Employees don't have admission privileges?

Ben James Ben · #1 01-06-2007, 03:37 PM

Most parks seem to have, as one of the perks of employment, policies that allow employees to freely enter and enjoy the park when they are not working (as if they were a season pass holder). I'm trying to find out how many parks do not give employees the privilege of admission to the park.

I've identified one such park so far. (They do occasionally give a few restricted passes to their employees each season.) I was wondering whether there were any others. Is this a common practice?

I speculate that such a policy might cause employees to feel disconnected from the park. Instead of feeling ownership towards the park, they might feel, "It's not my park. I just work here."

PGH_Steeler · #2 01-06-2007, 07:02 PM

I dont see how that could work out. I mean, anyone can just show up with their uniform on like their goin to work, then change their clothes. I know i would if my park didnt allow us to enter for free. I think thats a reason why most parks do let their employees in for free. They know they'll find a way of getting around the system.

Kennywooddude · #3 01-06-2007, 07:08 PM

I'm sure that the employes have to show some sort of ID to enter for free.

Chris L · #4 01-06-2007, 07:37 PM

^ That's usually how it works. When I worked at Knott's Berry Farm in Summer of 2004, in order to gain free admission to the park on a day I wasn't working, I'd have to present my Employee ID card as if it were a Season Pass to the ticket taker or through the employee entry area (but it isn't scanned, despite it having a barcode on it and all).

PGH_Steeler · #5 01-06-2007, 07:39 PM

At kw, there's two ways of enterin for free for employees, thats if u come in with a uniform, they ususally dont ask for id when we enter, as long as ur uniform is on they dont care. we do have to have our id on while we're workin though. Theres only one lady that asked to see the id before entering, but i never saw her when i entered. Second is on our off day we gotta go into guest relations and sign in and show id. i remember during fright nights and during the summer i would walk in before the park opened with a few other employees and we all had regular clothes on, no uniform on, no id showin, and no one stopped us. there is a guard up front in some box thing, i didnt even know he was in there and he didnt even stop us. maybe they can sense who actullay works at the park and who doesnt. most people dont try to sneek in anyways cause most already bought their tickets to go so there's no point to sneek in.

Ben James Ben · #6 01-07-2007, 01:16 AM

For this particular park (the one that doesn't give employees admission privileges), it was explained that it works like this:

Quote:

If you entered the park though the employee entrance, and have punched in you are on park time. Once you punch out you must leave through the employee enterance, and you cannot reenter the park. No free rides as in the past.

Aside from the obvious benefit of being able to enjoy the park for free, do you think that having a free admission policy makes you a better employee? Or, does it not make a difference? Do you feel a sense of ownership of the park? Do you do things like pick up trash even when you aren't on the clock?

psonio7 · #7 01-07-2007, 02:45 AM

Never heard of a park denying free admission to the employees.

I know that Universal does (or did) restrict on Halloween Horror Nights. Other than that, I know all the Orlando parks it is free.

I'm more interested in which park does NOT allow free admission for employees??

Kennywooddude · #8 01-07-2007, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben James Ben

For this particular park (the one that doesn't give employees admission privileges), it was explained that it works like this:

Aside from the obvious benefit of being able to enjoy the park for free, do you think that having a free admission policy makes you a better employee? Or, does it not make a difference? Do you feel a sense of ownership of the park? Do you do things like pick up trash even when you aren't on the clock?

What park is that?

Ben James Ben · #9 01-07-2007, 05:40 PM

The park in question is Canobie Lake Park.

coasterz44 · #10 01-07-2007, 05:45 PM

Quote:

I know that Universal does (or did) restrict on Halloween Horror Nights. Other than that, I know all the Orlando parks it is free.

Universal doesn't restrict on anything (anymore? not sure if they ever did though). If you work there, you can go to any event (save for the corporate events held by companies) that the park throws.

HHN, RTU, Mardi Gras, it's all free.

Sandy W · #11 01-09-2007, 07:35 AM

This one park maybe had a problem with employee behavior. When they were off the clock. The only thing I remember being off limits while working was that of participating in any park games do to the idea of the chance of theft because of favortism by the game employee to the another employee. The no pass thing does seem stingy but I imagine there is a good reason behind it.

coasterell · #12 01-16-2007, 12:52 PM

I know at Geauga Lake, or any Cedar Fair park for that matter you can get free entry, it just depends on which park you go to, to see how it's handled. When I was working at Geauga Lake and visited Cedar Point, I had to get signed in at Guest relations.

When i worked at Cedar Point, they just scanned my ID. So it all depends on the park, the policy, ect.

but as for employees not getting in the park for free? that would discourage me from working at the park....

Sir Willow · #13 01-16-2007, 02:27 PM

Seems that allowing the employees to enjoy the park on their time off is a fairly obvious plus for the park. It makes them far more familiar with the park, especially parts of it that they would not otherwise go to. That makes them far better at helping guests, give directions, etc.

It also means more bodies spending money, even if it's only at the employee cafeteria.

The only negative I can see is if the employees were roudy, but then if that's the case, why are they still working there. I know that a good number of parks if you work at them, and cause problems at the park when you're not working you're still out of a job.

Can't think of a single good reason to not let your employees in to play when they're not working.

Coaster Nana · #14 01-16-2007, 10:50 PM

At Carowinds last year we couldn't "play" on any day we were scheduled to work. They've changed that for this year--as long as we're not wearing any part of our uniforms we can ride before or after our shifts. Thank you Cedar Fair management!

**Marcus** · #15 01-16-2007, 11:47 PM

Six Flags tried to screw me over my first week. They asked me to come down on like a Monday, and then said some orientations are screwed up and I wouldn't be able to work for 6 days, but I was still going to be charged rent and non-refundable deposits. So before my first day of work I already owed Six Flags $180. That lady that set me up with housing was no longer with the company at the end of the season. I was pissed, but I really had no choice cause I really wanted this job. But in my 5 days of no work just waiting for my orientation, I wanted to go visit the park, what else was I going to do? When Human Resources said "I don't think we can do that", I was on the verge of blowing up. If the manager didn't give me the OK after like an hour, I would of quit.

Other than that, screw free entry. I didn't really visit the park in my off day unless it was an employee ride night. Once you start working somewhere 6 days a week for 60 hours, that's the last place you want to be on your off day. I started working Batman in late May, never actually rode it until late July. Even worse, I rode TTD in 2003 opening day, and rode it another 10 times that year. Since then, I worked at CP for 3 months each season of 2004, 2005, and 2006 , and am yet to ride TTD again.