Please, stop emailing parks

This is getting way out of hand.  It seemse like every week on this board i hear of somebody saying that they have emailed a park asking about something.  It is a park's job in some form to be friendly and polite to guests and potential guests, but after a while, I'm sure it gets bothersome.  I for one, would not be answering anymore questions from people on the coaster boards if I were PKI.  They tried to do something unique and special, and a lot of people have tried to ruin all of it.  I'm not just talking about PKI though, I'm talking about any park. 

If you have a valid question concerning your visit to a park, go ahead and ask it.  But please, don't email parks saying "Why don't you guys get a hyper coaster next year?" or "Why haven't you updated your webpage?" or something like that.  Amusement parks have been thriving for years now, and they really don't need the planning and development skills of your average tennage coaster enthusiast. 

Parks are incredibly catering to coaster enthusiasts.  Like people have pointed out in threads before, the parks don't owe us anything.  Giving us discounts, giving us ERT and special events is something they LIKE to do, but only if they are on good terms with us.  Please guys, lets just let the parks announce stuff when they want, and plan what they want, and they can leave the riding and discussion up to us. 

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Kicking screamin' Gucci little siggy.

Well said.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

Sometimes it is good to email the parks and complain. I have only done it once, but I think maybe to some good. This summer I emailed Big Chief's on their prices for their coasters and how I thought it was unfair that one would have to pay the same amount to ride a coaster as a go kart track.(I might have been stretching there, but hey, a guy can try)

Anyways, they emailed me back and said they had gotten quite a few emails on this topic and that they were looking into doing a special at least on an unlimited coaster only ride package for next season.

Sometimes the power of email works.

You are right about asking about new attractions and the like. Parks will never give that info out until they are quite ready to release it to the public at large. I don't think however, that they get too annoyed by it, they just send em the standard form email saying thanks for writing blah blah blah blah.

Cheers,

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Bob Hansen

"Excuse me while I kick the sky!"
kickthesky@hotmail.com

That's what the Regional Reps are there for.  On a related note, there's a discussion going on about term limits for ACE reps - personally, I'd love to serve in any capacity.  I think it helps the parks though when they maintain established relationships with a few known individuals.  I've met a few of the regioanl reps and think they do a GREAT job organizing events and such...I just wish we'd have a few Winter events in FL...
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the buzzer formerly known as gatorwoodie
Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

Oh yeah, totally, it is good to email the park if you have a complaint about something that happened during your stay.  that is a good thing, and most parks are happy to hear those types of suggestions.  Hell, you may even get some free tickets.  :)
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Kicking screamin' Gucci little siggy.

Ravenguy I like your sig.

As FunkyTones can attest to, I'm sure it would get old for people calling in complianing.  You should feel free to call a park and compliment it too.
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Just wait till next year!

Wht about asking for a park map r brochure? Is that alright? Same witha press release if they have any that they don't want?
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"It's A Hip Hop HOllercoaster."
-Ludacris

Just to add to the general concensus a bit...

I have found that sending a traditional snail mail letter as opposed to an email is a lot more effective in terms of how much attention they receive. When you take the time and money to print, stamp, and send a letter, the park will take you more seriously. This is especially true of various petitions. People aren't stupid and know that you can register for 100 hotmail accounts and compile an impressive petition. It just won't impress them. On the other hand, having all of your supporters spend 34 cents by sending a proper formal letter will turn a few heads. For those of you graduating from high school soon, think of it like this. I have gotten some information about some small colleges through email. I have also gotten a lot of info through a package in the mail. Which would you consider to be more interested in your attention? The ones who carbon copied 1000 costless emails to potential students or the ones who took the time to put together a package, stuff envelopes, and pay for mailing? Obviously, go ahead and email the parks if you feel the need. Just take into consideration the stuff I've said and decide what kind of attention you would like to get.

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Joshua Wilcox
"The sum of the intelligence on the planet is a constant. However, the population is growing"

I dunno, I have mailed SFOG 3 times now and hae received absolutely nothing back. Snail mail too, since SF doesn't have public e-mail addys.
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You don't have to blow out my candle to make your's brighter.

I never emailed a park but why are you taking it up on your shoulders to be their spokesperson. Have they come out and said stop asking questions?. That is what customer serve reps get paid to do!

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FORhizzle ma nizzle used to dribble down in VA

I can only speak for Holiday World ... but I'm happy to get emails. Frankly, it helps it when the emails are polite. When they're insulting or hard to read and understand then they're hard to take seriously.

For example, instead of writing: "When are you iddiots going to get a klew and built a B&M???!!!"

...something like: "Just wanted to suggest you add to your current coaster line-up by considering a B&M for the following reasons..."

Personally, if you have a complaint, I want to know. But it helps tremendously to receive lots of details. For example, if the complaint is about an employee give me a description, color of shirt, where the person was located, time and date. The more details I get, the greater the possibility that I can fix what's wrong. (And, frankly, get the employee's side of the story.)

And we do learn from our mistakes. And take comments seriously.

Frankly, I much prefer emails--they're so much easier to answer. Especially if I have a few questions. Plus, when we owe someone an apology, it's nearly instantaneous.

Regarding brochures, we're happy to mail them out. Just remember to include you're mailing address (you wouldn't BELIEVE how many people don't!).

As for news releases, nearly all of ours are available off our Media Room on our website. I don't send out media kits to non-media. No matter how much you beg. :0)

Again, I can't speak for other parks...

Paula

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Paula Werne
Director of Public Relations
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
Santa Claus, Ind.
JPWerne@holidayworld.com

Well put, Paula.  (SO nice to have you here :) )
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- Peabody

Yeah, i was about to add that this policy does not go for Holiday World.  E-mail the cool folks there all you want.  :)
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Kicking screamin' Gucci little siggy.

Like people would really complain about a HW employee...that hasn't REALLY happened, has it, Paula?  Friendliest park in the country (out of the 25-30 parks I've visited).  Looking forward to our second visit to HW, SRM '02!
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the buzzer formerly known as gatorwoodie
Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

I would like to add my two cents here:

Along with not sending parks stupid email, lets not act stupid at the park either.  While in line for DejaVu at SFGAM, (the ride was currently not operating).  I sat and listened to a person wearing a "Son of Beast" shirt.  He was asking the employee for special information regarding the ride (if it was going to open or not), explaining to the employee that he was an "ACE" memeber and he should know.  Then as the ride was testing, he was trying to tell the employee's that he should be able to "Test" the ride because he was an ace member.  How friggin stupid is this guy?  First of all, if you don't know already, employee's cannot tell ANY information regarding the status of a ride.  If the employee did, and the info was incorrect, that would be a reason for people to get upset.  They don't give guests reasons to get upset, so they say they don't know.  THEN theres the testing the ride ma-larky.  ARE YOU STUPID?  Do you really think they are going to put you on that ride 'cause your an ace member to "test" it?  What could you possibly tell them that they don't already know? 

I'm sorry, i'll be honest, this sort of thing is what keeps me from joining any coaster club.  I choose not to be affiliated with something that can annoy a park employee like that.  I'll just go to the park wearing my everyday clothes and be a random guest.

I don't think I have ever e-mailed a park other than giving a heads up on a safety issue or a guest concern. I have though, e-mailed specific people at the park (who know me in the first place) and have given them insightful suggestions.

Normally, a "wish list" does you no good in the first place, so I don't even bother.
Plus, parks read these threads, so if they look enough, they can see what people are saying.

Paula, I had never been to a park where the employees wear an appreciation badge until I visited Holiday World.

You guys are just simply amazing.....

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rollergator said:
Like people would really complain about a HW employee...that hasn't REALLY happened, has it, Paula?  -----------------

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One of my favorite "Code C's" was a woman who complained (a few years back) that one of our ride ops had threatened to break her video camera (in her description to me, she kept calling him a "jerk"). After a bit of investigation, it was discovered that the rather shy Host had just completed Hospitality Training here at the park and was trying extra hard. He was running the Freedom Train and just before the "all aboard" quipped to the woman, "Don't point that at me, or it'll probably break!" You know...self-depricating humor. She ended up yelling at the poor kid to the point that I heard he cried. I very diplomatically explained what had happened in a letter, and apologized that there'd been a misunderstanding--but that no offense had been meant.
A few days later, I received another phone call from her, "How dare you! In your letter, you blamed me for everything and called me a jerk!"
Some days I really love my job. :0)
Paula (hey, how do I make the cute yellow smiley faces?)
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Paula Werne
Director of Public Relations
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
Santa Claus, Ind.
JPWerne@holidayworld.com

The problem with letter the regional reps do the contacting is... not everyone is in ACE.

I'm not, for what it's worth.

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*** This post was edited by KIBeast on 12/6/2001. ***