Working At Cedar Point?

For what it's worth, a lot of the opinions and experiences shared are based upon the working environment under prior leadership at the park and at Cedar Fair. Starting last year, there has been a renewed effort to make a job at Cedar Point, or any Cedar Fair park, a rewarding experience. While change takes time, and many of us know there is a LOT that needs to be addressed, it is happening...thanks to Matt Ouimet.

I'd love to hear more bout this change Ouimet is bringing to the employment experience at Cedar Point.

Let me comment about the old leadership. Cedar Point had a weekly employee newsletter, and in this letter it had minutes (notes) of a weekly or biweekly meeting that the CEOs and others had with a group of employees that would bring up complaints about the work environment, housing, employee transportation, ect. The answers given by whoever was in charge of solving the problem was either something like, "we will take a look at it," or an explanation as to why the problem is not important. Most of the problems were not ever fixed, and were either ignored or brushed off. The article seemed to backfire because it was very apparent that they really didn't care.

Employees had to deal with a lot of crap on a daily bases while working at the park. I don't care that the work was difficult or the hours were long. I don't even care that the pay was low and living expenses were high. The most frustrating thing about living there and working for them was the control that they had over employees, and the confusion about all the rules that they seemed to just make up as they went.

I'm omitting my many silly examples. I just hope things either get better, or already better for current employees.

I won't rehash much of what I have said in the past in regards to the Kinzel years but, suffice it to say, I think the housing situation at Cedar Point COULD be one of the park's greatest attributes when for years it was one of it's greatest embarassments. Ouimet is on the way to turning that corner and I'm glad to see it.

For those that say that they would never let their kids work there I just think that is ridiculous. You can't protect them forever. You raise them, you try and teach them about character and good decision making, then you have to let go. If they are ready for sex then the availability of a 12X12 dorm room isn't goint to make a big difference. I had sex before I got to Cedar Point.

Working at Cedar Point certainly helped me learn about independence and survival. It helped me to learn about working with different people of different backgrounds and you don't learn that in high school or, in some cases, college.

wahoo skipper said:

For those that say that they would never let their kids work there I just think that is ridiculous.

Because I was totally serious.

@LostKause, some of the changes include:

For seasonal employees, I know that new housing is under construction. New recreation facilities (soccer field?) are being built. I believe that employee food services are no longer a "profit" source thus prices have been lowered. Giving employees the power to make some decisions to make sure guests experience "best day of summer" has been implemented.

As for full-timers, the most notable change is the dropping of ties for male employees. Micro-managing from the top is gone so GM's and their staff run their parks as they see fit. Also, FT no longer are required to work 6-day work weeks during the season; Matt has made "quality of life" a focus for them I guess you could say in this regard.

I am sure others can chime in with more changes, those are just a few off the top of me head that stand out.

wahoo skipper said:

I had sex before I got to Cedar Point.

One time I had sex on the way to Cedar Point.

I hate you both...

^^ but texting while on the way to Cedar Point would be wrong. :)

But only if you are driving.

Lord Gonchar said:

wahoo skipper said:

I had sex before I got to Cedar Point.

One time I had sex on the way to Cedar Point.

Hey, me too!

High five!

No, with the other hand.

I would tell another funny Krause story, but this particular story would be too inappropriate to be posted on CoasterBuzz. ;)

Those are the best kind. Start typing.

Lord Gonchar said:

One time I had sex on the way to Cedar Point.

The best I've ever managed is sex in one of the better Sandusky hotels, in the middle of a day of fun at CP. good times.

I thought that was half the point of staying on property.

No, I'm not paying out the ass to stay at the crappy hotel breakers. I'll gladly deal with a small drive to/from the hotel, while paying less for a better room.

Maybe It'll be different after the renovations, who knows.

I'm confident that after next winter it will be far closer to what you expect for the money.

I sure hope so. As much as I love staying on site I just can't justify paying almost the same price as we do for the Royal Pacific right now.

Jeff said:

I'm confident that after next winter it will be far closer to what you expect for the money.

That would be nice.

This was a fun thread to read. Very educational. I never thought I would learn so much about life at the CP dorms. :)

-Tina

Lord Gonchar said:

wahoo skipper said:

I had sex before I got to Cedar Point.

One time I had sex on the way to Cedar Point.

One time I drove right past Cedar Point to have sex.