Has SF customer service gotten better

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dexter said:
They are not paying any of their Hundreds of Millions of debt this year?

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As I recall, The sale of the seven parks that took place earlier in the year helped them pay off their debt for the next three years. I could be wrong, but that's what I remember reading about it.

Debt is debt- it doesn't rest. Maybe the company took care of debt payments for the next three years but the debt still remains.

That makes more sense. Steel158, I think you are saying that they can afford to run the park right for the next few years because they prepaid their loan payments, and now they are able to put money into stuff like staffing and ride capacity.

Sounds good, for the next few years.

I think we can all agree that SF isn't *there* yet, and won't be for at least a few more years. After visiting Holiday World this weekend, and seeing so clearly (again) how wonderful it feels to be inside a park that makes you feel like it's your second home, SF has a long, long way to go.

But that's not really what this thread is about. The question is, has customer service gotten better under Shapiro? That's an *EASY* yes from me. All the talk of what *might* happen six months from now, or why *one* park had some coasters closed on one day, can't nullify the positive shift the company has made as a whole

^Clearly, improvement has been seen. It HAS gotten better. Will it STAY better - there's the real question, IMO.

SFKK this weekend, running multiple trains on rides when the lines were THAT short, was a definite change in strategy from previous years. Chang *never* would have had two trains on in similar circumstances prior to last year. The other two SF parks I've been to in '07, SFDK and SFoG, operations *are* where they need to be.

Can this level of operations be maintained at this level thru the hot part of the summer with crowds all over the place? That's the "litmus test". Last year, things started similarly and fell off. If they can keep up with what they're doing and where they're headed, I wouldn't be too surprised to see $10/share before the end of the season.

Yes it was certainly good at SFKK yesterday. Friendly smiles from all the employees and multiple trains on coasters as Gator mentioned...even Stella and Lola dueling. We had a surprise lunch and behind the scenes tour with park president, Jay Thomas, who mentioned strategies are in place for the hotter part of the summer to both pep up the employees as well as reward them for excellent service. Jay certainly seems to know where the park has failed at this previously and is implementing plans to succeed this year. If anyone can pull it off, he seems to be the right man for the job.

So another month/six weeks has passed.

Are the SF parks better this year or did the usual early season tease with a steep drop-off in service come June happen?

The majority of the SF TR's look to be positive or at least admitting things have improved and are improving (SFA seemingly the exception) and my first-hand experience at an SF park this year was borderline outstanding.

Still a little too soon for that "I told you so" - but we're getting closer. ;)

Gonch is getting bored... ;)

The trip reports have been *substantially* better this summer, that's for sure. My sister (who in the past has vowed never to return), took a chance with the kids and did Disney, Knott's and SFMM 2 weeks ago, and said all of the rides were open and all but Superman were running multiple trains. Characters were out in droves, and that they were letting people park for free after 6pm.

She did mention that the park still attracts some shady visitors and loud teens, but she also heard some teens in line talking about how the park will no longer be building the "tallest, fastest" roller coasters. LOL, some mean guy who is now in charge only cares about families!

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Jeffrey R Smith said:
bored...

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That's a strange way to spell 'right' ;)

Granted, I go to SFGAm, which has never really been a problem park, but even there things are much better than they were before. The employees all seemed much friendlier and faster. The park seemed cleaner. The rides all were operating except for Giant Drop and that was because of the recent incident at SFKK. Even having some corporate partners in the park, such as the Johnny Rockets or some of the venues in the Farmer's Market was strangely comforting...

There is a definate increase in the use of the characters through out the park. They said they were going to do that two years ago and at season opening they did, but it fizzled away. The one Six Flags I visited last year (SFDL) did not have any characters out and about. The pre-park opening entertainment was a real plus!

As I stated in my trip report, my only real gripe is with the recent campaign inside the park to get people to pick up after themselves. Putting in on every employee uniform and every garbage can in the park just seemed tacky. Just put garbage cans every five feet like Cedar Point does (and SF has done this to some extent) and people will get the idea. Most trash comes from people not being able to find a trash can and giving up, anyways.

Well of course they will improve if they don't have to shell out as much money for bank interest payments, as mentioned a few posts up. Earlier in the thread, I didn't know they would have more money this year, so of course I assumed that the parks were going to be ran like crap again.

It's always been well known that the problem with SF is that the budget was stretched too thin. What happens to the "Guest" experience in a few years when they start paying on their debt again? What could they possibly do to prevent crappy service when they are forced to cut various budgets again in the future? Maybe they have found or will find a way (more revenue) to have money available to pay debt by then.

It's still going to take much more time (years maybe) for me to forgive them for taking my money and not delivering the experience I expected in past visits.

...And let me remind everyone that not all SF trip reports are positive. They may have improved overall, but their are still problems.

Yes and no, in my overbloated coaster geek opinion.

Across the board, ride crews are smiling and coming up with ways to interact with the crowds. At SFGAmerica, on the Whizzer:

"What time is it!??" a few times, then "it's Whizzer time!"

On Mindbender in Ga (I was amused and a little freaked this one got out)

"If you're ready to ride clap your hands... if your ready to ride clap your hands... if your ready to ride and you're not afraid to die, if you're ready to ride clap your hands!"

This was also the same chick that was busy text messaging, and didn't 'clear' the station, getting the incoming train stuck on the brakes at least 2 times when I was there.

Operations in Ga, despite the 'happy camper' thing (which is GREAT! and going in the right direction) were shameful at best....

The girl directing people into stalls on Goliath was doing so after the station was completely empty and the train was back in. Getting into arguments with people who wanted a specific seat (like me) and holding up the entire operation.

The GASM crew slung over the railings, etc., and on cell phones when the ONE train they were operating was on the course. The fast pass 'entry guy' has completely bent over looking bored and asleep. Another ride op insisted to me that they "only have one train."

A ride op on the Canyon Blaster leaning over, hit the E-stop button. 2 managers, 3 maintenance guys and 20 minutes later, the ride was back up.

Overall, I've noticed better operations, but by all means, they have a lot of room for improvement.

Thunderhead at Dollywood has the best crew I've ever seen, where's the award for that?!

I don't think anyone has (or will) state that everything is fixed and perfect and now we can move on. The question is, in general, has customer service gotten better? And even if it's only better by a little bit, the answer would be yes.

Let's keep this in the realm of realism. If things get a little better and a little better each year, then the company is on the right track. Anyone who thinks all the problems are suddenly going to evaporate in "RCT" time, has been riding too many Vekoma Boomerangs!

As for Dollywood, they're on track for several (well deserved) Golden Tickets this year, so I don't wanna hear it. ;)