one 30 minute break

Open – 1:30 and 6-Close (Split) with two 15 minute breaks…one in the morning and one in the evening

Generally the coaster crews report to work at 9:15 to do block checks, cleaning, and test rides. The coasters that have Joe Cool in the morning, obviously, have to be there earlier.

If you work in Ride Operations, especially on a coaster, one thing you’ll have to deal with practically daily is downtime- mechanical, weather, guest illness, etc. The best thing to do is to keep the guests informed and everyone will be happy.

No matter what ride you work there are a variety of positions in which you’ll rotate to and from frequently throughout the day. On every ride I worked, this occurred every half an hour...give or take ;). For coasters, the usual positions are entrance, freeway (if the ride has it), crowd control, load and unload positions (the people who check your lapbar/harness/seatbelt), and then a person in controls.

In order to be able to do controls on most of the coasters you’ll first have to pass a visual boards test. They’re generally 20 multiple choice questions covering the standard operating procedures manual they’ll give you for your ride; the test has to be administered by a double blue or silver tag, and you’ll go to park operations to take it. Passing is 0-2 wrong.

As Drew and Natalie said, doing the same thing over and over again day in and day out for months can get to you. I never really had a problem with it because I had a great crew that kept things upbeat and fun. Regardless, be prepared for the repetition.

Also, as mentioned, rules like the “no loose articles” policy on TTD, MF, WT, Demon Drop, and Corkscrew can be tedious for the employees that have to enforce them. The position I liked the least was Corkscrew Entrance just because the majority of guests aren’t aware of this rule and are pretty unhappy when you tell them they can’t bring their stuff with them; however, it’s your job to enforce it no matter how grisly the situation may get.

It’s a great idea to be really familiar with the park before you get there…countless times guests would ask me questions that, quite frankly, I don’t think I could’ve answered if I weren’t such a pointer nerd ;). If you don’t want to go as far as learning the entire CP history, know the basics like where rides/bathrooms/phones/gates/park ops/lost persons are all located.

For the most part the training you’ll have in your first few days will prepare you for practically everything; however, in any given season, there may be instances that arise that you really won’t know what to do until it happens, and then you learn from it.

Anyways, seriously consider working at CP once you’re old enough; this past summer was not only the best I’ve ever had, but I walked away knowing a lot more about the industry as well as living on my own away from home and stuff like that. I can’t wait to get back there :)

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Kara (car-uh)
Super/'Screw Crew '03
Races for the Sky: 12

Is the Visual Boards Test done orally, or is it a test on paper?

The visual board test is on paper, just like your in school. The first ten questions are standard operation procedure questions and the last ten to twelve are specific to the operation of the ride.

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Mark-O-Polo
Magnum XL 200 Crew 2002
Mean Streak Crew 2003

I also plan on being an operator. Is it easy to get to become an operater for a roller coaster? I'd be dispointed if I got stuck operating the Camp Bus at Camp Snoopy or something like that.

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CP Coaster Guide Ride Count
TTD: 1; WT: 9; MF: 4; Mantis: 3; Raptor: 6; Mean Streak: 5; Magnum: 5

it's easy to be a ride op as long as you fill out a appliacation and turn it in as soon as they become available for the new season.

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Melissa
Magnum 00'
Pet Farm AATL 02'
Melslambs@hotmail.com

Well, I looked at the shifts. I believe I could do that, I love being outdoors, especially at a place as great as Cedar Point.

I know the entire history of Cedar Point as well as where most of the bathrooms, food stands, souvenirs, and almost anything else is as well. Dont hold me to the fact that I know everything...

I plan to fill out the application AS SOON as they are available, for the best chances to operate a ride that I want to work, I wouldnt mind a Thrill Ride like Power Tower or Demon Drop, but coasters are where I go first.

Finally, I have seen people get really upset that they can't bring "loose articles" on the ride because "Cedar Point cannot be responsible for lost items during this ride"

Actually, now is finally, I practice in front of the mirror...I know all of the facts about the rides, and can talk very fast and people can comprehend what I am saying!

I look forward to Cedar Point..I am going tomorrow! [8/30/03]

Here's a new question for you.

Not next summer, but the one after that (I know, I think way ahead), I'd like to work @ CP. Obviously a coaster. But, I believe you have to be 18 to work a ride, correct? Or is that just for coasters? The thing is, I will turn 18 on August 31 (2005). Is there a way that they would let me work a coaster for the last 2 months? I know the park is hardly open, but yeah, I'm just wondering. Thx in advance.
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OMG! The Space Spiral is leaning!!" Must be the weight of that new air conditioning system everyone keeps hypothesizing about...