Working in Food Service at CP

While there are tons of posts on here about what are the best rides to work on at CP, I havn't come across many topics about where to work in food service. I was thinking about applying to CP for the 2007 season as a server(job code 106) and just wanted some feedback from those of you who have worked as a server at CP, or had friends that have had the position in the past. What restaurants are the busiest, how long are the shifts, how many tables do you get, etc. Any feedback would be much appreciated.

It was fun when I worked there..Maybe Tony Aaron will pay ya a visit..

When you apply as a server, you don't get your choice of which restaurant you want to work--just so you know in case you thought you would. All of the restaurants you do work at you make really good tips.......there are a few that are above normal like fridays on the beach and famous daves but overall you can make mad money as a server if you know what you are doing. depending on when you are working will depend on your shifts.......when we are fully staffed a normal shift will be about six hours but again depends. the number of tables you get depends where you are.......i know after hosting at gameday on average you had 6 tables. well that covers it any other questions feel free to ask

I've had friends that have worked as servers in the past and for the most part they love it. It can be a lot of work, but they can make more on a good day than some other park employees make in a week. I had one friend that got stuck working a double/triple shift at TGI Fridays at the Beach, basically open to close and she made just over $500 in one day. Not bad, even if it was like a 19 hour shift and one of the longest days of her life.

Fridays and Famous Daves employees tend to make the most, and I think Bay Harbor servers probably do very well as well, but I'm sure no matter where you are at you can make pretty decent money just because the restaurants are busy pretty much all the time and people run up big tabs when they are on vacation, which (hopefully) translates to big tips.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy your time at Cedar Point. Who knows, I just might see you in the park this season.

Thanks for the replies-

During your interview can you mention that you'd prefer a specific restaurant, or is it all pretty much random where everyone will end up? Also, is the pay rate the same 6.25$ as the rides, or are the servers paid less like they are in restaurants outside the amusement park industry?

As a guest, may I ask for a smile once and a while and be glad that you are serving a guest. I had some bad experience with the food services last season.

My current job working as a Salesfloor person at a retail store isn't the greatest job, and I'd wish to be just about anywhere else, but when a guest comes up to me and ask me a question, I always come off friendly and answer them to the best of my ability.

Servers are exempt from the standard minimum wage because they receive tips. I believe they made about $2.13/hr. last year, but I'm not sure how the new Ohio wage laws will effect it. My guess is that they'll probably pay mid $3.xx or somewhere around 50% of the minimum wage, but its the tips where you make your money. If you can turn six tables say three times during a shift (probably more) with an average check of $40, if you are making 15% tips (probably higher), thats $108 just in tips per day. A 15 hour O-C shift at Millennium Force is only $93.75, and that is probably twice the length of a regular restaurant shift.

As for requesting a specific location, you can always try, but I think its kind of up in the air based on where they need you.

Good luck and let us know where you end up.

Actually (as of a couple years ago at least) there were several different food service divisions. The in-park restaurants, the resort dining and the marina, I think. You could ask at the interview to have your application reviewed by any or all.

I agree with the Fridays assessment. You'll be busy there, but you'll make $$$. I worked at Dominic's in the Breakers. My entire crew quit or transferred. The problem was that it didn't have the cache of the Fridays name behind it, wasn't located on the beach and frankly wasn't real busy. I'd make some $20.00 tips (from one family) every few days, but you'd only get one "rush" and a lot of the customers were crabby that they couldn't get into Fridays.
Also, the sidework and tip-out proceedings took an awful long time. However, it was cool working in the hotel. You could live there (again, this was a couple of years ago) and there were advantages to working outside the park. It was more relaxed, cleaner, less harried and the clientele was more affluent. Plus you didn't have all the in-park politics to deal with. You had the Cedar Point experience but the sweeps in Frontiertown and the hack guessing weights on the midway didn't know you and you could enjoy the hotel as well.

By the way, if you really want to serve, make it known at the interview. You can request a specific division or even restaurant, if you want. (I did.) You may not get your top choice, but they won't shout you down or anything!
Also, use impeccable grammar and diction and it won't hurt to wear a suit or at least a shirt and tie. I know everyone else wears jeans and a sweatshirt, but that's the easiest way to end up working the fry stand underneath sky ride...

well on the application you have to use the job code for server.....and the way it works is that it's pretty much what manager gets to your application first....i mean you can ask for a specific resturaunt but again servers are a premium position so you shoult be happy if you get a server position

Random question...do food service employees have similar shifts to ride ops? I know most parks have different shifts, but some are also willing to work with carpools and what not.

Food Service has some of the craziest shifts in the park and there really isn't a "normal" schedule. If you work outside of a full service restaurants, they can make a lot of changes to your schedule based on weather and crowd levels. You'll probably find yourself being sent home early more often than other departments or told that your shift is being split and you'll go home at like 2 and have to be back at 5 or something crazy like that. If it gets cold outside or it starts to rain, many cart employees will also get sent home because their carts will be closed.

You can get a lot of hours in food service if its a busy week, but if its a slow week or the weather is bad, expect to get sent home early a lot.

As for Cedar Point, they don't schedule for carpools because they provide on-site housing and a bus to take you to and from the park. What's even better though is that if you end up closing at like TGI Fridays and you have a very busy night, it is easy to miss the last employee bus and you have to find a friend who will take you home.

Busses are not the most reliable means of transportation, they often have lines and run off their posted schedules, so if you have a car, BRING IT! If not, plan to leave for work 60-90 minutes in advance, especially at opening and around 2:00-3:00, and expect to spend a lot of time waiting at park closing.

Server wage this year got bumped up to $3.43 + tips + bonus. I'm working at Famous Dave's this summer, processing in May 5!! Yayyy!!! :)

Gomez said:
As a guest, may I ask for a smile once and a while and be glad that you are serving a guest. I had some bad experience with the food services last season.

Craig, just curious where you had a bad experience. We always had great friendly servers at Midway Market & most times at Fridays as well (the food, however, is a different story).

Holly, did you make good tips at MM? Alot of guests there seemed to stiff the servers from the tables I noted. We'll say hello to ya at Famous Daves this year. We haven't tried it there yet, and we were hoping the food would be better there.

I got hired in at Midway Market last year but ended up not going because I unexpectedly got engaged, LOL! I've been to a different Famous Dave's and it is EXCELLENT food, so you should definitely try it out!!

Actually food service is one of the better jobs at the Point. Can you imagine running a ride when you are still drunk from the evening before?

When I did my stint, I was disapointed at first that I landed a spot in food service. Of course I wanted to work on the biggest roller coaster (Gemini). I quickly learned that doing the same thing over and over was not for me.

I worked at the Frontier Inn and truly enjoyed the experience. I had contact with customers (girls) everyday. It was like shooting fish in a barrel. I would carry my clothes and beer with me to clock out and change. Always a good time!

HollyDay said:
I'm working at Famous Dave's this summer, processing in May 5!! Yayyy!!! :)

I'm also headed to Famous Dave's to serve.

I got a job as food host at the coffee shop. What exactly do you do as food host?

If I am not mistaken, the "food hosts there are either the people who work checkout at the end of the line, the people who take orders and hand over food on the "cafeteria" line, and/or bussers.

Anyone know anything about the Breakwater Cafe or what its like serving there? I just got hired as a server there today.