Hi I recently applied for the 2006 season at Cedar Point, and I have my interview tommrow. I would just like to know, how its like when you first start out working there. What the first day is like, and any other information you can give me about it.

__________________
http://www.xtremecoastin.com - Step Into The World Of Xtreme! Check us out.

Generally your first couple of days will consist of department training, company orientation, and then on-location training. In some cases it's not quite in that order, but you will generally complete all three training programs within the first few days of working.

Depending on which department you are working in, your experiences will vary widely. I personally work in merchandise, so what I went through is probably a lot different than what you go through if you are a ride op, which I am assuming is where you are applying.

If you start after the first day of the season, expect to come in at least 2 hours before the park opens to do morning training sessions. Until you learn to check restraints and things you will probably not be doing much but working entrance. After you have done basic training you can check restraints, etc., but you still can not "operate" the ride. In order to work controls you must first pass your visual boards test, which is basically a test of control procedures and what all of the lights and buttons mean on the control panel.

I personally know people who worked for 3 months and never even bothered to get certified on their ride, mainly because they didnt care if they got to work controls or not, they just liked checking restraints, etc.

Anyway, thats the short version of my answer. If you have any questions, be sure to let me know. If I can't answer them, I'm sure there is someone on here who can.

Well thats been real helpful man thanks a lot, how long does it usually take to get completely certified?

__________________
http://www.xtremecoastin.com - Step Into The World Of Xtreme! Check us out.

What department is your first choice?

If it's rides I could tell you what to expect in your first week.

That depends completely on you, I've worked some rides where I passed my Visuals the first day working on it. Visuals are also only for rides that require more then one seperate ride vehicle to operate on the same course, meaning most of the roller coasters and the water rides. The other rides you do NOT need to take a test to work controls.

Your first day depends on when you actually get the park and when you actually arive. Let's say you arrive after HR closes (usually 5PM) then you can go to housing and start processing in there (get your room so you don't need to get a hotel room if you don't want to) then the next morning you go to HR and process in (getting your ID, checking into your department [including all the fun saftey videos form IAAPA circa late 80's early 90's and getting your manuals for your location], going to wardrobe and getting your uniform, and taking a drug test if your department requires it) add going to housing if you are getting to CP before HR closes.

If your arriving two or more weeks before the park opens for operation (as ealry as late march), you work monday-friday 8:30-4:30 (in rides at least) and you clean, clean, clean, clean and clean, you can wear whatever clothes you want, but the older the better. In rides, if you get there the week before the park opens, you'll mostly be cycling the rides empty In the afternoon (this is usually the time the state comes in and certifies the rides for the year) to get a feel for the ride and this is also the time when you learn everything about your ride. In the morning's there's fun meetings that go over park policies and some basic customer service training (plus you get to watch "The guest")

If your arriving after the park opens, you'll process in the same, but your on the job training is a little different, they have checklists for every ride that cover EVERYTHING about the specific ride (everyone must fill one out prior to working on a ride... according to the state of Ohio at least...) and you'll get to see how things are done then you get to do it. Depending on the ride and time of summer, you could be working alone, or you might have other people. Visuals can be taken at any time at Park op and you have to pass them before working in Controls by yourself.

Any other questions?

__________________

This is a pretty good thread. I's looking like I'll be interning at CP this summer, so I was scrounging for some info about what it will be like. How is it when you're not working? Is it hard to have some non-park related fun when you don't have a car?

__________________

Activity in CP is broken down into thirds of 168(7X24)
Work-56 hours (9.33 hours a day over 6 days)
Sleep- 56 hours (8 hours a day over 7 days)
Everything else- 56 hours (1 day off- 16hours and 6.66 hours per work day)

When you're off you try to amuse yourself with things in your housing complex. Watch TV, hang out with others, eat, play video games, whatever you can find. But with or without a car, there's not much to do in Sandusky. There's a bar close by, but if you won't be 21 when you go, there's only a limited fun there. The only other place is the mall, but that will make you drop some serious dough. You could go to the park, but since you're already there a third of your time, you usually just want to get away from the place. Take it from me, in 2003 I did not work at CP and rode Dragster 8-10times, then I worked in 2004 and 2005 for 3 months each season and never rode Dragster once.

What makes CP great is that most of your fun is going to actually be at work. Working with your crew and smiling guests and an amusement park atmosphere goes beyond a satisfaction that I can explain.

__________________
'08, '07 Area Supervisor Merchandise, Cedar Point, "18/20 Go"
'08 Area Supervisor Merchandise, Six Flags Over Texas, "366 Go",
'06 Batman:TR Ride Op, SFGAm '05 Front Desk, Disney's BoardWalk Hotel,
'06,'05 TL, '04 Merchandise, CP, Coaster Count: 258

This also depends on how much you visited CP in the past. My first and most of my second summers I would spend most of my free time in the park doing everything (I was a big fan of the shows too, so that usually ate up a lot of time) My third and last summer I didn't spend as much time in the park, sure it was fun every once in a while, but it get's kinda meh after a while.

You shouldn't have to worry THAT much about a car either since a lot of people do drive and many don't mind giving you rides places ( and if you become good enough friends, some will let you borrow their car)

The stuff to do in Sandusky is up to you, it's like any other small town (CP doesn't even really affect it THAT much aside from traffic. Downtown is gorgeous and the parks they have around the bay are nice too for somewhere to relax. Finding stuff to do shouldn't be hard because your ****f is neevr the same as someone else, so you'll always have different people to do stuff with on you days off and stuff.

__________________

I'll be turning 21 while I'm out there, so I guess a little drinky drink won't hurt too much. I didn't expect too much out there since it is a small town. I'm anticipating for the park to carry me through a portion of the summer for free time fun since I've never been there before, but I just wanted to be assured that it isn't competely dead. I'm pretty much cool if I can play some Madden or Socom online to chil, but escape when "necessary".

I'm just trying to figure out what word could have been starred out there. LOL

__________________

Don't count on online, All you get is dial-up (if you can manage to actually get a line out that is) that you have to get yourself (this is when those AOL disks actually get used)

I would NOT reccomend bringing anything of true value as there were a LOT of thefts last year and the Police and housing seemed like they couldn't have cared less about any of them. It's up to you if you want to actually bring stuff though.

__________________

Yeah. I had like $20 in quarters stolen from my locker last season. They were in a lock box inside a little cubbie in the locker. I didn't have the locker locked, and I only had a small luggage lock on the cubbie.

If you bring anything of value or if you want to store money, use heavy-duty locks. Your best bet would be to get one of those things to cover your door so people can't slip in with their ID or credit card.

__________________
ThrillNetwork Editor Emeritus
Voyage is the best roller coaster ever.
2008 Raptor ride count - 126. Lifetime - 1,143.

Ouch! That hurts! Dial Up?! I forgot that even existed. Well, with good is some bad I guess. I have to think if I want to risk bringing my PS2, stereo, laptop, or TV because the police will be after me if someone messes with my stuff. That's just crossing too many lines there. Besides, if I think it's that person and it is, they will get busted. I put my name in some wild places in my belongings, plus I have an engraving pen.

__________________

no, no, no the stuff dissapears from Sandusky. Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland are all major cities not far and from where people come from. It could also be locals and you would never have a clue. That's what makes it very frustrating, there's no one place to start looking.

__________________

Yeah I had some really cool roommates last year and I got my PS2 stolen. I stayed in the apartments so I didn't have lockers that year and it got ripped off. It could of been my roommates or possibly someone walked into the room when it was unlocked. I figured I'd risk lossing it because I plan on buying the PS3. I guess I kinda take it back now. You just have to be very careful.

__________________
'08, '07 Area Supervisor Merchandise, Cedar Point, "18/20 Go"
'08 Area Supervisor Merchandise, Six Flags Over Texas, "366 Go",
'06 Batman:TR Ride Op, SFGAm '05 Front Desk, Disney's BoardWalk Hotel,
'06,'05 TL, '04 Merchandise, CP, Coaster Count: 258

Just as a word to the wise: Don't bring any of that. None of it. The police won't be after you. They won't go after anyone.

__________________
ThrillNetwork Editor Emeritus
Voyage is the best roller coaster ever.
2008 Raptor ride count - 126. Lifetime - 1,143.