SFWoA is SF's Leader in Quality!
Now my snide little comment earlier was mainly directed to my good friend who is now stuck with half of the park and less full time management than needed. Except for the Rides, the rest of the parks management has been imploded. Cutbacks by corporate and people leaving because of the fiasco that the merger was has left the park drifting aimlessly (so to speak). And most of the people left are ill equipt to handle the problem at hand.
Also this business that the park is only two years old balogna has GOT to go. This park is being run by a man that has experience with marine/thrill ride parks. The management is a group of people who have experience in the industry, just few with any real grasp on how SFI operates. Instead of embracing the potential of the merger, the current regime fought it tooth and nail. You know see the mess that you have to fight out of. So zero-g you go and ask Mike how it was before the merger when the departments actually worked together and were run by people with a clue. There is no excuse for the lack of customer service or the difficulty in keeping the place clean. There is no reason for half of the units in the park to be closed during the regular full time operating season. Ultumately the problems with this park has to fall on the people there because every other SF park has to operate within the same corporte guidelines as set by SFI.
Antuan said:
Touchdown said:
I am one of those rare people who think SFWOA is better then SFGAm when I went in 2000You have to tell me your dealer cause you are definitely smoking some ill trees!!
'Tuan! I nearly spit hot coffee on my monitor....I owe ya one, thanks...:)
every park visit is different at both of these parks. sometimes i've had great experiences at sfwoa sometimes i've had horrible experiences. sometimes i've had great experiences at cp sometimes i've had horrible experiences. and the reason for this is because each day that you experience at a park is unique to another because there are so many variables such as: the employees you encounter, crowds, ride capacity, ride maintenance, weather, etc. from everything i've heard it sounds as though more individuals have had positive experiences at cp than at sfwoa but at the same time it is important not to completely rule out sfwoa all together.
they have invested millions into the park in the last several years and as we all know, with an increased focus on customer service they could meet a unique niche in the metro cleveland area: a water park, rides park, and zoo combined...what a unique concept.
so for all of the individuals out there that have had bad experiences at sfwoa...try to keep an open mind and keep hitting those midways because every park has there down days and down seasons and sometimes we all have to learn our lessons the hard way. the important thing is that we, the avid fans, continue to help parks that are down on their luck learn the lessons so they don't have to close their doors; which means less parks and less coasters for us to enjoy.
let's be proactive here...
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seek first to understand
then to be understood
Johnathan said:
it is important not to completely rule out sfwoa all together. they have invested millions into the park in the last several years and as we all know, with an increased focus on customer service they could meet a unique niche in the metro cleveland area: a water park, rides park, and zoo combined...what a unique concept.so for all of the individuals out there that have had bad experiences at sfwoa...try to keep an open mind and keep hitting those midways because every park has there down days and down seasons and sometimes we all have to learn our lessons the hard way. the important thing is that we, the avid fans, continue to help parks that are down on their luck learn the lessons so they don't have to close their doors; which means less parks and less coasters for us to enjoy.
let's be proactive here...
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seek first to understand
then to be understood
AMEN!
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Summer 03-CP, HP, Canobie, SFNE, SFWOA, and SFGAm.
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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"The world rotates to The Ultra-Heavy Beat!" - KMFDM
Jeff said:
And those of us who live here have the data and experience to know it's not chance encounters with success or failure, we can identify trends.------------------
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.comSo true, and to add there are some here who have seen the park from the inside as well...
I-Nar said:
You have to look at it logically, though. What does WoA have to offer people this year? CP has the tallest coaster in the world. WoA has... Maybe a show or something. I'm not even sure.
SFWoA is installing the Starfish (Chance Wipeout) that injured people at Six Flags Marine World. Now THAT is a thriller! ;)
ray p. (who notes that the park's other "new" ride is the relocated from SFKK Thriller Bees)
ProgRay said:
I-Nar said:
You have to look at it logically, though. What does WoA have to offer people this year? CP has the tallest coaster in the world. WoA has... Maybe a show or something. I'm not even sure.SFWoA is installing the Starfish (Chance Wipeout) that injured people at Six Flags Marine World. Now THAT is a thriller! ;)
Aren't they add a major slide to the water park.
Your negative attitude is unwaranted, and in fact, just makes you look stupid.
I had a season pass last year, and his negative attitude was NOT unwarranted. Every year I keep hoping for an improvement in customer service, and every year they continue to fall below expectations. A buddy of mine drives tour busses, and has took many groups there in 2001. He said he never saw more disgruntled people than those tourists AFTER their day in the park. EVERY group came back complaining about the park, and stating they will NEVER have another group outing at SFWoA. They hurt their own repeat business and last year's lack of attendance showed that. My last trip there was on August 22, 2002, where I stayed only two and a half hours. The park was dead, and there was still a 20 minute wait for Villian because it was taking 5 - 6 minutes to dispatch the one train they were running. That's totally unacceptable at the prices they're charging the general public. I wouldn't even have a pass this year, except I plan on visitng two other Six Flags parks, and paying $9 over a single park admittance made more sense.
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Goccvp1
I sure do miss the Idora Wildcat & Jackrabbit.
Last year Giant Eagle held their company pinic at SOWA, and they couldn't give the tickets to the employees. Ticket sales were so bad that Giant Eagle went back to CP to arrange a company pinic to be held this year, and not at the Park Giant Eagle Sponcers. SWOA has come along way and maybe one day it will become a good park, But I don't see it happening any time soon. Personally I think SWOA might make a push next year, because they are half of Coaster CON for the big ACE event next year. (June 20-25, 2004)
Jeff said:
And those of us who live here have the data and experience to know it's not chance encounters with success or failure, we can identify trends.
i'm not ignoring trends or the data presented. i totally agree with you in that sfwoa is run poorly and inadequately. i'm simply stating that there are better ways to support sfwoa in their efforts to improve customer service and meet their niche in the cleveland area than simply not going to the park.
for instance, it's much more proactive for us to utilize customer service lines, in park questionaires, etc. in order to assist the park in improving customer service because those tools give the park specific information as to why we, the guests, are not happy with their performance. if people simply don't come then management is involved in a guessing game concerning why their attendance is falling....
i am a sfkk season pass holder and i think that that park is a very poorly run operation but i continue to visit the park each time i'm in louisville and have often gone out of my way to visit customer service stations or filled out in park questionaires. this is one of the main ways that the parks determine their performance.
we have to continue to be proactive in our support of creating better amusement park unless we enjoy watching rides and parks be destroyed.
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seek first to understand
then to be understood
Parks meter performance by revenue. It's all about the dollar. The irony is that some companies don't understand that service businesses only get that dollar by providing service, not reducing it.
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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"The world rotates to The Ultra-Heavy Beat!" - KMFDM
*** This post was edited by Jeff 4/15/2003 11:46:03 AM ***
Johnathan said:
for instance, it's much more proactive for us to utilize customer service lines, in park questionaires, etc. in order to assist the park in improving customer service because those tools give the park specific information as to why we, the guests, are not happy with their performance. if people simply don't come then management is involved in a guessing game concerning why their attendance is falling....
SFA does surveys before people enter the park to get feed back from people. My wife was one of those critical of the park last year when asked to participate in the survey. She received a phone call back from the park asking her additional questions. Just an FYI.
Another way that parks receive feedback are through things like Trip Reports and discussion groups. Don't fool yourself into believing parks don't read the trip reports and aren't scanning these boards for feedback. Feedback via these discussion groups are free and any park manager that isn't reading these boards looking for these problems should be fired for not using places like Coasterbuzz and rec.roller-coaster for feedback on how their park and their staff is doing.
*** This post was edited by coasterguts 4/15/2003 11:46:10 AM ***
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SRM 2003-Look for the guy with my name on his chest
Besides, it might impress the management that someone, even better - someones, was/were so negatively motivated and negatively inspired by their park to write a mini-dissertation(s) on how their park so atrociously fails - and furthermore to offer solutions that are such common sense types of things - potentially really making management seem if not appear clueless.
Have to admit, it was the right therapy for me.
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"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." e.e.cummings
*** This post was edited by ErinGoBraugh 4/15/2003 12:24:17 PM ***
*** This post was edited by ErinGoBraugh 4/15/2003 12:25:56 PM ***
ErinGoBraugh said:
go ahead and write a specific, detailed, ordered-list letter to the park and leave no doubt as to your disappointment and unhappiness.
Actually myself and bunch of other people from another board put together a list of suggested improvements for SFA last year. Don't know how successfull that list was yet as I haven't reviewed it since the letter was sent last October. I will probably look at it as I walk around the park tommorow but I have noticed a few of the changes we asked for were completed. Perhaps our letter had an effect and perhaps these were changes already in the works I don't know but it feels good seeing some of the changes we asked for were actually made.
Mark W. Baruth said:
If SFWoA reps are reading trip reports from this site and others, that's even worse! That would mean they know that a large percentage of their customers walk away dissatisfied, yet choose to do nothing about it. I would prefer to believe that they live in ignorance-at least that way I don't feel guilty for making an annual trip up there to wait in long lines and receive terrible service.
Didn't someone say SFWoA had a new GM this year? I would consider that a pretty major change and more than likely brought on by various complaints about poor customer service.
If you have a complaint and choose to keep it to yourself that's your fault. But do your self a little good (even if it changes nothing) and send a formal complaint letter attn: GM of SFWoA (it would be great if you knew the name) and attn: Gary Story and Kiernan Burke. The last two names are extremely important because now the GM knows his/her boss is going to be reading this letter and explain in your letter that you expect a reply and that they can reply via your private e-mail address (this speeds things up because they can now respond with a direct interaction). Even if you don't get a response, enjoy the fact that you have made someone squirm in their seat for a day or two wondering if they are going to be called to the carpet because an employee was eating, sleeping, drinking or left a safety belt unlatched while one the job. This method worked extremely well for me last season when I had an issue with an amusement park.
Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure
Attn: Rick McCurley, General Manager
1060 North Aurora Road
Aurora Ohio, 44202
But technically, I should tell you to direct your comments about the park to Guest Services, at the same address as above. Guest Services is the place where these types of letters should go if you want a response, but if you want to mail something to the GM, all the more power to you.
By the way, We did not get a new General Manager at the park this year,but for our Director Of Operations and our Rides Operations Supervisor, this will be their first full year in their current possition. They assumed their jobs late in the season last year, and really have been cleaning up shop in the operations department if I do say so my self. Their are a whole mess of changes going on right now, and I'm very excited at the prospect of having these two run things because I think they will do amazing things this summer.
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Jes
Jes's Roller Coasters DJ Jes
Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure Ride-Ops Crew 2002-2003(Find Me, Win a prize!)
*** This post was edited by Zero-G 4/15/2003 5:57:24 PM ***
By the way, We did not get a new General Manager at the park this year,but for our Director Of Operations and our Rides Operations Supervisor, this will be their first full year in their current possition. They assumed their jobs late in the season last year, and really have been cleaning up shop in the operations department if I do say so my self. Their are a whole mess of changes going on right now, and I'm very excited at the prospect of having these two run things because I think they will do amazing things this summer.
Zero-G,
Just in case someone would like to address a complaint to the Director of Ops and the Ride Ops Manager what would their name be? Keep in mind the complaint may be about you (just kidding).
As far as cleaning house... If everything is getting cleaned up as you have said then I'm sure we will be reading some excellent trip reports in the coming months. Do you know if the managers read the discussion forums like CB and others?
As for their names, well ask me again at the end of the season. If you have something to complain about, it's not their fault, they just got there. If you visit this year and still have something you want to talk to them about, you can contact me through e-mail. But I don't feel comfortable giving their names out here.
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Jes
Jes's Roller Coasters DJ Jes
Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure Ride-Ops Crew 2002-2003(Find Me, Win a prize!)
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