What helps to become a ride op?

RideMan said:
The basic requirements:
1) Alive and breathing.

Does that count for Fright Fest?

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Vekomember is from Holland, ishn't zaht veerd?

For Fright Fest (or whatever it's called), if "alive" isn't possible, the park might settle for simply "undead." :)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

PT300-Fortunately, the wonderful folks over at OSHA don't allow us to clean up barf. Darn. We have to call it in and have ecology come and clean it up. Unfortunately, we do have to watch the actual act of barfing. Although this can be interesting to watch at times too. My perception of the term "projectile vomiting" reached new heights this summer.

Anyway, as most have said, all you basically have to be able to do to be a ride op is know how to pull on a bar, speak English, and push a button. HOwever, I have had more fun this summer working at a park than a lot of summers past, and the job teaches you responsibility and people skills.

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"Standing in line to see the show tonight and there's a light on, heavy glow, by the way I tried to say I'd be there."-The Red Hot Chili Peppers

Mustang, I work for the railroad and we have to call in hazmat to clean locomotives that have been involved in grade crossing or pedestrian accidents. Just too many nasty diseases out there to take chances.

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The worst day at Cedar Point is better than the best day at work.

Sissies! ;) CP employees clean up puke! :) Of course the same rules apply such as if it's wet and it's not yours, don't touch it, use gloves, disinfectant, etc. If its on the platform its not a big deal to clean up (pour oil dry on it, sweep it into a dustpan, hose down, etc), but in or on the train gets to be a little bit more of a pain as you have to clean/disinfect it and then not board those seats for 10 minutes. Chunky puke is the worst. I'll never forget my last day working Magnum - five pukers! And four of them hadn't even ridden yet! Must've been a big drinking night or something!

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-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew

MDOmnis said:
CP employees clean up puke!

Damnit! As do SFNE employees. The first time was pretty awful but after a while you get used to it, I suppose.

Of course, if its at a water ride you can just scrape it into the trough. (kidding! kidding!)

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If the shoe fits, find another one.

Having worked (and is working at one right now, lol) at 3 different amusement parks, here is what I got out of my experiences:

At DLP, on Space Mountain, the only thing we DIDN'T do was repairing and doing maintenance on the ride. Serious! Cleaning up a Code V (code for puke, lol), adding, removing trains, opening up the waiting line. We all did it. good points to the 35 hours a week schedules.

At La Ronde, the ride ops (I was in the clean-up crew for the park) were basically button pusher and restraint checkers. Training was 30 minutes-1 hour generally per ride... We worked 7 days out of 14, 12 hours and a half a day!

At WDW, where I am now (EPCOT Guest Relations), let's just say they're the best for the employees and for the guests....

SFOG crews clean up the puke too. Yes... we bask in all the glory given us (not).

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the member formerly known as MisterX

I guess us Elitch Gardens people are just plain lucky. But it really wouldn't be that bad, the magic powder pretty much does the job.

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Big Bucks, No Whammies, and Stop.

Is it possible to get a job as a ride op on weekends only, but throughout the whole season?

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In this country we have laws. Why do you think I took you to see all those Police Academy movies? - Homer J. Simpson

Total insanity definitely helps! :)

When I completed my '00 job application and did my phone interview w/CP they asked me what I wanted to do. Being a ride op was easy, getting on Raptor took some "knowing the right people in the right places." As for returning this season, a simple phone call was placed, and I'm back again. As for working on Raptor again this season, when I called, I was simply asked "let me guess, Raptor again??" :) Of course, being known as Raptor Jo probably played a slight part in that! ;)
Puke clean up-how about knowing the puke on the station floor ends up on the floor of the area under Raptor that you have to go into all day? Blech! :(
But I do believe most parks can/will train anyone who fits the required qualifications. Having that experience does help if you ever decide to transfer to another park.
Crazy_Canadian-I suppose that would depend on the park
MDOmnis-shut the **** up!! ;)

Jo
2000/2002 Raptor Crew

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It's all about getting around the barrels or over the fences, right leads, no faults, fastest time and still looking pretty when done. What's so hard about that? :)

You also have to be a High School Grad to work at many parks, such as Knotts.

I just got hired as a ride operator today. I start sunday (!) and have orientation tomorrow. Crazy.

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.:| Brandon Rodriguez |:.
http://www.coasters2k.com

Actually CP pays somewhere around $6.75/hr.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAAHA!

$6.75 AN HOUR?!

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! YEAH RIGHT!

Man, our TLs don't make that much and our zone SUPERVISORS barely make over that.

-Natalie

Spacecase8310 said:
Sentience.
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Vekomember is from Holland, ishn't zaht veerd?

I don't know if it takes even that much to become one. To stay more than a couple months, though, it requires work ethic, quick thinking, and the ability to deal with just about anyone. Of course, if you have the first two, you'll learn the third soon enough no matter what park you work at.