Theme parks don't have to be dirty!
Intamin Fan said:
I have to object to the comment about a "better class of people". That sounds very racist and classist.
Classist, sure I'll give you that, but racist? Which part of that is racist? Nowhere did he say that non-white people are dirty filthy pigs.
I tend to think that class has more to do with the way someone is brought up than how much money they have. My mom has always been a neat freak and kept a clean house, but we certainly didn't have much money growing up.
That said, I will concede that people with money do tend to be a little more clean (and also bigger jerks). Maintaining that class of people has more to do with the way they price admission than anything else. The Six Flags strategy is to give away the gate with cheap passes, but charge a ton inside the park. Other chains tend to have higher admission and slightly lower prices on in-park items.
Of course, there are parks like Dorney that defy that logic when you're looking at daily admission prices, which are insanely low (the passes however, are not given away at $40 a pop). I think that case is the lead-by-example type of management common in that company.
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Batwing-Bow Down
*** This post was edited by Intamin Fan on 8/29/2001. ***
SFA has several posted policies including… Shirts must be worn at all times, no smoking in queue lines, no obscenities on T-shirts (direct from their little flyer that hey hand out)… so what about the two guys I saw in line for Mind Eraser? Both shirtless, both smoking, both drinking (not sure exactly what, but it was definitely alcohol), both swearing like the proverbial "drunken sailor". They broke two printed rules (the smoking in queue lines and the shirts on at all times). As for the alcohol… in their flyer it is not printed that it is a "no no" but I do know that is the policy of other parks. As for the swearing… I guess it is alright (note the sarcasm) as long as it is said and not printed on a T-shirt (again, according to SFA's printed policies).
I have no idea what their economic status was… but I do know that their appearance and action was what I would call "trashy" (and I will not even get into the two young "ladies" that were with them!)
The difference… other parks that I have been too there would have been something said to these two "gentlemen" by some employee for at least one of these offenses (like the security guard who casually growled at the kid at Dorney "Shirt on, young man".. and believe me, the kid listened to her cause he knew she meant business). The SFA staff just seemed to look the other way at this and other related breaches of the rules. And before you play the race card, with the exception of a dark suntan, these two "gentlemen" were as "lily white" (a term that is "racist" in its own right) as I am.
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"We don't mean to morally censure, we just want the money," (heard on Monty Python's "Blackmail" game and also SF's policy on admission / season pass price policy)
Intamin Fan said:
"They might not have had their shirts on, but you can guarantee that they didn't ride that way. I've never personally seen anyone without a shirt be allowed to ride. As for smoking, I saw plenty of smoking in line at Cedar Point and no one did a thing about it. Just because you print the rules, it doesn't mean people actually read them, or follow them. My comment about lily-white was a reference to Hersheypark, one of the most undiverse parks I've ever been to. SFA has a much more diverse crowd."
No, perhaps people do not read them, but employees (ride ops, security, etc) should enforce them... which was not done at SFA. These two "gentlemen" were not the only ones breaking various "rules"... they just happened to be two that I saw breaking multiple ones... I won't even go into the rampant line cutting that I saw even in the shortest lines.
The fact of the matter is that in parks from PA to NJ to MD to FL, I have seen people breaking the rules (myself included at Hershey one time when I attempted to board Tidal Force without shoes, having taken them off to keep them from getting soaked... a violation I was politely but promptly told about, and one I imediately remedied) but in each case they were told about them, politely at first, and not so "politely" if they failed to comply... or if they got smart with the person informing them. This includes the female security person at Dorney (which has a very diverse group of patrons I might add) who "reminded" the one guy to put his shirt back on, to the security guard who booted a group of line jumping kids out of line on the Canyon Rapids at Hersheypark (a group of your so called "lily white" kids I may add).
I noticed more obvious breaking of rules and regulations (and also disgusting littering) at SFA than I have noticed at any other park. It had nothing to do with the skin color of the guests (black and white, there were some down right trashy ones at SFA and , black and white there were some very polite ones at SFA), but more so with the fact that a) the park does not enforce its own basic rules and regs, and b) their policy seems to be "empty the trash cans once per day wether they need it or not, and to heck with sweeping."
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"I wasn't always this cynical, but then I started kindergarden..."
I wasn't giving guests a blank check to act however they please (unfortunately common sense, manners and respect is something that too many people lack now days). I was just showing that, yeah, at places like Hershey, Dorney, IOA, BGT, etc etc etc people will break rules (either on purpose or by accident). However the parks that keep on top of things keep a "guest friendly" atmosphere and a clean appearance, those that do not stay on top of things take on a "rougher" atmosphere and a dirty appearance.
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"Alright... this is getting entirely too silly... move along.. move along..." Grahm Chapman's "Major" from Monty Python.
Some parks are in the ghetto, SFA, Yes I said it. After the stabbing I don't want to talk to anybody becuase I am afraid of getting killed, Six Flags tried to fix this by planting security guards every fifteen feet in the park which makes it seem trashy.
The park also has to help as well thier guests do, I wish some of these people would know they are paying to do this they can be thrown out, but the parks don't because are afraid of being sued over supposed 'racism'. I would love to see a park who doesn't give a crap and thrown any offender out and happily take them to court, hopefully the park would win.
some parks they don't have metal detectors and don't search your bags which make you feel like a criminal because of something some one else did. Hershey is stuck in the eighties and I could care less if it isn't diverse I wnet there becuase of Lightning Racer, Great Bear and thier other rides.
Let me close by saying there are ghetto white people and ghetto black people as well as upper class white people and upper class black people. So it is not a race issue it is mostly from thier parents or peer pressure.
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The Original Duke From Danimation!
Anyway, I'll say it, people @ SFA *DO* act like they have no home training. I'll flat out say that the crowds @ Holiday World, SFKK, and HersheyPark seemed better behaved. That has more to do (I believe) with the prevailing attitudes in those areas. People in close proximity to those parks take more personal responibility to things (on the average).
Now, parks can and should take a more active role in maintaining the grounds. I've seem plenty of times when the ride attendants @ the Beast (PKI) and Raging Bull (SFGAm) go down a change the bags in the queue trash bins. I cant say I've ever seen one of the ROAR (SFA) ops do the same. Maybe it's not "in their job description" or whatever, but it is noticeable.
But one thing to remember, no parks are perfect, I have seen people smoking in CP lines, shirtless in HP lines, cussing in Disney (yes Disney) lines, and drinking in BGT lines (well duh, they *are* a beer company). All these were done in front of employees and nothing was done. Spit happens! Beleive That!
lata,
jeremy
--"If Run says dance you do or DIE!"
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Work like you've just gotten paid, Love like you've never been hurt, and dance like no one's watching!
Batwing-Bow Down
*** This post was edited by Intamin Fan on 8/29/2001. ***
I'm not trying to dispute your point Intamin Fan, I just think that "ghetto" is a term that gets thrown around too much these days by people who don't really understand the word (not necessarily you). We can probably thank Jay Z for that, though.
They wouldn't be to bad if people would not be PIGS and trash the park!!!!
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TITAN FANATIC!!
Please Remember 3!!
Remember the legend 1951-2001!!
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rollergator - intent on improving the "guest experience" - coming soon to a park near you
gatorwoodie said:
And if you go into any park where security guards and metal detectors are easier to find than a park map, you've already established a (VERY LOW) level of expectations for guest behavior. These expectations are further shaped by dirty parks and rude staff, and surprisingly enough, guests can rise OR sink to meet those expectations.
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rollergator - intent on improving the "guest experience" - coming soon to a park near you
That my friend is generalizing. You are basically lumping all parks with extra security as a sign of trouble in the making. Does it always take a serious crime to actually happen before you take action? NO!!! Case in point. SFGAm has metal detectors and their has never been a stabbing or shooting inside the park that I am aware of. They decided to take action before problems occur. This park is also in an upper-middle class town called Gurnee. I am willing to bet the worst thing they have confiscated at this park is a pocket knife. Its safety and I am all for it. You can bet that if a park like CP has a shooting or stabbing inside the park that metal detectors will be installed.
P.S. I forgot. Their was a stabbing in the parking lot after the park closed back in the middle 80s during graduation night. Since then they have discontinued the event.
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I dont want to grow up, Im a Coasters-R-Us kid!!!!
*** This post was edited by Chitown on 8/30/2001. ***
Anyway, a more pleasant experience is achieved when you are not walking through a mini trash dump as you board a ride. Hershey has achieved that. I honestly don't think we will go to PKI next year (90 miles away). We will save our money spent their and make several trips to hershey instead.
"ATTIRE: For your safety, all Knoebels visitors are required to wear shoes and shirts at all times. As a courtesy to others, modest dress is expected of all guests. Revealing or offensive clothing are not considered appropriate. Bikini bottoms, bikini tops, Speedo bottoms, thongs, and halter tops are not considered appropriate attire while in the park... ...after the completion of the [Sklooosh water] ride, we ask that you change to more appropriate attire... ... Some language, gestures, and suggestive art on apparel may also be considered inappropriate. Knoebels reserves the right to address these issues with all guests. Your cooperation is appreciated."
Knoebels was one of the cleanest parks I've ever seen. The GP there were well-behaved and I didn't see any offensive attire anywhere. No smoking in lines, either. No one even tried.
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