What it's like to work the Rides in Area 3

I know this was posted in another thread but i felt like it was buried and could be helpful for First years being assigned to Area 3. Please don,t turn this into a bashing thread, we have enough of those on here.

Maverick:
When running all six trains, it can be hard to hit interval consistently. With making sure everyone is buckled and the lap bars are down to the point where it is safely allowed to leave the station; while making sure single riders are paired up, Lose articles are put away. Also you have parent swaps, Handicap passes, and VIP w/ holding rows. all while trying to send the trains by the time second train is going through the second corkscrew.

Gemini:
this ride is an arrow, and with arrows there is a lot of people being moved through the ride. Even when running one side it can be tiring keeping up with interval. as with maverick you have to deal with lose articles and special access, parent swaps, etc... two people have to check 30 seats and make sure everyone is safely ready to ride by the time the trains are going through the horseshoe above the station. Also this is the last manually parked coaster in the park so even the operator has a lot to do. also on the colder mornings you have to deal with sandbags and when you get done w/ the testing the rides in the morning you have to rush to get the sand bags off the train so people can come the ride.

Cedar Creek Mine Ride:
This ride can be frustrating to the two people checking the train, because you have to pedal each and every car in and out. especially when there is three trains running because you are racing to get each and every train out of the station, just so the train in front of that does not set up on the second lift. While on top of that you have to deal with the larger guests not being able to fit and there could be several per train.also as w/ every ride you have the special access, parent swaps to deal with.

Mean Streak:
This ride can be frustrating at times, but out of the four coasters in A3 is the easiest to work. but the frustrating aspect of this ride is the J hooks; if a seat will not unlock you have to use the j hook to pop open the restraint and there could be several per train. coupled with trying to get the train ready to roll by the time the train in front of it clears the lift. It can be hard to hit interval.

Thunder Canyon:
On a hot summer day this can be one of if not the fastest paced ride in A3. On a hot day you will be more then likely running 9 to 12 rafts. so that means (if you are on platform) you will be non stop loading, unloading, spacing rafts. Crowd can be the most difficult position here, you have to fill every raft w/ 11- 12 people per raft while running several rafts so its like playing human tetris If you have a special access raft you have to work fast to get the raft on and of the flume in a space between two rafts on the flume already. Also when there is an Estop you have to run up ramps, down stairs, pull heavy drains, and pull rafts sometimes w/ fully loaded w/ people; all while remaining clam.

Skyhawk:
While the ride is running there is a lot of idle time except for crowd they are trying to fill all 40 seats every single time.it also like playing tetris. but when checking the seats you want to check the seats in as little time as possible that way you can get several cycles in the day which means more riders.

Camp, GCA, and Wave swinger
these rides are mainly operated by yourself except the coasters. It can be frustrating being away from people at times, and the summer heat can take its toll on the body. and plan on dealing with several complaining parents(tho that's with almost any ride but i feel like its multiplied in kids areas).

Snake River Falls
it is true there is really no movement at this ride but there is a lot more receptiveness then the other rides if you are running 4 boats, you constantly telling people that all lose articles have to go with them and cannot put them in the station. if you up at chute you are constantly spealing.

Antiques
if you are running more then 10 cars you will have cars constantly backed up so it will be nonstop loading and unloading the cars. and it does not stop until it is ok to take off cars.

Shoot the Rapids
I have no experience form working this ride but from what i have been told by last years TL it can be difficult b/c by the time the pump in the bot turns off the ride is ready to be dispatch but they cant check the seats till the pump turns off. so you are constantly moving. also crowd has to be very good at balancing the boats and have the rows filled and balanced by the time the next set of boats park in the station.

CP & LE RR
This can be one of the easier rides to work, but there can be a lot of solidarity at the gatehouses. Constantly talking at both the stations and gate houses and a lot of standing around.

AS I have said before it also depends a lot on the crew you are with some people work well together some don't.
Also Weather has a huge part to all this the warmer it is the slower crews are going to work. it Depends on if all ride units are running and properly working. Each ride has it's difficulties. some can be worse then others, but that is not to mean one crew is better then the other.

We are going to try to make the train a little more interesting this year :) not quite sure how yet but it will be awesome.

Do they run one or two trains? That might be a stupid question but I know some parks have 2 trains in service at once so I wasn't sure.

The rail road runs 2 trains at times, depends on how many people are in the park and whatnot

we dont normally start 2 trains until late june/early july