ibluv
Posts: 2354
Registered: 7/15/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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 3/31/2006 5:45:01 PM
Today I was hired as a ride op by Lake Compounce . I've patronized the park pretty much my entire life, but have never worked there, or at any other park. Everyone tells me I'm gonna have a blast, and I'm soooo excited, but only time will tell. Does anyone who's ever worked at an AP have any advice for me, or any funny on-the-job stories?
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I always take life with a grain of salt, plus a slice of lime and a shot of tequila.
Message updated 3/31/2006 6:00:19 PM by ibluv
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adriahna
Posts: 4692
Registered: 6/4/2003
Rank: Site Moderator
Skooter Junkie
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 3/31/2006 6:54:04 PM
Congratulations - very cool!
Although I didn't work on rides, I did caricatures at Kings Island for about three seasons - summers and Winterfests. Although I did have to deal with the occasional stuffed idiot, those were good times overall. Made some great pals, and had some hilarious experiences. As far as I'm concerned, there's really nothing like working at an amusement park. I know you'll have a blast.
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RCGenius
Posts: 1180
Registered: 12/23/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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3/31/2006 8:10:04 PM
You'll love working at an amusement park Ibluv. I'm now currently in my 2nd season of working at Hersheypark, my home park. My first year was a blast. I didn't do rides either b/c I was too young, but I had a great time working at the food & beverage dept. My station was catering at Trailblazer Catering. My supervisors were the best & I made a lot of great friends there too. I even met some fine girls & tried to holla at some of them. You know what I'm saying? I'll be working at the same station again this year. I can't wait. The main advice for you's to just enjoy yourself & have fun. Remember to do everythang for your guests & you'll be a great employee. You might even get some bonuses at your job too. At Hersheypark, we get an increased hourly wage by August. It's raised by 25 cents for the first week of August, 50 cents for the second & third week, 75 cents during the beginning of September, & $1 throughout the rest of season. Also, we have this thang called the Reciprocal Admission's Program for if you want to go to selected amusement parks, all you have to do's show them your ID pass & you're basically in for free. Some parks I'm able to go to include Dorney Park, Knoebels, Kennywood, Six Flags Great Adventure, Dollywood, & many more.
Message updated 3/31/2006 8:11:12 PM by RCGenius
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skierman
Posts: 2328
Registered: 4/8/2004
Rank: Snow Rider
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3/31/2006 10:07:00 PM
Quote:
ibluv said:
Today I was hired as a ride op by Lake Compounce. I've patronized the park pretty much my entire life, but have never worked there, or at any other park. Everyone tells me I'm gonna have a blast, and I'm soooo excited, but only time will tell. Does anyone who's ever worked at an AP have any advice for me, or any funny on-the-job stories? |
Oh cool, what rides are you going to be working on?
Im going to LC May 14, ya gonna be there?
I always wanted to be a ride OP, tell us how it is after your first day!
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ibluv
Posts: 2354
Registered: 7/15/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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3/31/2006 10:32:26 PM
Quote:
skierman said:
Oh cool, what rides are you going to be working on?
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The park is divided into 4 ride zones, each with its own team of ops and attendants. My zone includes Wildcat, Downtime, bumper cars, wave swinger, and Musik Express, but if one ride zone is understaffed, they can send members of another team to that zone, so theoretically I could be operating any ride in the park. I don't know what my schedule's like yet but I'll be working full time so most likely I will be there on the 14th.
I've always wanted to operate a coaster but was somehow sucked into bagging groceries and office work until now, so you should definitely go for it when you're old enough and not waste 4 years like I did!
RC, that's cool that Hershey offers reciprocal admission. As far as I know LC doesn't do that, or sponsor trips to other parks like CP does. That's too bad cuz I'll be working so many hours I don't know if I'll get to another park on my own!!!
And adriahna, thanks for the heads up about the "stuffed idiots" (love how you word that ). If I only have to deal with them on an occasional basis then I guess I've found the right job!!
Message updated 3/31/2006 10:51:24 PM by ibluv
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thinkdif
Posts: 112
Registered: 7/21/2005
Rank: Bronze Critic
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4/2/2006 1:21:45 PM
Wow, congrats ibluv! LC is my home park, I go there at least once a week during the summer. My advice is to keep a smile on your face and be enthusiastic. The ride ops at LC seem really nice, hope you have fun this summer, I'm sure I'll see you at the park.
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Horizons12
Posts: 4860
Registered: 8/16/2002
Rank: Extragalactic Invader
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4/6/2006 4:06:23 PM
Ugh, I personally hated being a ride op. Mostly because I ran kiddie rides, but when I got to run the Scrambler, it was even more terrible. The parents are the worst part about being a ride op; always trying to haggle their way to a free ride or pleading to waive the height restriction for their kid. I couoldn't get nasty with them, but it would really agitate me after 5 minutes of their crap.
Maybe if I ran a ride such as the Breakdance or a Top Spin I would like it much more because I would at least be able to control the ride movement as opposed to standing there like a zombie, watching to make sure no one was monkeying around.
Thats just my take though; hopefully you'll have much more fun than I did! 
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ibluv
Posts: 2354
Registered: 7/15/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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4/6/2006 8:37:56 PM
I'm sorry to hear that, Horizons! Which park did you work at? My ridezone includes 3 kiddie rides, which I'm looking less forward to operating than the Wildcat and Downtime, but if I had to deal with as much crap as I did when I bagged groceries I'd be really surprised.
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no cars go
Posts: 501
Registered: 4/7/2006
Rank: Gold Critic
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 4/8/2006 12:31:39 AM
I'm too young to work at an amusement park, but I hope you have fun working at Lake Compounce.
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If I could open my arms and span the length of the isle of Manhattan
I'd bring it to where you are making a lake of the East River and Hudson
If I could open my arms wide enough for a marching band to march out
They would make your name sing and bend through alleys and bounce off all the buildings
www.freewebs.com/kennywoodpark
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Horizons12
Posts: 4860
Registered: 8/16/2002
Rank: Extragalactic Invader
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4/11/2006 12:45:12 PM
Quote:
ibluv said:
I'm sorry to hear that, Horizons! Which park did you work at? My ridezone includes 3 kiddie rides, which I'm looking less forward to operating than the Wildcat and Downtime, but if I had to deal with as much crap as I did when I bagged groceries I'd be really surprised. |
Bowcraft Amusement Park. It had quite a few bigger rides (Scrambler, Paratrooper, Bumper Cars, Swinging Ship, and Tilt a Whirl,) but new ops were relegated to kidde rides and the Scrambler. They always said they would teach me the Tilt-a-Whirl but never did. My website has a whole rant about my time at B-Craft in the Observations section.
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The Lado
Posts: 178
Registered: 5/24/2004
Rank: Bronze Critic
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 4/16/2006 10:34:40 AM
Try to work the best you can with other ride ops...You will prolly make some cool friends, but also run into some people who just shouldn't be working at a park.
And whatever you do, don't let the guests get on your nerves when they start complaining. Once you let them get on your nerves, its downhill from there.
I personally like being a ride op./sup., but the pay is just something I can't live on. There are tons of funny storys ranging from the weather, guests, and even grounds maintenance, which I do a little of. Working at a park can be one of the greatest times of your life, if you let it be.
Yeah, with the height restrictions I have heard about every reason in the world why their kid should ride. My favorites are- "The Dr. said he is 48 inches," "He just rode this ride at Dinsey," and my personal favorite, "He just rode the Twister." Little do they know the Twister is 42'' while most thrill rides are 48''.
Good Luck!
Dalado.
Message updated 4/16/2006 10:48:23 AM by The Lado
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ibluv
Posts: 2354
Registered: 7/15/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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4/17/2006 7:54:48 PM
Thanks Dalado! No they really don't pay much at all. The position involves alot of reaponsibility, keeping people safe and happy and what-not, but I'm not gonna make much more than minimum wage. As long as I have fun and like all the other aspects of the job, that's what matters most.
And Horizons, I read your "rant" about working at Bowcraft. That park really had a terrible setup. First they should do away with the tickets and introduce a pay-one-price bracelet. It would clear up confusion about ride prices, and be a better deal, hopefully improving the moods of some clientele. And IMO having one person to attend AND operate the rides just sucks. Especially on busy days there should be one person operating and at least one other person attending, cuz kids have turned on rides before when the op was otherwise occupied. It happened at Quassy some years ago, and one person was killed. But yeah, if I had to put up with all that crap I wouldn't've lasted a week!
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Horizons12
Posts: 4860
Registered: 8/16/2002
Rank: Extragalactic Invader
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4/17/2006 11:22:14 PM
The park actually did have bracelets but it was only on certain days (weekends usually) or for groups of kids that were bused to the park. Though the wristbands were set up in blocks, like at a waterpark. After a certain amount of hours a certain wristband design would expire. It was such bull. I have a book about the amusement parks in NJ and I felt like tearing the Bowcraft section out with all the praise for the 3 brothers that managed it. Actually, only 1 of the brothers was bad, the other 2 were OK. But the worst one was the guy that ran general park operations. You could almost see dollar signs in the guys eyes. Ok, let me stop before I become libel lol.
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"if it is just us, it seems like an awful waste of space." -Contact
Visit my website
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Message updated 4/18/2006 8:08:50 AM by Horizons12
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coasterwom
Posts: 1446
Registered: 3/23/2001
Rank: Platinum Critic
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4/20/2006 3:56:39 AM
I haven't ever worked at an amusement park but I have heard alot of people tell me it's alot of fun, long hours, low pay, and alot of responsibility. Have a fun summer and smile.
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