I would Like to say working at a Theme Park is very fun and challenging at the same time. I'm a ride operator and I work at (PKD) This is my 4th year working at the park and at the same ride. I love my job and my ride, the Guest are nice at times. If you want to work at a Theme park get ready because I'm about to tell you the things I go through so sit back and read on lol. I'm also going to explain the things I saw and things that happened to me.

Angry Guest- As a ride operator you must be prepared to get yelled at for things that are beyond your control and things that you cannot change. For an example I was checking restraits and when you check restraits you have to check children height. And so I saw a child suspected of being a bit to small of riding. So I get the height stick and measure the kid he was short. I told the mother she was to short to ride she was very angry with she said" NO SHE GETTING ON THIS RIDE" and I responded "No she is not" she said try me so I just went on bout my business the train was sent out. Now the 2nd train arriving in the station. This is the train she is about to board with her daughter.
The gates opened I saw the mother quickly strap the child in the seat and her self. I quickly came to the row they were in I gave the board operator the signal to open the seats. I attempted to open the seat the mother grabed my hand and said"NO SHE GETTING ON" I said "Lady she is to short to ride and she is not getting on" The mother said"NO SHE IS SO" I know by know this situation is out my control so I told my supervisor the situation. My supervisor came to the row and telling the lady she cant ride. My supervisor gave the board operator the signal to open the seats she attempted to open it. The mother grab her hand also, so by that time my supervisor called security. And we had to shut down the ride because she would not let the child get off. So by this time the other guest in line relize whats going on. They are made aswell they make comments at the lady saying" GET OFF" "SHE TO DAMN SHORT" so security came and escorted her out the park.


Over Large Guest- There is always some one who knows there to "BIG" to ride and refuse to take no for an answer and determine to ride the ride. You as an operator cant just say no your to big cant ride. You have to atleast try and make an attempt and show that you care or what not. This is what happened to me. A large guest was in my side of the train and she wanted to ride, I dont like over large female guest because there more hostile and senstive about it. So it was a female over large guest just by looking at her I knew she wasnt going to be able to ride. I tried and my attempt failed so I called my friend to help he much stronger than me he also failed to. Sense the new rule that two operators cannot push down on a restrait only one can. I gave the board operator the signal to open seats. When the seats opened her reaction was" O NO TRY AGAIN" Me and my friend which is another associate looked at each other like she crazy. So we tried again knowing that we would fail. Which me did. So we opened restaits again she was like"I cant ride?"we said no mam you cannot I'm sorry. Then this when she got dramatic "OMG I HATE THIS, I'M FILING A LAWSUIT, YOU DESCRIMITATING ON FAT PEOPLE" She was very serious she was crying. The other guest were looking at her like wtf? And later that day the phone rung at my ride and they said that me and my friend had a guest complait. The lady felt as though we didnt try hard enough. I laughed at that I didnt care I know I'm a good employee and I tried my best.


LINE CUTTERS- All postions on the roller coaster you have to watch out for Line cutters. Its apart of our "eye cycle" A good ride Op must look out for these things. This is my experience as ride operators we cant look out for every possible thing were to busy doing other things. Once again I'm checking restraits the train parked into the station, gates opened the guest poured on the ride. Then some one grabed my attention and a group of people said" Those people in the 4th row cut line" I said do you have any witnesses or any one else who saw it. Then a couple in the other row knew I needed other people and they knew that they skipped line and they ackowledged that they did skip line. So me and my friend(associate) came on the row were the suspected line cutters were on and I told the board operator to open the restraits and he did. The "Line cutters" looked shocked and I opened there seats they put it right back down.

They asked why I opened up there seats. I replied" People are saying you and your friend jumped line and you have to get off" They refused to get off I personally was feeling tired that day I didnt care if they refused to get off because I know that guest in line were going to get angry and do something to them. Or security would remove them from the park. So justice was on my side lol so the "line cutters" knew who ratted them out. The line cutters looked at each other like we should go I cant believe we getting off. So they said ok so I opened the seats they got off the people were cheering yay. Then I noticed that the "Line cutters" were waiting by the exit I suspected that they were going to beat up the people who ratted them out which they were. And the line cutters looked like 25 and the people who ratted them out looked 17 16. So I called security which they came. And the "Line cutters" saw security and left before they were confronted. I felt good about that situation lol.


Lost Article- As a ride op be prepared to hear I lost my"Cam,phone,money,sunglasses" The ride clearly states Please secure all loose articles. Even our speils say it so I know for a fact waiting in line they hear it over and over again. Sometimes you might have to go look for it. Sometimes guest get very angry at there selfs and take it out on you. This is my situation I'm Exit operator when the train parked the station the guest leave off. Then a couple came to me excuse me sir I think I lost my phone. I explaine to them the procedure for this type of situation. I told them they have to fill out an lost artcle form.

And based on the Description they tell us we go behind the scenes to look for it. If it is in a restricted article which forces us to shut down the ride we will not do it. So the man was explaining where he lost his phone and he told me a place I knew for a fact that it was in a restricted area. So I told him we cant go back there until the ride shuts down. which is i the end of the night when the park closes 10:30 pm He was pissed! HE was yelling at me I my self was laughing inside I found it funny he yelling at me because he refused to secure his article in a locker or something. Then his girl friend claming him down. The thing about me is I'm a calm patient guy I never talk back to any one no matter what they say. So I asked the guy can he come back at 10:30 ten we can begin the search he said"***** YEA I B BACK" I repied" Thank you sir" lol so he camed back that night. we just finished the last cycle of the ride. Now I get to go look for it, so I looked in the area he was talking about I found his phone it was smashed broken to me it was unusable so I took it to the man he saw his phone he said "*****" I hate this ******* park. "THIS IS A 300 dollar phone" I said sir do not yell at me I'm sorry for you phone and would you like to speak to my supervisor if you feel unhappy about how I handle this? he was like you know what, I'm sorry dude I been sh** to you I'm just pissed. Then he told my supervisor I was a good employee:d




Lie or Not to Lie? As a employee you must follow park procedures when the ride breaks down? Do you tell the guest in line why the ride broken down or do you say the park"Statement"? I would say use your own judgment.


SCARED TO DEATH- When the ride breaks down you as an employee must talk to the guest which are stuck on the ride, and explaine to them whats going on, and there will alwayz be a guest that is very scared and say"I WANNA GET OFF" I'm losing my mind" This is my story when the ride went down, I was talking to the guest who were stuck in the brakes and every one seemed calmed and aware what I was telling them. But It was this one guest that was like SIR! why are we stuck? Is there another train coming behind this one? I wanna get off now! I'm trying to calm her down but this lady wasnt taking any thing I was saying. She wanted to get off I said we have to wait until matienece gets here to get the ride up so you can get off. She like LOOK! I'M HAVING A PANICK ATTACK! GET UR SUPERVISOR!. so Iget my supervisor like she requested and he handled it from there because supervisors are trained for that kind of stuff not regular line workers lol. So the ride was up again she got off and I gave her some water=]


Stupid Guest- There always some one in the park who will do stupid things that will get them kicked out the park, Or spoile it for the whole bunch. This my story When I was board operator aka control room part of the job is to look for guest who undo there seat belts or want to get off because there scared, or look for people who are to short to ride. So all the floor operators put there thumbs up I got on the mic and said"All Clear" and it was this gues that undone his seatbelt for no reason at all I tried to stop the train in the station that failed, The train was still on motion then I had to press the E-Stop I knew that would cause the ride to shut down. So I pressed it the ride shutted down I said my downtime spiel. And of course the guest in line were angry, So The floor operator went to where the coaster was stuck, and asked the man why he undone his belt the guest had no answer, Security escorted him out the park.

An ok review. As long as you like your job, all is well. Those situations will be good for you in the future. Anyway, welcome to TN.

P.S. is english your second language?

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yup spanish is my first

That's great. I wish i could speak another language fluently.

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I find english hard because it has to many words that mean that samething, but they dont mean they same thing Blah! see what I mean lol

Looks like you enjoy your job, but have a few problems with guests obeying with the rules each day which is normal I suppose.

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New York Yankees - 2009 WORLD SERIES CHAMPS!

i'm glad i never had those types of problems. Maybe cause i was in kiddieland and the only think guest complained about what why their kid couldn't ride and usually it's because they are too talk. They they be like "My kid is only 6 years old" and i say yes but she's still too tall. Or they get mad because they can't ride with their kid, knowing they are tooooooo big to fit in those little seats lol. Guests crack me up. Oh and they complain about not being able to smoke in Kiddie land. I love tellin people to stop smoking.

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Kennywood Team Member 2004 Kiddieland
2005 Racer/Jack Rabbit Crew
2006 Racer/Skycoaster/Paddle Boats Crew
2007 Thunderbolt/Turtle/Gold Rusher Crew

Welcome to TN. You've certainly seen and heard just about everything. I worked kiddieland many times. The parents often got mad if a kid were too tall and I would not let them ride. Also with kids the seatbelt undoing thing was quite often except when I worked at PKI some of the kiddie ride belts locked and only the operator could undo them. Also kids would be scared and start crying. I got so I could tell who would be terrified before they got on thus reducing the number of e-stops I had to make. I was height stick once in a while on a coaster. I tried to catch the short ones before they waited in line for an hour and got pi**ed off at me. I love rides but everyday is different. I enjoyed reading about your ride.

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Please remain seated until the ride comes to a full and complete stop.

i never stopped a ride in k-land if a kid was crying. I only stopped if they looked like they were trying to get out or slipping out or something. Crying is no excuse for me, to take off a kid. Usually its funny seeing kid cry, the parents thinks it's funny too sometimes lol. But i only stoped a ride if the kid was in danger of getting hurt. A little crying never hurt anyone lol. they are suppose to be scared.

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Kennywood Team Member 2004 Kiddieland
2005 Racer/Jack Rabbit Crew
2006 Racer/Skycoaster/Paddle Boats Crew
2007 Thunderbolt/Turtle/Gold Rusher Crew

PGH.... You really are evil.

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::like elvis:: "thank you, thank you very much" lol

hey if i'm evil the parents are evil too cause they don't tell me to stop the ride. They sit there and watch their kid cry. Why waste the ride and risk all the kids jumping out just cause one kid can't take it. Then the parents will get mad because their kids jumped out thinkin the ride was over and it has only been runnin for 10 seconds. I save my self from goin through all that trouble and keep the ride goin so no one complains. The kid just gotta suck it up. If the kid is not harmed in anyway then the ride goes on. Or else your gonna be stopping the ride every five seconds cause kids start crying. Thats too much work. They don't pay me enough to be stopping and starting 20 times in one ride cycle.

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Kennywood Team Member 2004 Kiddieland
2005 Racer/Jack Rabbit Crew
2006 Racer/Skycoaster/Paddle Boats Crew
2007 Thunderbolt/Turtle/Gold Rusher Crew

Regarding Height Restrictions: Blaming the State when someone complains about an "outrageous" height restriction usually works for me

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"...and please don't rock the Gondulas!"

I don't mean a little wimper. If they look like they might cry and just ball a little then stop I know they will get past it. But if they are petrified I will not torture these poor kids lol. Like I said I save the trouble by reading their faces. When some parents insisted despite my saying maybe not good Idea. I always end up stopping. Also those are the ones that will try to get off sometimes if their scared. And yes you are the evil one lol.

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Please remain seated until the ride comes to a full and complete stop.

On the giant wheel, or any ferris wheel for that matter, it really messes up balancing procedures when someone wants off the ride and we have to stop midcycle. I told all of my employees last year to use the crying rule, if they are in obvious tears then we can stop it, but not if they just "look scared or worried" I hate to say it, but being scared or worried is part of riding amusement rides! It's not gonna hurt them to tough it out a little bit, and if they are completely safe and you know they are safe, why stop it? Just my thoughts on the issue.

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"...and please don't rock the Gondulas!"

Thank you, there is no point to stop the ride if they are not getting hurt. I mean hey, at least they are not being tortured on a real ride out in the big park. Thats what happened to me. See on the jack rabbit you can be 36 inches to ride. Thats pretty small. Like a 4 year old can ride it and for a 4 year old that ride can be pretty scary especially on the double dip lol. I was so scared after riding it that i didn't ride roller coasters till i was in like 8th grade lol. These kids are just in kiddie land. The rides only go 5 feet off the ground lol. A little crying is good for them lol. They need somethin to scare the ***** out of them, maybe they will listen to their parents. lol I can picture it now

Parent: "Jonny, you better not make me mad or i'll make you ride the Lil Phantom!"

Jonny: " No mom, that ride is too scary! Please don't make me ride it again"

lol

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Kennywood Team Member 2004 Kiddieland
2005 Racer/Jack Rabbit Crew
2006 Racer/Skycoaster/Paddle Boats Crew
2007 Thunderbolt/Turtle/Gold Rusher Crew

Great review. Thats just about how i feel about alot of the guest. It's ok though it's a great learming experience. Welcome to TN.

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2009 Carolina Cobra Crew
Go Panthers! 4-6: Week 12 @ New York Jets

#6 North Carolina Tarheels 4-1

I only stop rides for crying kids, or more often, when idiot parents decide that they are going to JUMP THE FREAKING FENCE and try and stop whatever ride it is WITH THEIR FACE. God I hate parents.

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Ah, for real?

WHAT????? Are your serious? Parents jump the fence and try to stop the ride? How stupid can they be????

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2009 Carolina Cobra Crew
Go Panthers! 4-6: Week 12 @ New York Jets

#6 North Carolina Tarheels 4-1

He is right they jump the fence to come to jr's aid. I have not had that experience in a long time but Its true. Some folks don't think what their doing.

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Please remain seated until the ride comes to a full and complete stop.

Has anyone ever gotten hit and injured by the ride. If so what happens?

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2009 Carolina Cobra Crew
Go Panthers! 4-6: Week 12 @ New York Jets

#6 North Carolina Tarheels 4-1

No one ever got hurt on my watch. They mostly would jump in after I e-stopped and was slowing down. The other favor they would do more often is open up the gate as I was just stopping and let the line in. Yep I always loved that one.

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Please remain seated until the ride comes to a full and complete stop.

Lol well my friend hit this girl with an elephant once lol. She didn't get hurt but it was kinda funny. Hey it was the girls fault. She put a thumbs up before she was on her X and i guess she was in the way of an elephant and didn't move quick enough lol. I didn't see it happen but when she told me i was crackin up lol.

I think someone else got hit by a helicopter lol. and the operator did it on purpose cause she didn't like her lol. She wasn't hurt though.

And i almost got hit by a cad (little car ride for like 4 year olds) The cars go like 2 miles an hour if that lol. And me and some girl was pullin weeds on the track and i didn't see the car coming cause they are kinda small, don't make noise, and i was facing the other way. lol And of coarse those bad a** kids wasn't gonna say anything lol. I literally jumped over the car and almost fell flat on the ground. By the time the girl i was workin with noticed the car was about to hit me it was too late. That was the funniest thing in the whole world. No one seen it cause we were on the back side of the track and no one can really see down there. If that car would have hit me it probably would have just stopped or went off the track. Nothin major.

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Kennywood Team Member 2004 Kiddieland
2005 Racer/Jack Rabbit Crew
2006 Racer/Skycoaster/Paddle Boats Crew
2007 Thunderbolt/Turtle/Gold Rusher Crew

I've been run over by the Thrill Karts twice already, and we've only been open a week. Both times I was checking the harnesses in one kart when a kid climbing into another stands on the gas and floors it. The second time it happened my ankle bent sideways and went under the bumper, and I thought it had broken. It did not though, which I suppose is good.

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Ah, for real?

PKD is my home park. I'm working at Disney and I've yet to have a mean guest come to me. I think it depends on your attitude and nature. I'm not saying you are bad though. Sometimes they will just attack the first person they can. Someone asked me if I had any bad guests, I was like "Nope." They responded, "Well, you are a very nice, I can bet that is why." I really appreciated that. Hehe.

Where at PKD do you work? My favorite is the Grizzly! Just curious. Oh, and I get my fair share of stupid guests, don't we all.

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WDW CP - Spring & Fall 2006 - Entertainment Performer
WDWCP Alumni - Spring 2005 - Living Seas/Soarin'

Out of all places why you want to work there?

I felt sorry for the people that couldn't fit on Mean Streak. They need to get some more exercise and amusement ride manufacturers need to be more accomodating for larger guests in the future. I always did what I could to get them locked in so they could ride. But you get the ones with that real backside . . I mean real, just rip out the seat divider and they'd fit perfectly. And then there's the riders who try to make CP have another stand-up coaster. No miss, Mean Streak is not, you must be sitting in the seat, just being near it . . haaa . . no dice. And whenever a crew member got a big one, we would all watch, just to see if Sara or Greg or Nancy or John . . I can't name them all, just to see if they could manage to get them fastened in. There's tricks of the trade to get the biggie sized safely locked in, and we would take some pride in doing that.

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Thank you for riding Reaper! Drop Ride to Doom, and remember to desecrate a sanctuary today.

Really? Working at the front desk of a deluxe resort of Disney I can say I atleast get one mean guest a day. I could be Santa Clause, but if a guest room is not to their needs they will bark at the first person they approach. I mean I understand why since they don't know who gave them the bad room, so they just take it out on the front desk. Some of the most common things that upset guests are being, not close to elevator, too close to elevator, on the first floor, looking at the parking lot, or facing the wrong pool. Or you get the most outrageoues guests like this one lady who claimed her room smelled of natural gas, as well as the next 2 rooms we showed her, and when we finally found one that she claimed didn't smell, she said the TV wasn't in right place and she demanded to be upgraded to the Grand Floridan. Though I don't think it's too bad because I think of the people working Guest Services at Magic Kingdom, and realize I'm lucky to have a job that I'm not yelled at so much everyday I would consider suicide.

Anyway, The Living Seas huh? That seems pretty tame, but I do find the person out in front of the place doing a considerable amount of yelling at the guests. I remember talking with the guy in front, and in the middle of our conversation, a lady went under those white ropes, and the guy yelled "Ma'am don't touch my ropes!, you go around like every else!" The guy even startled me, but it was funny as hell.

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'09 Area Supervisor, Merchandise, Michigan's Adventure
'08 Area Supervisor, Merchandise, SFoT; '07 Area Supervisor, Merchandise, Cedar Point
'06 Ride Operator, Batman:TR, SFGAm; '05 Front Desk, Disney's BoardWalk Hotel, WDW
'04 Merchandise, CP, Coaster Count: 268

I was at a park interview. The department head pretty much said their would be more then a few times I would have to forgo haveing a break in an 8 hour shift. I said no problem just keep plenty of water around. I did wonder why are they expecting to be short handed more than usual. Of coarse this is breaking a few little labor laws.

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Please remain seated until the ride comes to a full and complete stop.

Exerlannt review,
I've always wanted to work in a theme park and you have provided me with alot of useful information.

Your welcome nice to help some one these days.