I thought the GL tunnel of love ride was gone

Once again love finds it's way over safety. While getting on the double loop at GL, my daughter was almost closed in the gate because the female ride operator was to busy sitting on a young mans lap sucking face to look and make sure that the ride gates were clear. and if your wondering why we couldn't get on the ride in time it was because the seat harnesses weren't up for us to enter the ride. Well we went and complained and went back to ride it again later. Well this time I was the one who almost got closed in the gate for the same reason. This time I went and talked to the ride supervisor and then saw the employee leaving the ride area. We love going to GL, but if this sort of thing happens again I seriously doubt we will renew our season passes.

If you judge your overall experience based on one employee, then I doubt you'll ever find a park that you're satisfied with. Even Disney, home of some of the best employees on the planet, had one or two people fooling around. If you find someone not doing their job, then complain to customer service or a supervisor and they'll be glad to take care of it.

I agree. GL has made tremenous strides this year....but, every batch of fruit has one bad apple.

I do bet if you told the park, specifically the employee by name, it would be dealt with. I'm not sure we could have counted on that last year. *** Edited 6/28/2004 11:15:39 PM UTC by Peabody***

I doubt I'll visit the park this year, but culture change at the park will take longer than two months of operation. I tend to hear mixed reviews, but more positive than negative. Sean was telling me last weekend that Dominator ran three trains, and as you were climbing the lift, the previous train went flying through the mid-course. You know that never happened, ever, in the Six Flags days. Instead you'd see two trains stacked at the station.

I've seen kids get squished in gates before, even at Cedar Point. Most of the time it's because kids are where they shouldn't be. I'm sure that wasn't the case in your situation, but I'm also sure that since you complained something will be done about it.

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Jeff said:
Dominator ran three trains, and as you were climbing the lift, the previous train went flying through the mid-course. You know that never happened, ever, in the Six Flags days. Instead you'd see two trains stacked at the station.

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I think I'll go with the standard issue "Wrong", as you like to use so often. I was control host during fright fest last fall with a crew of all casuals and three trains, and we hit interval, save for the occasional slow boarding guest. It's not a matter of the company so much as it is a matter of who tells them what is appropriate timing, and what is too slow. With a fresh or new crew, it's easier to break old habbits. *** Edited 6/29/2004 3:26:16 AM UTC by Zero-G***

Habbits? Are those related in any way to Hobbits? Cousins perhaps? ;) Just yankin' your chain Jes...

Jes: Your exception doesn't exactly make up for four seasons of sad operation.

And what in the world were casuals doing working any ride...particularly a rollercoaster?

Oh, and I can assure you that the same types of things happen at all parks...even Disney. Put hundreds of teenagers together in just about any environment and this type of thing is going to happen. The issue is, did the park management do something about it when it was brought to their attention? It sounds like this particular employee was removed from the ride. *** Edited 6/29/2004 12:19:22 PM UTC by wahoo skipper***

I'll have to agree with Jes on this one.

Dominator IMO is not running better than last year. I would say it's running the same. BKF was one of the few rides, SFWoA ran right, and quickly adjusted it to the guest in the park. SFWoA ran it with 3 trains, many times I was there last year, and it had 2 it only needed two. The operator's did an excellent job with that ride last year.
I just went on Monday to GL and was QUITE disappointed with some crews. But my main problem is not just GL, it's at CP too this year.

The ride operators...or in this case ride operators who are rotated to be down at the front of the line. That stick they have is NOT A SLEEPING POST!!! Is it that freakn' hard to crack a smile and say "Hi" to a guest when they enter the que? Heck, airline attendants do it every split second to every single guest. I don't think it's that hard to say hi even if it's just to a group entering the line. Instead they have to act like death warmed over. So people enter the line happy and joyful and then see a meaningless face of nothing. I compare it do entering your favorite place to eat and then you see the host and they do nothing for you, and you just stand there. It quickly ruins the experience.

On top of that, this past Monday at GL. When you get up to the station. The ride ops on Serial Thriller, Double Loop, and Villain, didn't seem to care anything about other people being around and watching thier actions. Yeah, it's fun to have fun while working. But there is things, you can and can't do. Guys, and girl ride ops hanging on each other is something you DON'T DO on the platform or on the job at Cedar Fair (I can see why CP liked having all male or female.) This past Monday trip was FAR less enjoyable then my first trip to GL.

The first couple weeks "Sweep" were, "Hi, how's your day? Enjoying your day at the park?" Now they (at least the ones I saw) don't crack a smile.

This park is nothing like last year. It reminds me of the SFWoA THREE years ago. I say that, because the last two years, were better than my previous 2 years and over 100 trips.

But I too like everyone, KNOW this is NOT the year to enjoy GL. I've talked to QUITE a few people who have been to the park before, it seems the locals are not very happy with the way the park is looking this year, and are also boycotting it until CF can work some MUCH needed magic and turn this place around.

Get rid of all the dead ends this year, fix the waterpark, fix the rides, add something that makes people want to go back.

The Fun is NOT back...yet.

*** Edited 6/29/2004 1:49:35 PM UTC by RollerCoasterGod***

I'm going to open this can of worms again because I think it's ridiculous when people don't consider all the variables in a situation.

Airline flight attendants are in a CAREER. They are represented by a Union which gets them immensely inflated wages, and they're getting free travel too boot - they have a reason to crack a smile from time to time.

Seasonal amusement park workers are not at their job to have a good time, or to make your day more enjoyable. Most people that sign up for a "local" park which doesn't have housing and such like CP are there because Burger King wasn't hiring. They aren't at a career, they don't enjoy what they're doing, and they have no committment to it because if they get fired, oh well, try Burger King again and if that doesn't work, live cheaply this summer and try it again next year. These workers care very little for your enjoyment beyond what keeps them from being fired. And unless they're really cracking down at GL, unless you yell at a guest, cause an injury, etc., you're not going to get fired for your interaction or lack thereof with guests. So what inspiration do these people possibly have for making your day more enjoyable? And you let THESE people determine if your day was enjoyable or not? You really need to get a reality check and enjoy life a little more ...

--Brett, who says the fun is back simply because Villain was running great opening day (which has nothing to do with how many underpaid high school kids smiled at me that day)

I visited gl once this year (NOT opening weekend) and operations on all the coasters were worlds beyond last year's woa operations. Maybe it was a good day, but Dominator, Thunderhawk and Villain were all running their rides perfectly with no stacking what so ever. We arrived to an empty station each time, which is something that never once happened to me last season, or two years before that.

Everything is worlds better and more efficient, including something as simple as parking and walking into the park.

RollerCoasterGod, seriously. When was the last time you ever saw a "front of the line" person happy in any park. And I sure dont need a 16 yo with a broom to say hi to me to have a good day. In fact, I avoid them on the midway. Does your garbage man say hello to you when he is collecting the trash from your house? *** Edited 6/29/2004 4:00:30 PM UTC by eightdotthree***

Brett: I don't understand why it matters, or why a guest should care. I hope you don't apply that work ethic in the job you have.

I don't expect sexual favors from ride ops, but I would at least expect them to be respectful. I don't think anyone requires more than that.

Well I do apply that work ethic because the job I have doesn't require me to interact with the public on a daily basis. The only human-human contact I have outside of the office is the occasional client and since I'm a "newbie" even that's few and far between ... and since this is a career, and not a summer job, I chose it that way because I know that I couldn't put a smile on my face every day. Others don't have that luxury and work wherever they can.

I just think it's stupid to say your day among coasters, flat rides, and away from work, and outside in the fresh air is ruined because a 16-year-old trying to make some cash to pimp out his car for the summer doesn't smile at you. I don't find it disrespectful to just be ignored either - if they don't care I exist, I don't care they exist. Both our worlds go on ...

And it does seem that a majority of enthusiasts, especially on the Buzz expect sexual favors and GOOD ones at that, otherwise their day is ruined and they feel that returning to the park is not worth the effort. *** Edited 6/29/2004 5:07:57 PM UTC by Impulse-ive***

There are several variables, in my opinion, as to why we don't get the service we used to be able to expect at amusement parks, restaurants, and hosts of other service-type businesses.

I think one of the critical factors is the 80's insurgence of "The Customer is Always Right". Customers, in my opinion, took advantage of that philosophy. It used to be that consumers and business were civil to one another. That is no longer the case and I think it is because the Customer began to have ridiculous demands and treat the line employees like crap. You know what, the Customer is often wrong. Particularly now that they expect everything including the sun.

A second factor, in my opinion, is the work ethic of the last couple of generations. As a whole these generations have no idea what sacrifice and "hard times" are all about. People today complain about gas prices but people under 30 have no idea what it was like to sit in line for hours on end only on a Tuesday or Thursday to get gas. THAT was a gas crisis.

Back in the early 90's McDonald's had a promotion where, if the cashier didn't smile and say, "thank you...have a nice day", your meal was free. They quickly had to disband the program b/c they just couldn't get the kids to do that simple thing. Now, that was significant back then b/c McDonald's was pointed to like Disney was pointed to when it came to exceptional customer service.

Now, I know there are pockets of communities that have hard times so don't accuse me of being out of touch...but there certainly isn't widespread economic woes like back in the 70's and earlier. People don't appreciate a job like we used to.

When I worked at Cedar Point I heard stories of recruiting trips where they would go to colleges and HUNDREDS of kids showed up looking for a Cedar Point job. They literally took Polaroid pictures of groups of kids...wrote their names down...and hired them into positions based on very little information. (Obviously something they don't do today.) The interest in these jobs has been significantly reduced...look no further than the international recruiting efforts most parks undertake now.

Why? Well, for starters..there are a lot more service jobs out there than there were 15+ years ago and we are all competing for the same workforce. When all the jobs pay about the same the kids have their choice. Housing is the one thing that really helps Cedar Point. Without housing I guarantee you it wouldn't be the park it is today because they couldn't staff that place with the local workforce. (Which raises the question of why Mr. Kinzel doesn't invest more in housing...the fact that Cedars still stands is an embarassment.)

So, what can be done? Well, if the amusement park industry wants to have the cream of the crop representing their parks on the front lines then they are going to have to pay up. The parks need to operate like the staff is just as important as the $20 million ride they build. Make the parks stand out as THE place every young person wants to work. Pay a better wage than the next guy. Will that happen? I doubt it. At least not in today's corporate climate where every buck towards profit is paramount.

Amen wahoo. I'm glad someone else finally sees things the same way I did - I was beginning to think it was just me!! This isn't just coasters/parks, I believe this in general in this country: We are headed for a crisis as wage and price separate further and further. With the advent of Wal Mart it might have been put off a few years, but eventually there's going to be a crisis of poverty and many many businesses in all industries are going to have to suck it up and drop their profits because they're eithernot going to sell anything, or they're going to pay workers enough to live a decent lifestyle on "standard" salary jobs, unlike today's climate where if you have a job that can sustain a house, car and food as well as a little for entertainment, you're probably doing better than 75% of the country!!

I can't wait to start working on Thunderhawk Friday!

I think the employees are much better than in years past, yes there are a couple bad apples but what park doesn't have them? I remember at CP, the girl on DT didn't even check our bars, she just stood aksed if they were down and sent the train... wtf is up with that?

I do disagree with you RCGod, on one issue. The fun is back, and operations, as well as the whole park is much better than last year. *** Edited 6/30/2004 10:23:19 AM UTC by Zero-G***

I think I need to clear up something since a few people "assumed I my day is ruined if the someone dosn't smile." I'm not that ignorant. While I do believe it's the simplest thing in the world. Does it subtract from the exprience? Yes. But it takes a lot more than that to ruin the experience.

I have had fun at GL this year, but it's not (Key Word) Consistent, like I felt last year was. Once I can go to the park and know what I'm going to get, I will say "The Fun is Back." I have no fear the park is better off this year, and in far better hands. I'm just tired of hearing people from people who have been to the park before, and are wondering why it's better off now when it looks the way it does...and then I have to say, "Transitional." I feel it's ALMOST like CF needs to put stupid signs up everywhere.

For all the people who don't think smiling and having fun employees matters about your day. Just visit Holiday World, or PKI, and ride the Beast at night. Those employees make a TOTALLY different experience. And No, you don't have to pay an arm and a leg for it.

As for those that think you have to be paid more than Burger World in order to add a smile, your wrong. If you treat an employee right (aka, training, perks, respect, etc.) employees will do the some amazing stuff for you. It definetly works.

I agree there are bad apples. If I see something more than once, I definetly make it a point to tell those I know. Or in the case above, if I see 5 different coaster operators all acting like death warmed over (all in the same day, all same situation), it is an overall problem that needs to be addressed. One thing I like about CF they address isssues pretty quickly once they know they have one. A good business MUST be flexible like that.

With all the training and people I see smiling is a big thing. Do you know when I train people, I even teach them to smile while talking on the phone? It's a big thing in this buisness world. Is it the final answer? No, but it's where to start.

CF/GL got it right this year, by having a VERY cheerful welcomer. That person really changes the attitude around from SFWoA. Before, do you know how many complaints came from guests buying tickets (which was the first person guests originally seen). Now the first person guests see is a bubbly happy person...and the last person. For any experience you need to start it off good and end it good. Same reason Walmart has a greeter. They do make a HUGE difference for guests. IMO, I look at that person in the front of the line who checks everyone as a greeter (hence the smiling spiel.) Could I be wrong, yeah. But I hope most see my point.

My day is not ruined if I'm not smiled at or greeted, just changed a little. Same thing that would happen if I went down to PKI at night and rode the Beast. If that crew wasn't cheering, busting butt, having a blast with the crowd as usual. I would have fun, but not as much fun as Know the park can do.

Geuaga Lake has unbelievable potential, and the possibility for more than just fun.

:)
*** Edited 6/30/2004 11:50:51 AM UTC by RollerCoasterGod***

See my new topic on customer service for my reply. *** Edited 6/30/2004 12:35:55 PM UTC by wahoo skipper***

I think some of the points made in this topic deserve a big "Who cares?"

But, this kind of struck me.

'The ride operators...or in this case ride operators who are rotated to be down at the front of the line. That stick they have is NOT A SLEEPING POST!!! Is it that freakn' hard to crack a smile and say "Hi" to a guest when they enter the que? Heck, airline attendants do it every split second to every single guest.' (First Rollercoastergod post)

I think, being a ride operator would be a very stressful job. Not the hardest job in the world, but there is a ton of responsibility on the employees. They don't have to say 'hi!' And really, flight attendants never do that, it seems. You get on, they're talking and making coffee. They do the safety show. They give you food and drinks. It always seems like they're happiest when you actually get off the airplane. Has anyone else noticed that?