ajfelice

This is not a Six Flags knock, but a knock for many major parks/chains who implement this policy. As an Operations Manager myself, I find these procedures to be absolutely asinine in most cases. In my opinion, if a guest can safely walk through a train, why can't an employee? I have never seen or heard of a crossing incident when an employee crosses through a train in a safe manner. The train should never be attempted to be dispatched at this time since the ride operators at the control panel and station dispatch panel should see that not every ride operator is in position. Theoretically, a train can be dispatched as guests are crossing through as well. Seeing ride operators stand on one side of the train wasting time attempting to signal main controls for permission to cross is causing a ride to lose capacity when that operator could easily pass through an empty row or through a floored train. Jumping track, crossing through gaps between cars, or stepping through track while trains are in motion is a whole different ballgame/policy. Rant Over.

Since this conversation as escalated with a wide variety of opinions and experiences, I would like to expand on my opinion about enthusiasts/fanboys working for parks. As someone who interviews, hires, and manages park employees, this is from my experience. Unlike young job-seekers who seek out amusement parks for a seasonal position that gives ample hours and want an upbeat environment (this is a typical response in the interviews of why they are applying for a park), fanboys come in with a whole different perspective. Many fanboys want to come into parks and "take over" operations to try to align them with unrealistic expectations. For example, a fanboy will read a ride manual and see a theoretical capacity of 1,000 riders per hour. If the ride is only doing 800 riders per hour, they become upset, rude to guests they perceive as slow, or criticize coworkers they see as slow. A fanboy will become upset that a few ride lights are burnt out or some paint is chipped, but they never have thought once about how maintenance has far more important priorities that will come before paint and lights (which usually are a harder task than most think). A fanboy will accuse park workers of being lazy for one train operation when they have no clue the real reason why one train operation is occurring (or they don't understand that front line employees rarely have an opionion on the number of trains to operate). Basically, a fanboy will often become the chronic complainer who criticizes everything they do not see as perfect, but they will never consider the time and resource constraints parks are forced to operate within. Now it is not impossible for a fanboy to have a great experience working for a park. My industry network of friends and connections is full of people I would consider enthusiasts to some degree. However, each one of them was eager to learn the business aspects of the industry. If an enthusiast or fanboy is not willing to learn and understand why a park operates how it does, they will not have a great experience. Coming in with an expectation of being the savior who sprints every train checking restraints and is always hitting interval during multiple train operation is a recipe for disaster. As for the not caring part. Partially true. There will be a handful of people who just hate life and do not care. BUT, the reality is that far more than half of park employees care about their work. I'm willing to bet the work ethic of these less desirable employees doesn't improve no matter what job they hold. And for the last time, front line employees hardly ever decide how many trains to operate, so please erase this assumption from your mind.

I would love to help you out with the last two questions as I have experience with two parks, one very large one very small, but none of those are Six Flags America. -What is the general work experience for relatively major park, particularly in the rides department? Rides Department is arguably one of the most rigorous departments for front line employees. Guests come to parks for the rides and attractions, so your actions will be under the microscope from everyone from management to guests. Your patience will be tested, and you will must be able to not only take but improve from negative feedback. Be a good listener to guests, coworkers, and managers as everything you take in will help your perform better. In terms of guests, you need to be empathetic to their situation. Interact and provide service to every guest as if they have never been to your park or any park. You can't work with an enthusiast assumption of what should be "obvious" for guests to know, or you will be looked upon as arrogant and rude. Be helpful and always understand that patience is more important than interval, as neither guests or employees are machines. In terms of working conditions rides will test you physically and mentally. You need to be able to work swiftly on your feet in very hot and sometimes non-shaded conditions for a long period of time. Even worse than the heat, you need to be prepared to withstand being outside in heavy rain or unseasonably cold conditions as any kind of extreme weather will test your ability to focus, concentrate, and provide good guest service. -Any other tips/info for me? It is okay to be an enthusiast who works for a park (I am one of them). However, make sure you drop your enthusiast hat off at the front gate to the park when you arrive to work each day. Understand that just because you might know a lot of background on the rides or the park in general, it does not always mean you are automatically the best park employee. Ask a lot of relevant questions at appropriate times. You will be amazed by the "real story" of why things are operated in a certain way. You will come away with a better appreciation for the industry.

^The trouble with your argument is that when Cedar Point (or any park) plans and builds a family attraction, they aren't as concerned about the CP Fanboys, coaster fanboys, or enthusiast opinions as they are concerned about families being excited and enjoying a new family ride. In case you didn't notice, Cedar Point placed a HUGE emphasis on their new family attraction offerings for 2014. In both 2014 and 2015 they are putting an even bigger emphasis on the Hotel Breakers renovation to cater to whom? Families. To say they are only catering to the "Thrill-seeking teens" would be very ignorant of what is going on at Cedar Point. Cedar Point sure loves their self-described title as "The Roller Coaster Capital of the World," but they are definitely not only focused on roller coasters or thrill rides.

There is a broad spectrum of enthusiasts from the most grateful and appreciative people you will ever meet to some of the most entitled guests who believe they could operate a park better than 95% of GMs and Managers. In the end, "tolerate" is the best way to describe it as many do a great job of regular spokespeople on social media and even for special events like new ride openings, but along the way with the best comes some of the most difficult people to accommodate. My park has annual enthusiast events from a couple regional groups. Many of the enthusiasts go out of their way to thank each and every park worker for taking extra time to come in early or stay after work late to put on special events. They will politely ask during tours and walkbacks if they can stand in a certain spot or go to a certain place for photos and video. If they are declined of their request, they simply smile with a "no worries" kind of response. These people make me look forward to hosting enthusiast events. Others can wreak havoc on what should be a normal day for the park workers at Guest Services or at Rides. For example, we can count on a yelling match from the same enthusiast from an annual event concerning the manufacturer requirement of No Single Riders on our Ferris Wheel. He will walk up to the ride, berate the ride operator (happened to be me one year), and then go berate a manager. All because somehow our Ferris Wheel is the only one that has ever denied him attempting to ride alone. In regards to roller coasters, I have been screamed at on multiple occasions because it was decided to reduce to one train operation which increased a walk-on to a half empty train to a three train wait. I have been told the three train wait "doesn't give them a chance to ride." (still trying to do the math on that one) I'm still waiting to be fired by our Park Owner because one enthusiast told me about single train operation, "I know the owner well, he would never stand for this, and you will lose your job for it."

Your question is pretty loaded and can be answered in many different ways. Typically, parks build rides that they believe will fit their target audience. Sometimes this target audience desires things that aren't in line with the popular enthusiast opinion. Quite frankly, parks couldn't care less if enthusiasts are underwhelmed as long as their target audience is happy about an addition or announcement. We can whine and complain that GateKeeper is not exactly the popular opinion of enthusiasts, but Cedar Point doesn't care because GK is one of the most popular rides in the park.

Just thought I would share a favorite GoPro experience of mine... In my time as a CP employee, I noticed this older teenager waiting in line for the front of GateKeeper was wearing a GoPro harness. Before he was seated, I politely said, "Make sure you place your camera and harness into the bin before you ride, Thank You." In the busy sequence of unloading then loading I notice him go to the bin and put something in it. Moving quickly thought I saw the camera still attached to the harness that was placed in the bin. Walking to the train, I was suspicious of his hand placement so I asked if anything was in his hands and he showed me two empty hands. Because I'm not a cop who can search someone excessively, I checked the rest of the restraints and cleared the train for dispatch. Seconds later I get a call from controls that the front seat on my side had a camera but the controls operator decided not to stop the train at the very top of the lift. I said back, "No worries, I got this." Right as his train parked in the station I walked up to him and sternly said, "Security may or may not be at the bottom of the stairs to remove you from the park for recording the ride." I'm pretty sure the and his friend kid crapped their pants. They were reluctant to even move off the platform. The shame and fear on their faces was hilarious. A few other guests getting on the next train asked if I was really serious, I just smiled and replied, "Nope, I just don't like being lied to." I used to be in the camp of not worrying about GoPros being secured to guests bodies. However, the enlightening detail for me is the possibility a guest could record a mechanical breakdown or evacuation. The last thing a park needs for PR is a video floating around which opens Pandora's Box for sensationalism, overreaction, and misinformed speculation because a coaster stopped on a lift or brake run and required a walk-down. So to reduce the chances, GoPros are not permitted on roller coasters or water rides in my place of work.

Finally, a real winter storm passed through the Erie area this past week. Temperatures fell as low as the single digits, the snow has been falling, and the wind has been howling. It's about time. After being cooped up in the Park Office for several days straight, I cracked under the pressure of Cabin Fever shortly after 3:00 on Friday afternoon. I shut down the computer, quadrupled my layers, grabbed the camera, and set out into the park for a walk. Gear up for the Second Edition of a Winter Photo Update of Waldameer and Water World. I wanted to cut through Water World but the padlock on the gate was frozen shut. So I used a secret passage way underneath Comet. However, I couldn't resist walking up the lift on the first roller coaster I had ever ridden. Alright, made it to Water World, but my attempts to view construction of the Wave Pool Expansion failed due to another frozen padlock and 35mph winds causing on and off whiteouts. But hey, here a is neat view of the "Heart" of Water World. Onto the Raging River and Wild River slide tower. After seeing this I was tempted to propose a conversion to a seasonal bobsled course. Looking out to Ferris Wheel and Sea Dragon. Alright, back down to the amusement park midways. We have a lot of fear going on in this picture: Spiders, Haunted Houses, Heights, and Snow. The flat, basic colors of Whacky Shack's facade somehow work for this beloved quirky attraction. I love how they pop against the snow and white/gray skies. This guy ain't afraid of no snow. In Water World we have a potential for a bobsled course, in Waldameer we have the opportunity to create a sizable ski jump. For some reason I had an urge to walk up the lift of Ravine Flyer 3. Must have been a credit whore moment. Speaking of awesome colors against the white show, I can't get enough of the recently updated backdrop on Wipeout. Thanks Lake Compounce for the idea! Woah, that escalated quickly. After finding some icy catwalks, I didn't think a lift walk would be in store for that day. Sure enough I'm walking back to the Office, and the Park President stops me and says how one of our "Weather Enthusiast" managers was just at the top the day before taking pictures of the ice forming on Lake Erie. After being told it wasn't too slippery, I found myself making the 85ft climb a couple minutes later. One benefit of wind is that the further you go up, the less snow on the stairs. Dry wood for most of the second half. So there is a portion of track that never has snow on it. I think it's because it always a blistering hot 90 Degrees. The North End is resting peacefully. Between bands of lake effect snow, the clouds are several different colors as the sun begins to set and peek through. Also, you might have noticed Sea Dragon is missing its ship. An under the radar improvement project this off-season is a complete refurbishment of the ride from inside and out. The finished pieces over in the Maintenance Mansion are beautiful. To the right, another band of snow is approaching the park. A panorama image of the entire park. Finally, made it to the top. Just last week the Lake was wide open with crashing wave. Amazing how things changed in just 5 days. Time is ticking to take cover from the lake effect snow approaching. But before I made my way back down, I had to do my best PTC Train impression to create a winter rendition of one of the most iconic lift hill views in the World. Thank you for reading, I hope everyone is enjoying their Winter.

The ignorance of these sticks is insane. Just because someone wants to record a Shamu show that they will probably never watch more than once afterward, it doesn't mean they should ruin the people's experiences around you. Even in the general midway, it was insane how many people are so focused on their recording than actually seeing what is going on around them. I swear someday we are going to see those YouTube videos, similar to the overly focused texting videos, where a person with their head stuck up in the air watching their stick is going to walk into a fountain, pillar, another person, etc.. In the end, people need to realize that they do not need to record or take photos of absolutely everything on their vacations or daily lives. More importantly, I want to know how many people post their experiences on social media or just save them in their archives without actually watching or viewing these videos and photos ever again. A moderate amount of pictures or videos are definitely encouraged during special events, but when capturing your memories interferes with others, it has gone too far. From personal experience, the times I have recorded events or spent the most time taking pictures are the experiences I remember the least. Pictures and video are great to look back upon, but nothing beats the unfiltered experience.

Cheetah Hunt is a really good ride, but it just doesn't have enough intensity or thrill to push it into a status of an excellent or great ride. With capacity limitations creating one of the longer waits in the park, the end result just doesn't seem to justify a significant wait when you can ride much better coasters like Kumba, Montu, and Sheikra with substantially less waiting. From the underwhelming first launch to the shell-of-a-Maverick s-turn section, Cheetah Hunt just lacks that extra bit of intensity to push it over the top. By no means a bad ride as it is incredibly fun and immensely popular with the GP, but Cheetah Hunt just didn't measure up to expectations. I do not think there is a lot of "hate" for it, but simply many enthusiasts expected a little more intensity.

I believe the scope of the park combined with the weather has a lot to do with the reason why a Halloween Event is not held at Michigan's Adventure. Regional parks like Cedar Point, Kings Island, Six Flags Great America, etc. have the benefit of people planning weekend trips and travelling longer distances to visit the park. When you book something that is hard to fully refund when the weather goes sour, like advance purchased tickets or cancelling a reservation past the deadline, people are more likely to brave the weather to go out. Local parks like Michigan's Adventure aren't usually the kind of places people plan a weekend getaway to. They are driven by a loyal following of local people who have the chance to go to the park on almost any whim. It is great to have a local backing, but having a significant demographic of people who live very close to the park keeps them away from the park in droves when the weather does not cooperate. The typical mindset is, "well, we can go another day." Next thing you know, "going another day" becomes "maybe next year." The result on those cold/wet days: virtually a wasteland. For example, I have been employed with two parks. One is very small and driven by locals mostly within a 2 hour drive (usually much less), and the other is a large regional park that people travel for long distances and build vacations around their visits. The scenario is a day when the weather has a 50% chance of rain. The small local park is a desolate ghost town with more employees than guests, but the large regional park still has a decent crowd in relation to their projected attendance. The reason is that people who travel long distances planning trips in advance have more of an investment into their visit which might be the only time they go to the park in their life. The locals are all sitting in their homes bundled up saying, "maybe next week" but that usually doesn't happen as the visit gets put off indefinitely. I couldn't tell you how many times I drove into work at the larger park in a torrential downpour in and high winds in October thinking, "Oh this day will be cake," when the reality was that we still were kept significantly busy as there was still a decent turnout. As I continue to be a an employee of the smaller local park, the discussion for Halloween/Fall operations is starting to surface. The reason being that there is more confidence that we have expanded our regional market large enough to support the event, and not be drained of every penny to make it through those inevitable rainy/cold days when turnout is low. Weather is a park's biggest nemesis, but when people are committing longer trips that are often planned as a weekend vacation, they are much more likely to brave the weather. My guess is that MiA does not have enough support to justify operating in extremely variable weather that late into the season. "If you build it they will come" will not solve this dilemma, as developing markets is no fast or simple task. Just my 2 cents.

Perhaps a few of us are looking at this too far in depth. For all of these wooden coasters that turn or do not have a straight section out of the station, there are just as many steel coasters that feature non-straight runs to the lift. Perhaps it can be by design, or it could also be the fact that most parks do not have all the space in the world to work with in terms of a straight shot from the station to the lift. Some coasters go straight to the lift, most don't. And in the end, the path of travel to the lift when it is simply just a section of basic track to get you to the lift has no effect on the overall ride experience.

Having ridden Gwazi in comparison to other GCI installations, I believe there are a few factors working against it. 1. GCI loves a twisted layout that reminds us of those twisters from the 1920s. You need some good articulating trains to make those maneuvers comfortable, and PTCs were not the ideal trains for early models. I will support PTCs more than the average person, but I do not find them ideal for the typical GCI layout. Millennium Flyers can't save beaten track unless there is extensive re-tracking. 2. Florida heat, humidity, and torrential rain wreaks havoc on wooden coasters. In a more temperate climate where I work, wooden coaster engineers still trace most re-tracking needs to the effects of weather. Fast changes in weather are not nice to wooden coasters as it expedites wood rot. I'm not saying Gwazi was dangerously rotting away, but there might have not been enough resources diverted its way to stay ahead of the wear and tear brought on by weather. 3. Gwazi was an earlier installation of GCI. I'm sure their engineers were some of the best in their fields at the time, but there is also a learning curve. Seven years after a wooden coaster installation in my place of work, engineers are still working with us to perfect some of fine details such as ledger angles to make our coaster smoother. No coaster was ever built perfect, especially the temperamental wooden ones. Gwazi was a huge undertaking for a newer company and for BGT. Unfortunately a lot was working against it. I'm glad I got the chance to ride is beautiful coaster that did have some neat layout elements, but in the end it just couldn't make the grade in terms of comfort.

I have been treated to two trim-less rides on Mean Streak in 2014. The biggest noticeable difference is the first drop and the following two drops where the train feels less sluggish and laterals are slightly more powerful. However, the ride is completely devoid of airtime without the trims as it is with the trims. Once you get to the midcourse, the second half of the coaster is the same as a trimmed ride. While it's fun to fly down the first drop without being held back, trim-less rides do not move Mean Streak up any higher from the basement of wooden coaster rankings. It is still boring, uneventful, and lacking any airtime. Not nearly as rough as several years ago, but there are so many better things Cedar Point could do with that space and amount of money they put into re-tracking every year.

"Ski Country" of Western New York and parts of Northwest Pennsylvania have been sketchy at best so far this season. I have only made it out twice due to not only a busy schedule but inconveniently rainy weather. Thinking decent conditions after a cold week of snow with supposedly about a foot in the last few days plus snow-making, I ventured to my local stomping grounds, the quaint Peek n' Peak, who just barely got up to 100% open. Let's just say "Packed Powder" even with grain of salt expectations was a very hard pack with some ice skating rinks, potholes, and even sink holes mixed in. The lack of steepness of the resort keeps every trail manageable, but you just find that conditions are highly variable and in the most unexpected places. After several years of season passes to a small local resort you would think the typical "trouble spots" would be known, but both times this year have been new adventures with the variable conditions. All I ask for is a few small storms to keep the slopes consistent without making the country roads on the way to the resort treacherous. At least the ice provides some thrills that can match or exceed coaster intensity .

When I think of a giga-coaster (and many hypercoasters too) and how they represent each of their respective parks, I see a group of coasters that have a very broad appeal to a large segment of guests. There are a couple things that I have boiled down to that scare people the most about roller coasters; height and inversions. From most guests whom I have spoken to about height, they will not ride a coaster if it's 300 or only 100 feet, as they simply do not like heights. So they won't be riding giga-coasters or most any average-sized coasters for that matter. As for inversions, many people are afraid of them, and many people do not enjoy inversions because of the effects on their bodies whether it makes them sick or just not well. In addition, I have noticed that coasters with high inversion counts are typically not as popular with older age groups of riders. So where is this taking me in this debate? Giga-coasters and hyper-coasters that do not feature inversions have the greatest amount of appeal for a park making them the signature coasters for their respective parks. It is very difficult to make people who fear heights okay with any major coaster, but you can build a signature ride that is fast, thrilling, and full of airtime that will appeal to a very broad section of guests including the fans of no inversions. It doesn't take an expert to observe who is in line for different kinds of coasters. In line for Millennium Force I will see people of all ages, but I go across the midway to the former Mantis and I see it's mostly younger guests. You can even apply this to Maverick seeing fewer older guests in line compared to MF. Millennium Force, being without inversions, smooth, comfortable, and thrilling is arguably the most popular ride at Cedar Point because a huge segment of guests will find enjoyment in what it has to offer. Now of course there are exceptions like Intimidator-305 that have non-inverting layouts but have elements about them that go against what I just said because their forces, transitions, and intensity. However, I would argue that I-305 from a GP perspective is not as appealing as Millennium Force or even other non-inverting hyper/giga-coasters. Personally I love I-305, but I can see how it's not as broadly appealing because it's intensity can scare off many non-enthusiasts or older folks who can't handle the forces as well. For example, my mother will ride MF all day if she could, but one ride on I-305 would probably put her out from riding anything else for for the day besides the train and Ferris wheel. Simply put, by avoiding inversions and sticking to hilly and smooth layouts, giga-coasters provide a thrilling ride that is massively popular to a broad segment of guests which makes them huge in terms of ROI for their respective parks.

I agree wholeheartedly. When I visited the park in 2012, I absolutely loved SFGAdv's offering of rides and coasters overall. What I felt hindered my overall feel for the park was the feeling of wear. Faded paint, bent fences and queues, cracked pathways, and messy landscaping were common across the park. The park was clean with mostly friendly employees, but it just looked worn. With a little paint and a few other supplies, this park could look as impressive as it's attractions offering.

Parks love to pick out and exploit these seemingly complex records for the sake of marketing and PR. In many cases, parks want a landmark expansion to break some record of some form (even if it just a "regional" record). In some other cases, these records are a stretch or not even true but it's the nature of the market. Everyone wants to find a way to call their product the absolute best. I see parks making these record claims (I do it myself when operating some rides) and I chuckle at their efforts. But the day I get upset about a park stretching the truth or picking and choosing statistics to claim records, is the day I give up the hobby.

I'll put the bill in your mailbox for the purchase these extra trains. Perhaps then would be less of a saddening issue for you when parks sacrifice some efficiency in the slow season. Sacrificing one out of three trains or even going down to one train operation on a two-train coaster during the dead of the slow season is not going to negatively impact a park on those busier days that were supposed to be in the slow season. I have encountered several situations as a park employee over the past four years when not every ride vehicle was available and the crowds were higher than expected. You simply adjust your operations and do the best you can do with the resources you have. I have never been called over to a guest situation or received a formal guest complaint about single train operation on a busier day that was projected slow. It is simply not worth the extra cost of acquiring and increased annual maintenance costs for those few days during the slow times when maximum trains could be needed. To expect a park to have a "spare" train is like asking your rich grandfather to have an spare Corvette in case you want to drive it on the one nice winter day it is in the shop for inspection.

Avoiding coaster trip planning until Spring unless a trip to a non-seasonal park is in the works. An early start in planning last year made everything drag at a snail's pace until things actually got underway in mid-April. This year I do not want to think of any official plans until mid-April. Besides, I got good at last minute hotel booking in the queue line last May, so who needs plans in advance? In other words, I'm not going to procrastinate, but I'm not going to sit on my hands for four months with a trip already planned in detail. Do things when the time is appropriate.

Not saying this is completely the path KK is taking, but many parks strategically plan to announce promotion extensions and I wouldn't be surprised if this is the case here despite what is said about the billboards. The theory is to look extra nice to guests and make them feel like they are getting a bonus. The price is already exceptionally reasonable, and advertising that steal of a price for a longer period of time will help stimulate more impulse buys before the true deadline. I know of a few parks from internal business sources who really embrace this clever concept.

^You guys beat me to it. My "Coaster Philosophy" comes down to one simple yes or no question; Did I have FUN on the ride? 99.9% of the time the answer is yes. You can pick apart the details or lack thereof on every ride, but what it boils down to is whether or not the ride made me happy. Themes, scenery, queue areas, stations, and you name it all are things that can be discussed within the enthusiast community, but ultimately the deciding factor was whether or not the ride was fun and put a smile on my face. The same philosophy applies when visiting a park in general. There are very few parks I have been to that I did not enjoy my time there, because I look back on each day with the same question; Did I have fun? Certain elements of parks aren't perfect, but I can never let picking on the details prevent me from having fun. A "fun" day at the park means I not only rode rides, ate good food, and was treated well, but whether or not I had a great time with family and friends. If we go to every park with a magnifying glass to nitpick the fine details and let that hinder the otherwise great day, we should give up on our hobby.

Assuming everything stays status quo, B&M will not top any major enthusiast polls for the foreseeable future. However, stranger things have happened and things change in this industry very rapidly, so you never know what five years down the road could look like. However, the bigger picture is that B&M doesn't have to produce the #1 Steel Coaster in the World to be a great company. Heck, they don't even have to put out a Top 25. The fact is that B&M almost always delivers a very reliable, consistent, and guest-friendly ride experience. For the parks, they are buying a coaster that is proven to do extremely well in terms of maintenance, capacity, safety record, and they are incredibly easy to operate. If I were a park president of a major park that focuses on featuring high-quality steel coasters, B&M is on speed dial. Disclaimer: This post does not mean that other companies such as Intamin, Mack, RMC, etc. are not great companies, because they produce excellent rides that put their respective parks on the map. I'm just highlighting the core competences of B&M.

Quaker Steak and Lube pales in comparison to B-Dubs, but it's not really an issue as Buffalo Wild Wings is only a short drive away. I actually like Fridays leaps and bounds over Quaker Steak and Lube, and I always thought families would like an option like Fridays when visiting a resort over Quaker Steak. Perhaps I was wrong. Hopefully this works out for them.

Too bad HFE wasn't given the time and financial resources to fully implement their plan. If anything, the company who thought their tenant was underperforming should look in the mirror.