Something about the safety spiel.

I could see an amusement park also using Spanish in their safety spiel... if the amusement park is located in California, where you actually have a high percentages of people speaking that language, but Cedar Point has such a low percentage of foreigners that don't know English, there is no reason to.

Look at it this way. Most people that ride roller coasters have been on roller coasters. So if you dont know how to buckle up yourself then you really shouldent be riding the coaster.

For those of you that said 'If you come to the United States, you have to know enligsh' Try putting yourself in their shoes. They just want a nice vaction, and because very few people in the United States know another languge, when they do talk in the native languge they get dirty looks. Try to be a little more open to others, There is more out there than the United States. If you went to visit Germany, you wouldn't learn german, you would speak english with your friends with you. So when should those to come here be any different, we are not better than they are.
*** Edited 4/10/2005 9:41:46 PM UTC by HappyGoLucky***

I was thinking we could rectify this by putting up some "universal symbols" they might understand, like the cigarette with a red slash through it for "No Smoking". Symbols would be easier to understand than an entire other language.

I think that 2/3 of all foreigners should become obese before visiting America.

That's basically what some people have said about speaking English. If they didn't understand English, someone should have pointed (pun intended) out the sign. If they refused, then they deserved it.

Four years ago I traveled to France. I wasn't expecting to be able to speak to everyone because I was not in America and they don't all speak English. Yes, some did but it was not something I was expecting. Foreigners visting shouldn't expect to hear their language if they don't speak English. Why should we cater to them if we aren't catered to language wise there as well. That is why there are universal signs like the no-smoking and stop signs for example.

To the comments about missing the end of spiel because you are out of the station already, what about the 10 times before that when you were standing in the station? You certainly could have asked any questions then.

Also, Cedar Point still remains a regional park. Most of the GP is still from within a 250-300 mile radius. The majority of people who travel from outside that distance to visit fall into 1 of 2 groups. Either A) they are enthusiasts or B) they once lived within that 250-300 mile radius and have moved elsewhere. There is no point in providing the spiel in 15 different languages to accomodate the 100 people (out of 3 million) who don't understand English AT ALL.

Also, a good number of Europeans, especially Western Europeans who have grown up in the last 20-30 years speak a reasonable amount of English. At the very least, their English comprehension is much better than my (or probably most of your's) French/Spanish/German comprehension.

As a final note, Dave, once again I think you hit it right on the head. The spiels cater to those 4 groups and most of the GP doesn't hear them anyway, or they do and don't pay them much attention.

TTD 120mph said:

I'm bringing this up because last year there was an incident that I witnessed on Dragster(it's actually kind of funny) that relates to this.
I was waiting in line for Dragster, when it "broke down". 20 minutes into waiting I noticed these 2 men(from some other country) waiting in one of the trains who were smoking. I didn't think much of it until a voice came over the speakers and said "please refrain from smoking on the ride." But the men continued to smoke. It repeated and the men continued to smoke. Those in line (including myself) were signaling to the men to out out their cigarettes, but they continued to smoke. Finally one of the ride hosts came out of the station, went around the unloading platform and angrily took the cigarettes out of the men's hands and threw them on the ground. The men then starting talking to each other in a foreign language.

Um Hi sorry to burst your bubble but I remember this very situation. No one came over the PA and said Quit smoking on the ride. We don't use our PA for reasons like that. In that situation we called a ride host to go and deal with the guest. Wich we did. After communicating through hand signals the guest got out of the train and put it out. In no way shape or form did we or would we ever take somones cigarettes and throw them on the ground.

And I agree with Jugga- We ARE a regional park. Unlike Disney being in an area where just as many people speak spanish as the do english. There are also park maps and guides in over 15 languages.

Its not so much as Disney being in an area where there is a sizeable Spanish speaking population (in fact, Disney is a bit far North for that) but Disney is truly an international park. They actually advertise on a global scale. As such, they need to cater to a global guest population.

CPFan420 said:
No they shouldn't have to. Come to the United States you speak English. Nothing gets me more mad then people not speaking English when they come here.

MillenniumMan1287 said:
Absolutely not! We're in America...learn to speak English or don't be here!

That's pretty arrogant and stupid. This is probably the only country in the world where the majority only speaks one language. We're so lame. You wonder why Americans are disliked around the world.

There is a significant Latin population in Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland. I'm actually a little surprised they haven't put up more signs with Spanish, but I'm sure they have the actual demographics from their research.

Well, my opinion is if you are visiting this country, then try to learn a little English to help you figure out what you are doing or where you are going. If you're going to live here, then speak the native language. If I moved to Japan, they are not going to learn English just so I feel comfortable.

JuggaLotus said:
...As a final note, Dave, once again I think you hit it right on the head. The spiels cater to those 4 groups and most of the GP doesn't hear them anyway, or they do and don't pay them much attention.

Well, that's not entirely true. Looking around while riding Magnum, I think most people do listen to part of the spiel. I think what most people hear is:

"Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah may cause serious injury or accident. If you do not understand these--"

(at which point the train is on the move, and several paniced people on the train are saying, "What was that about serious injury?!")

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Dave, are you referring to what seems to be the Soak City Parking Lot Spiel? :)

and to those who seems to have forgotten Emma Lazarus' poem The New Colossus, here is a popular excerpt...

"...Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” *** Edited 4/11/2005 6:19:32 PM UTC by LiveEJon***

TopThrillJustin said:

Um Hi sorry to burst your bubble but I remember this very situation. No one came over the PA and said Quit smoking on the ride. We don't use our PA for reasons like that. In that situation we called a ride host to go and deal with the guest. Wich we did. After communicating through hand signals the guest got out of the train and put it out. In no way shape or form did we or would we ever take somones cigarettes and throw them on the ground.

They played the part of the spiel that says "please refrain from smoking in line" directing it to the two men in the train(which was the second from the last train meaning it was not on the unloading platform just yet also meaning that they couldnt of gotten up and put their smokes out because I am absolutly positive I dont remember them getting up.) You might be thinking of some very similar incident because the ride host did take the smokes out of they're hands, maybe not angrilly but with a sense of agitation.

LiveEJon said:
Dave, are you referring to what seems to be the Soak City Parking Lot Spiel? :)

No, that one is, "You are ascending to ......... eep your hands and arm ...... ld on to any ........ ide on Magn....."

Unless you are sitting in the 2nd or 5th car, in which case all you can hear is "CLATTERCLATTERCLATTERCLATTERCLATTERCLATTER..."

I was thinking of the now-recorded station announcement.

--Dave Althoff, Jr

^That makes me laugh EVERY TIME. Why put speakers up there if you can't hear much of it?

Why mess with any of it? It's been working for many many years and we have gotten along just fine. Sure, there will be times someone doesn't understand. It just means it's time to be a little patient with the foreign speaking guests and take some extra time helping them. No need for a big overhaul to the system. As far as I can see, CP employees do a fine job at making sure everyone has secured their seatbelts and lap bars.

True, true..But I still think that they should put maybe a LITTLE, little bit more emphasis on foreigners and others that dont speaka da English.:)

A few years ago I heard someone do the Iron Dragon spiel in what I think was German. Does that cover any additional bases? :-)

I've worked on some other various rides without auto spiels, but the concept is still the same. In 2002 I had a young French kid visiting his aunt in the US for the first time. I know French somewhat so I tried helping him. I think he was lost. After trying to talk to him and kept getting the response that pretty much translated to I have no Mom or Dad his Aunt came up and claimed him. He suddenly became happier to be reunited.

The next year, I also had a french family. I tried my best giving them the speil personally in French. I think it ended up coming out like

"fasten your cats and remain eating until the ship comes to a complete cow."

But that's besides the point. At least I tried and the family thought it was quite humorous, and importantly they did show they understood what I really meant.

Last year, I had a spanish girl come up to me, and a german couple. Thankfully I had someone on my crew who was fluent in Spanish, and someone else to vaguely knew German. It works.

I know a lot of you are saying people shouldn't cater to people who don't speak english, but honestly, how can you ask a 7 year old kid to speak english when you more than likely could only speak English and no other language at that age. (Unless you lived in a bilingual house). I enjoyed trying to translate for those people, it was very rewarding and great.

As for symbols, they already exist everywhere. There are symbols on the Rider Safety Guides at every rdes entrance. Most coasters and rides now have thick stick figure pictures showing proper riding positions. Theres your no symbols and handicapped symbols and police picture and first aid symbols. I can go on and on about all the symbols at CP but I think you get the point now.