Working at Knott's Berry Farm

I'm applying to be a ride operator at KBF.

Has anyone else worked here and did you like it?

I worked at Knott's as a ride operator in the summer of 2004. I worked as a spiel-host on the Calico Railroad.

Your hours will be long, tiresome and very little pay. And depending on which ride you are assigned to, you will often have supervisors that are very condescending and pompous.

Most people apply for a job in ride operations at Knott's, but they are HIGHLY selective about who they assign into that department. A lot of people end up being placed into park custodial services or games if they are deemed "not right" for a ride operator position (inability to converse with strangers easily, low energy output, etc.). It depends on how well you come off in the interview.

I've never worked for the park but I've never been impressed with the employees...especially the ones working Calico Mine Train. I remember one ride op working the ride back in 2004 who was very condescending and pompous.

;)

(just teasing kRaX!)

From the sum total of my four visits over the years, I've seen the employees run the gamut, from apathy verging on downright hostility to the nicest, kindest people who go out of their way to help you.

If you do score a job as a ride op, do everyone a favor and keep your spiels clear, especially if you end up on Calico Mine Ride. I've always had the hardest time understanding what they are saying. The only phrase I've ever been able to pick out is "glory hole!" ;)

Yah, pay is low and supervisors can be real tools sometimes, but if I could raise my family on what it pays (and the hours weren't so excessive), I'd probably go back to being a ride op. It's fun!

Ensign Smith said:
to the nicest, kindest people who go out of their way to help you.

I get this the majority of the time when I visit. Heck, the last time I was there with my girlfriend, an employee gave her name tag to my girlfriend when she pointed out to the employee that they had the same name.

I had assumed since Knotts is in Cali they would pay way better than lets say CP. Isn't that the case?

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 2175 :)

Never worked at Knott's, but I'm going on 5 years at Cedar Point.

I think it's pretty much the same as at any amusement park... if you're the type that tends to get in a lot of confrontations with people, you're probably going to run into a lot of "condescending, pompous" jerks while working at Knott's, and most likely hate it. If you're the type of person who will get along with just about anyone, you're likely to have a blast.

And I'm pretty sure that Knott's has the highest hourly pay rate of any Cedar Fair park, so I'm not sure where the "very little pay" comes in, at least in comparison to nearly every other amusement park save for Disney. California minimum wage is $8/hr, so you'll be making at least that.

^The "very little pay" probably comes from the very high cost of living. Making $8 an hour x 40 hours a week is probably not much for the amount you would spend on an apartment. The same could be said though for any minimum wage job in the area like McDonalds, Wal-Mart, etc. I doubt someone could live off of being just a Ride Operator at Knott's as where they could at Cedar Point (if they saved money).

99er said:
^The "very little pay" probably comes from the very high cost of living. Making $8 an hour x 40 hours a week is probably not much for the amount you would spend on an apartment. The same could be said though for any minimum wage job in the area like McDonalds, Wal-Mart, etc. I doubt someone could live off of being just a Ride Operator at Knott's as where they could at Cedar Point (if they saved money).

In as much as I absolutely ADORE California, there is NO way I could afford to live there. The cost of living is CRAZY....I think the only thing that may come close is NYC and why anyone would want to live there is beyond me! ;)
(Sarcasm: born and raised NYer--but could NOT get outta there fast enough when I turned 18)

Labor laws are completely different in California. I know if someone works more than 8 hours in one day they get over time for anything over the 8 hours. I dont think Knotts would be exempt from that since it is a year round job it is probably not considered the seasonal deal CP and the other (non Ca) parks have. If so, its a pretty safe bet Knotts employees are kept to their 8 hour day and not a second over. So it would be impossible for any of them to pull the work 80+/hrs a week they can do at CP.

I truly wish I could afford to live in California cause I'd be gone in a heartbeat. Going to have to settle on Florida. Im going back to San Diego for 2 1/2 weeks next month...can't wait! :)

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 2175 :)

Ensign Smith said:
....I've seen the employees run the gamut, from apathy verging on downright hostility to the nicest, kindest people who go out of their way to help you.

Sounds like employees at just about any business that deals with the public. :)

I've lived in California all my life, and while minimum wage is not something that I'd want to live off of my entire life, it's definitely do-able. Maybe not if you have children (don't know HOW people do that), but for a single college-aged adult living in an apartment with some friends and with no other responsibilities, it's not like you're going to be living in poverty. I know that there is no way in hell Knott's would let you work more than 8 hours in a day or 40 in a week, though. Overtime? Ha!

Dusa65 said:
I've lived in California all my life, and while minimum wage is not something that I'd want to live off of my entire life, it's definitely do-able. Maybe not if you have children (don't know HOW people do that), but for a single college-aged adult living in an apartment with some friends and with no other responsibilities, it's not like you're going to be living in poverty. I know that there is no way in hell Knott's would let you work more than 8 hours in a day or 40 in a week, though. Overtime? Ha!

My human kids are both grown & on their own so the only kids I have to consider are my K9 and equine kids. I have awesome friends (and 2 surrogate kids) in San Diego who have invited me to live with them. They have a huge RV and I have even been tempted to ask them if I could rent it and live in an RV park. Where in Ohio terms that may be "slumming it" in NO way in California terms is that slumming it. There are a couple of beautiful RV parks right off I-8...the view of the mountains is heaven. Although my goal is to be moved by November the latest, I havent completely given up on Ca. I do plan on scoping it out again when Im there next month. I just dont really like the idea of being 2200+ miles away from my kids. I do love Florida but I ADORED everything about California! I mean EVERYTHING! Especially the 2 story WalMart in LaMesa with the shopping cart escalator! ;)
Not to mention Silver Bullet, Ghostrider, Terminator Salvation, Goliath, X2...etc....etc :)

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 2175 :)

There's a two story Wal-Mart in La Mesa?? I guess I don't get out often enough. :) Have fun on your visit!

Although the cost of living is high, wages are higher too. We're surviving somehow.

janfrederick said:
There's a two story Wal-Mart in La Mesa?? I guess I don't get out often enough. :)

OMG yes! I was shocked when I saw there was an actual WM entrance from inside the mall and could NOT believe the shopping cart escalator! I was taking pictures and people were looking at me like I was insane! :)
Not insane, just from Ohio ;)

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 2175 :)

There is a Target with a shopping cart escalator in Ohio, Jo. I just can't remember where it is at.

Dusa65 said:
I know that there is no way in hell Knott's would let you work more than 8 hours in a day or 40 in a week, though. Overtime? Ha!

Quite wrong :P I've been working at Knott's for about two years now, and overtime is a common thing. Especially during the summer, it is not uncommon at all to work a five day work week with all 12 hr shifts. Same thing happens during Haunt or Winter or Spring Break. Even though Knott's doesn't have money, we don't really have the employees either, so overtime definitely comes into play.

As to the guy that originally posted, working at Knott's can be fun, but yes, there are a lot of employees who simply work for their check. They don't care about the guests and it's sad :( If you get hired in, keep a smile on and keep your focus on the guests. Try to remember your own love for amusement parks, and and think of how you would want to be treated.

One last thing just want to mention. Mine Ride has the best crew in the park now! All of them are awesome, hard working people who do care about the guests. I would know, been there for almost a year, and I'm actually a shift lead for that area.

99er said:
There is a Target with a shopping cart escalator in Ohio, Jo. I just can't remember where it is at.

Yes, we do have at least one in Ohio. The Target store that has it is in University Heights, which is a suburb of Cleveland.

I've only been to California once, but I now understand why people there put up with mudslides, wildfires, and earthquakes. How you people put up with socialist wackos like Nancy Pelosi...Oh, wait, we have Dennis Kucinich here (next district over from me)!

-Sam

I'd rather deal with earthquakes and socialist wackos than tornadoes and right-wing nut jobs any day. ;)

Edit: spelled wacko wrong! :)

janfrederick,

This part of Ohio has Dennis Kucinich. When it comes to socialist wackos (from my conservative/libertarian point of view), he is about as wacky as they get. Those that would be considered right-wing nut jobs (by those with a more liberal/socialist point of view) are further south.

However, I do love Orange County and the parts of Southern California that I got to visit. Knott's was a fun place to visit, but I unfortunately didn't get to ride the big red Intamin they have.

Now to go vote...

-Sam