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Showing content with the highest reputation on 11/07/2023 in all areas

  1. Yep. At a park like this, simply being consistent with bringing to light the work that does go on to keep things running would be huge. And when you have a park president doing that kind of thing, it also amplifies the message. Take the infamous carousel- lots of opportunity to at least show off the theoretical hand done work on it. Stuff like that goes a long way.
    1 point
  2. The Fiesta Texas accounts have been averaging at least a post per day for quite a while (skipping a day here and there - but having multiple posts per day other days). Edit: Seriously though continuing along the lines of behind the scenes content. Imagine how differently people might feel about The Boss and their appreciation for the maintenance team if people were able to see just how much track work goes in to keeping it specifically running.
    1 point
  3. YUP and not only does Jeffrey post on his own accounts (as well as cross posting on FB and into multiple groups), but the park itself posts on Twitter. (now granted, that's probably Jeffrey as well, just while posting, logging into the Park's account. . . but still the park itself updates at LEAST once or twice a week).
    1 point
  4. There are things that Jeff does that don't cost money that many other park execs don't do - or at least don't do near as much. For instance the transparency that's been brought up. It's 'free' for a park president to pull out a camera or their phone and take some pictures and drop frequent social media updates keeping park fans caught up with what's going on around the park on any given week. Another good example of this kind of executive is Tony Clark at Cedar Point. Now some parks don't have an exec directly doing this but they have an active social media presence reliably communicating with the main accounts. Fiesta Texas has the benefit of having both one of the more active Six Flags social media accounts AND Jeff interacting directly - but literally either one would be fine (if a park can't afford someone working social media this is where a full-time executive that can be active can go a LONG way). SfSTL hasn't posted since October 27th and that was about Rocky Horror and the last 3 days of operation. IMO there should be a social post at least 4 times a week in the offseason, with the media manager sticking around interacting in the replies for a decent amount of time after AND ready to go with a timely post participating in trends that are current (these shouldn't count against that 4 post minimum). We should be seeing updates on ride maintenance. What goes in to managing seasonal HR. We should be seeing carpentry highlighted. Q&As. There's way more that can be done to keep people engaged and informed and that just isn't being done - not with the main accounts and not coming from an executive. I'd like to see posts EVERY operating day and one every other weekday when the park is in weekend only operation too. There are enough employees and departments and individual duties and activities to keep this fed all year.
    1 point
  5. So did I. But a quick internet search suggested porcupine. Then you posted this, and I searched a bit deeper, and now I have no idea. We'll go with hedgehog.
    1 point
  6. Plenty of other parks have Presidents just as capable as Jeffrey Siebert, the only difference is SFFT gets every resource they could ever want while some other parks are lucky to even get scraps. It's easy to look good when you get the financial support to do anything you want.
    1 point
  7. It really is all about leadership. I don't even think there is intent to treat employees like second class citizens, there just isn't anyone at our park to hold supervisors accountable and properly direct them. I'm guessing at SFFT where they have a President that borders on legendary the culture is totally different. I do hope this gets addressed with the merger.
    1 point
  8. ^ It's actually going to be a new stunt show arena where the cast just rides T3 over and over for twenty minutes seven or eight times a day. Real dangerous stuff, I'm surprised OSHA is allowing it.
    1 point
  9. Every time we get the cliche "kidz jus don wanna wurk anymorr" argument, I'll always link the post I made a while back outlining all of the statistics about WHY kids aren't working anymore. From the article in the post: If anything, in the years since that post was made, it's only become MORE difficult for kids as the cost of college continues to skyrocket. There were lazy kids back then (I worked along side plenty of them), and there are lazy kids now. But you gotta look at the macro level and step away from the personal anecdotes when trying to assess contributing factors to large-scale issues.
    1 point
  10. Busch Gardens’ Media Town Hall: Loch Ness Monster--The Legend Lives On & More The Loch Ness Monster has been thrilling park guests since 1978. For many Virginia locals, this was the first “big” coaster they ever rode. If any ride can be considered an “icon” for Busch Gardens, it’s the Loch Ness Monster, with its interlocking loops and cave helix. This weekend, BGW’s pass members have a chance to take a last ride on Nessie before she shuts down for a big makeover. Park president Kevin Lembke discussed some of these changes at a “Media Town Hall” on Friday, November 3. Here’s a glimpse at what’s being planned for the ride when it reopens in spring 2024: “All-new theming and innovative effects throughout ride experience.” Innovative Studios will be providing the new thematic elements. “Over 900 feet of steel track replaced (3,240 ft. total).” Premier provided the new track. BGW is working on a way to provide “souvenir pieces” of the old track in 2024. “Enhanced queue experience with added storytelling.” This won’t be the first time the park has “beefed up” the queue. The lower queue section, used on busy days, has been sporting an expedition camp for years now. It’ll be interesting to see how they expand on this concept. The park also put new trains on the Loch Ness Monster in 2018. But there’s more than just the Loch Ness Monster renovation going on at Busch Gardens--Christmas Town begins on Friday, November 10! Here are a few details about how the park plans to ring in the holidays this year: “Gloria” will returning to the Abbeystone Theatre in Killarney. “Wiseman,” a new singing trio, will be performing at the theatre in Italy. The “Polar Pathway” (Escape from Pompeii) will feature synchronized lights and music, and the “O Tanenbaum” show in Germany is getting an upgrade, too. A “Build a Bear” shop will be open in England. The Virginia Beer Company is brewing a Christmas Town Stout. All this, in addition to the millions of lights, classic holiday shows, and special Christmas fare the park offers each season. The Squire’s Grill in England is also being renovated. When this work is finished, the old “buffeteria” will resemble a rustic, old-time English tavern. A new food venue, the Catalina Grill, is also coming to Water Country USA. And lest we forget, 2024 will mark the 15th anniversary of Christmas Town and the 25th anniversary of Howl-o-Scream. We’ll hear more about this later. Busch Gardens Williamsburg in early November, when Howl-o-Scream and Christmas Town collide! HOS closed on Halloween, so there are still a few traces of the "Jack Is Back" show in Killarney. The park's presentation was in the Abbeystone Theatre. Park president Kevin Lembke looks ready for Christmas Town. I took my "last ride" on Friday. Drumroll please. This is the only piece of "concept art" they showed us. The rest is still under wraps, but they are planning something for the big cave helix. Pantheon will be running during Christmas Town, as will four other coasters. The new Christmas Town Shows. Time for a quick photo with the Big Guy . . . . . . before taking a "last ride." Up they go to whatever fate awaits them! The first drop to the "loch." Loop # 1! Emerging from the cave . . . . . . and into loop #2. Back to the station. Don't forget--Christmas Town starts next Friday! You can't ride the Loch Ness Monster during Christmas Town, but you can hang it on your Christmas tree. Thanks for reading.
    1 point
  11. They aren't getting $20, pay is $14 - $15 for most positions, and that is on par with most part time jobs at fast food joints and retail establishments. For a couple years during the Pandemic it was raised to $18 but as I stated that was taken away. As a parent and retired teacher I think "kids nowadays are too lazy" is a vast oversimplification of the issue. Just like we have inflation because wages went up is too simple an explanation, inflation is due to a number of factors and isn't even close to what it was in the early 70's when the park opened. Since our park is in a generally more affluent area it isn't that kids are lazy it's more that they are being pushed by parents and schools to spend their summers and weekends devoting massive amounts of time to extra curriculars (sports and clubs) and/or classes and camps. This is under the mistaken belief that it pads a college resume. I cannot tell you how much I disagree with this thinking. If you talk to college recruiters it isn't as important as most people think, a job is just as meaningful to them and they are missing out on real world skills that cannot be learned in the shelter of school and subsequent school sponsored activities. Meanwhile, the district I taught in was just plain poor. Those kids would have loved more opportunities to work, especially over the summer, but they didn't have a lot of choices close enough to home that made it easy to get to. I mean it would have been an hour+ round trip without traffic issues to get to SFSTL. And as a postscript I really believe most of the employees are doing their best with what they have have to work with. I mean look at all the employees that stayed despite their pay going down.
    1 point
  12. I don't see it being a sell off either. Closest competition is 3 hours a way and most of the GP are not going to travel that more than once a year. I do see them trying to use WOF and SFSTL to gang up on SDC. Don't know if that is possible but I do think they will try to steal some business. I mean if you live anywhere in the middle of the state and have a pass that gets you into both parks. This is all total speculation of course, but waiting on pins and needles to see how it pans out.
    1 point
  13. Sorry that was brutal, but it felt good to get it off my chest because the whole thing has been bothering me for months AND I thought the story was pertinent to much of what is happening at the park right now!
    1 point
  14. OK, my 2 cents and a story about the boy that used to work at the park as a cautionary tale about lack of management, sorry this is long so read at your own discretion: First I have said before and say again that staffing is one of the biggest improvements needed; across the board, to improve a lot of what you all are complaining about. Now I 100% know that this is easier said than done and agree with whomever stated up thread that the park's location is a great hindrance to this. In addition our park is VERY seasonal and has very few full time jobs so they rely almost entirely on students, retirees, and teachers looking for brief summer work. However, they also shoot themselves in the foot. For example when they reopened after the initial Pandemic shutdown ride op pay was increased, which was nice since after all they were all being required to wear masks outside in the summer heat AND were taking a lot of extra crap from guests over all the policies. Fast forward to the 2023 season and all the ride op pay was reduced back to pre-Pandemic levels. Seriously. Essentially demote those that stuck with you through a couple years of crap? I mean I could maybe see new hires starting out at the old pay. But reduce employees that had been faithful to the park? Second they have to get a proper park President. This whole "sharing" one with the Chicago park is bull. I also think the slashing of middle management that happened a couple years ago is taking a toll. I'll give you a real world example of the effects of this. My son started working at the park as a ride op just before his 16th birthday. He was thrilled. Stayed working there through the Pandemic and all it entailed. Stuck out the summer he was mostly on kid's rides which he did not like. Kept it up through a couple years of Community College (his choice, he just wasn't into a big 4 year school), planned on staying this season even after the pay cut. Even stuck it out when he was inexplicably moved from AT/Log Flume which he really liked to Batman which he was not happy about because he knew the ride crew was not great. No one asked for this move and the leads and supers had no idea why it happened. He was a good ride op. Knew more about how the rides operated than a lot of the supervisors. Worked a majority of the rides in the park. Cleaned up his share of barf without complaining. Never called in and worked every shift he was scheduled, did day off requests way ahead of time and as prescribed by policy. Had more than one incident where he noticed restraints had not been checked by someone else or there was a problem and kept an unsafe train from going out. Etc, etc, you get the picture. Well the policy had always been 3 safeties and then a ride op lost their ride badge, essentially a 3 strikes and you are out rule. Safeties are issued anytime a ride op basically does something unsafe, like cross in front of a train without permission for example. He had never received a safety after 4 full seasons. Early this summer he gets a safety for not looking long enough at the boats on the log flume at the bottom of the first lift hill before launching a new boat. For those that are unaware if they are allowed to stack at the first hill they fill up with water and sink. Yeah. He wasn't written up for not checking, the super just didn't think he looked long enough. Ok. You do get to write out your side of the story, which he did but basically laughed it off as the super having a bad day instead of fighting it. Fine. Then after he is moved to Batman they are loading a train, he is at the panel, ALL ride ops give their thumbs up that restraints are checked and they are in the safe zone and the way is clear. He launches the train, then one of the ops moves out of the safety box and he has to e-stop the train for the ops safety. Safety issued to each member of the crew. Reports written out. Super tells him standard procedure, don't worry it won't stand, only the op that moved where they shouldn't have will get the safety. Nope. Entire crew gets safety and oh yeah we reduced it from 3 to 2 so they pull his ride badge. Now it is what it is. Shit happens and we all get screwed sometimes and have to pay our dues. Hard lesson learned, he probably could have and should have gotten the first safety reversed. And to be totally fair he knew it was his last season. At this point there are 3 weeks of daily operations left. He cannot go on rides again until next season, which he knows he won't be coming back because he will need to move on and get a real full time adult job since he is finishing up school. But they tell him they need people to do fastpass and he can do that. He says fine, he had planned on the income for those weeks and will just stick it out. Ok, fast pass will call you. Several days go by and no call. After 3 weeks, several phone calls on his part and a physical visit to human resources...............they apologize with a so sorry Person A thought Person B had called and Person B thought Person A had called and no one seemed to notice you weren't being scheduled............! Why the long tale? This caused him to lose 3 weeks of expected pay, the park to be short in two departments while an employee was available and wanting to work, an unnecessary blow to a young man's self esteem, and an abrupt end to what had been a proud employee. IF there had been better management in place all of this could have been avoided. Without a dedicated park president and a team that is beholden to him or her on a daily basis things and people are falling through the cracks. I believe better management could have provided training to get him his ride badge back (I am NOT advocating that they skimp on safety issues but clearly there should be some nuance here by a higher up that can evaluate the situation, the whole ride crew did not deserve a safety) or at least get him moved over within a day to the other department, not just "oh didn't you get called, we had no idea" Clearly no one was checking their voicemail or email or getting messages from HR. Meanwhile, he was still getting emails asking him to take shifts on Batman despite his badge being pulled and they were advertising for employees needed at fastpass. And why is fastpass a whole separate crew? Ride ops can do it instead of paying someone to just stand at the fastpass entrance and do nothing else but scan people in. He wasn't fired, he wasn't scheduled, he was in a void for 3 weeks. I could go on but you get the idea. Management seems to be a total mess right now and that has got to get fixed in order to improve all the things that make a park a great park. I have no idea if they couldn't find a qualified park pres or if they just decided to do it on the cheap; but it is not working to share. We can go back and forth with whether or not the landscaping is up to par. Something I tend to notice. If the ride lineup is good. If the special events are done well. Yada, yada, yada.......but until they properly manage the park and employees none of that will show huge improvement. I agree that RR and the new flat for next year are positive improvements but they have to get the management situation fixed. I am VERY curious to see how this plays out with the new CF merger! As well as what it means for season passes. We have kept our DE VIP memberships not so much just for our park but because we travel to multiple parks every year. Currently this is one of the more active threads, not sure if it's because we are a bitchy bunch, passionate about our park, a little of both? In the end good or bad this park holds a lot of memories for me and I really really do want to see it succeed. So moving forward and fingers crossed. And just in case anyone is wondering. Joel is fine. He did work about a month's worth of weekends dong fastpass, after they realized oh yeah we should schedule you, just because it was convenient money while job hunting during the week. He finished some school, got some IT certifications and is now working, at age 20, his first full time adult job as a field technician for a big and well established tech company.
    1 point
  15. and will Cedar Fair save our pathetic carousel?
    1 point
  16. I always figured an RMC Boss was the absolute best case scenario for this park. That was until this merger/acquisition was announced though! I trust that Cedar Fair will probably decide that in order to make more money at this park it's best to invest in attractions and experiences that make people want to actually buy tickets and spend more money at the park. Or sell it off. I don't see a sell off happening here though. Too much good shit to work with. But yeah, it'll either be improved or sold. Better for one or the other to happen, IMO. I feel like this whole deal ends the days of perpetual "just gettin' by" that this park has operated under as long as I've personally been visiting it. Or at least finally numbers the days where it's like that.
    1 point
  17. As long as SOMEONE f*&%$@g RMCs the Boss, I really don't care LOL
    1 point
  18. There's a lot one could discuss with this merger and in general I find these kinds of things to be terrible.....but looking at this strictly from the SFSL perspective, I see this as probably the most positive news ever for this park, at least in the last couple decades. It'll either be improved or sold off. I'd expect the former, especially given this isn't one of the markets where CF/SF are competing against each other. The PR makes it sound like they are going to goose the SF parks with attractions, but even if they don't hopefully things will FINALLY improve operationally here.
    1 point
  19. "Greater flexibility to invest in new rides and attractions, broader food and beverage selections, additional in-park offerings, and cross-park initiatives" "Leverage Cedar Fair’s recent park investments experience to accelerate the transformation underway across Six Flags’ portfolio" It certainly sounds like the plan is to roll the kinds of improvements Cedar Fair has been making at their parks over the last several years out to the Six Flags parks too. And to do so within 3 years.
    1 point
  20. We refrained from visiting this year. There were a few weekends where we talked about going to Fright fest, but figured the experience would ultimately be a crappy one so we'd wait it out. Sounds like the right decision was made. I really don't have much to add here that hasn't been said as of late, but I'll pile on. My family of 5 (late 30's, 3 kids) won't be spending our money at SFSL until things change. We took road trips this year to other parks and plan to do that next year as well. Despite being a bit pricier, WAY more value for the dollar. The kiddie coaster was a VERY smart addition. I think the disc ride is as well. But I feel fairly confident that despite those things being added, it will not be a good time at the park due to the standard stuff that we always talk about here. Understaffed, dirty, attractions down, etc. All of those things I just mentioned are indications of crappy companies, albeit non-amusement companies have different but similar comparisons. As we've all discussed here plenty, SFSL has a great set of bones. I used to think it was a headlining coaster away from being a really good park. I've changed my opinion on that some- the park needs a good headlining coaster AND the general park experience to be better- and that means various things mentioned earlier being fixed. I think a new big time coaster would get a ton of new people in the door but if the experience they have is similar to how it's gone for many the last few years in regards to the rest of the park, it would be a simple one and done. I hope the park can get it together. It would be nice to eventually look forward to visiting it again, and on the reg.
    1 point
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