What’s it like to work at an amusement park? - Common misconceptions
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- Опубліковано 5 сер 2024
- Hey guys thanks for watching! I’m considering making this a mini-series and making several videos on what it’s like working at amusement parks, let me know down in the comments if that’s something I should do!
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#cedarpoint #kingsisland #rideoperator - Розваги
I've always had so much respect for amusement park employees. Especially when I went to Carowinds last summer and it was in the 90's, I know working in those temps can't be easy. I was so happy when I got to visit Cedar Point for the first time, I can't imagine being rude to the employees because I was just so freaking happy to even be there! I worked retail when I was in school so I definitely understand what y'all go through, dealing with the public really sucks sometimes. I hope to visit CP again soon!
You do love to say “it’s not a walk in the park” don’t you 😂
My family goes to cedar point every year since I was 6... one year we waited two hours to get on the maverick, sat down in our seats, got all buckled in ready to go and then they told us to get out. A lot of people were mad but my dad and I were laughing because we just thought “that’s just our luck”... Being a hairstylist I know the whole “that must be an easy job” and working with the ever so lovely public. I feel you!
Do people really say that your job is s easy?!?! If so they must be taking the wacky Backie
I am an Operations Lead at Six Flags Great America, What you have to say about being a ride-op! I’d love to compare what it’s like working at Cedar Fair vs Six Flags.
Fellow cedar point employee 🤝 couldnt tell you how many times people assumed I'm lazy/dont have a real job because I work at a theme park.
I can relate to this video and thank you for your feedback on being a ride operator I have been a ride operator for Lagoon amusement park in Farmington Utah for 5 years.
I can relate to this video. I worked at Busch gardens Williamsburg for 3 years and was a ride operator for 2 years and a merchandise supervisor for a year. I worked at so many different rides from coasters to medium rides and then working in a few shops. People like that are everywhere.
I went Busch Gardens last year
I’ve never related more. I’m a ride operator at Silver Dollar City here in Branson Missouri and it’s not as easy as people think. There’s the training we go through, checking restraints, dealing with a ride if/when it goes down, guests complaining, etc
As a ride op I second this. Any position especially at a coaster or a single operator ride is constantly moving
I third this as a ride opT Six Flags Over Texas and have some non kiddy rides and kiddy rides and I prefure canion blasters (kiddy cooster ) to somthung like catwomen whip for more controll i can do but guests seem niser and more responceable then catwomen whip
I think for people planning on working in a park but not in rides, guests don’t realize that uniforms are color coded. They see all associates as a team, so they will ask questions, rant, or yell at the people working in merchandise, food, anything for something that isn’t part of their job
I am a showman and it's hard! Just imagine the work at a theme park plus hours and hours of physical labor, putting up and pulling down rides. The last Show (carnival) I did I had two people come up to me and complain about the wallets getting stolen, I was working and I had 32 people on the Kamikaze ride and more people in line and they expected me to stop and help them. I couldn't leave everything for them so I said "there's nothing I can do sorry". But the Amusement industry is fun and hard but I love it and it's what I was born to do! I agree with everything you said in your video, one day I want to try working as a ride operator at a theme park to see the difference and yes people underestimate how hard we work and that their lives are literally in our hands and it's up to us to keep them happy and alive. Tham, you tho for sharing your story I appreciate it, best of luck for the future!
Its Harder Than It Looks! Much Respect, Much Respect From The Coaster Community!
I worked at CP as a Screamster for past 3 seasons and in park services for a season, live 25 mins from CP but love to drive the 3hrs to KI for just a day trip or a weekend!
I am a huge roller coaster enthusiast! I've been to quite a few amusement parks and Cedar Point has the best roller coasters! The lines last year during Halloweekends were insanely long. I appreciate your dedication and commitment working at Cedar Point.
I really enjoyed this video!! Starting this week I will be training to be a ride op at Legoland California Resort and I actually liked this rant style video of what to expect and how your experience personally was. I am very excited for this position and as someone who has a background in robotics/machine operations I really would enjoy understanding more in depth how these rides work and safety protocols and etc.
Again thank you so much and I read in one of your responses that you have not been a ride op since 2019 so I don't expect you to remember anything from that time. I just wanted to leave a comment here to say thank you, that's all.😊
I just discovered your channel. Please make a video focused on what being a ride operator is like, the protocol they teach you, etc.
How cool!! ❤️
It’s funny how you talk about being outside in all weather as a ride op because that was one of the first things I thought about not having to deal with when I got in to food and beverage (I initially wanted to be a ride op, but more than anything I just wanted to be at cedar point), not saying I didn’t have other crappy things to deal with but the elements (including the bugs @.@) weren’t something I missed at all. Kind of nice to get free food too (although it would also be nice to get a break once in a while, but at least we got free food sometimes)
Omg, I can understand every single word what ur saying. Like literally everything.I work for a pretty big amusment park in Japan for about 2 and a half years, and recognized how much difficult it could be for selling big dreams to a kid, to a family or who ever comes to the park. . So,Japan. We（Japanese）are super hard workers which can't be compromise even for a so tiny thing like...We can't drink waters in front of guests or even sit down.We only get a short time of break so many people puts up with toilet. I mean, you could go if you suggest to your boss, and make someone come to your postion. But most people blame theirself for making someone comes, so they just hold it.
I know it sounds crazy, but our personality of being Japanese makes the society and the way of working....Working in amusment is so much fun tho. I swear it is. But I also want people to know that we're always trying our best so please!! please don't blame us EVERYTHNG what happend bad to yourself!!!Be happy and make the best memory in your life! Many as you could!!!
Sorry for a long comment.Again, I loved your videos!!
You also didn’t mention the employee housing; not sure used it, but it’s hardly a four-star hotel 👀
I know you worked hard and long hours at Cedar Point. I agree it's nice to meet people from different countries.
Take care!
I work in a amusement park in food and this is so true. There are alot of pro and cons. Plus dealing with people
Awesome video, I'm sure it wasn't easy dealing with customers that wanted to ride Top Thrill Dragster and having to tell them that the ride was closed, whenever I go to an amusement park I go knowing that if a ride shuts down it's for the safety of the guests!!! From what I have heard Cedar Point is one of the best amusement parks out there and I hope to visit someday great video once again!!!
tyler hopkins got to love gp and them not knowing what you go threw
@@coastermaniacs So true!!!
Yeah, I've been to CP twice and both times Dragster was having mechanical issues. I never did get get to ride it, and that's okay. I'm a soccer referee, so I don't get angry at people enforcing the rules. The abuse we get from coaches and parents who don't know what they're talking about is enough, I don't see why going to a park to have fun gives me the right to take my anger out on a ride operator.
I know what you mean. I used to work at Space Mountain at WDW in the 70s. Eventhough you're in the air conditioning, SOP says you MUST physically buckle every passenger's seatbelt and verify that it is locked. You're bending over the trains and back in those days 2 guests sat in 1 seat (so one was essentially in the other's lap) and that's tough to buckle 4 belts in 6 seconds. But I wouldn't have traded my experience for anything at the time. I met and worked with a lot of great people who really cared about the guests having their best time ever.
When you mentioned you aren't sure why amusement parks the guests tend to be more aggressive, the difference between something like a fast food job and something like an amusement park is that people can shell out A LOT of money and effort to be there. That's why if things like weather delays happen they will be more aggressive
What do you do during the part of the year the park isn't open.
i work at kings island and its a hard and tiring job but its so fun and worth it
6:30 especially skycoasters! not sure if you've worked one before but i always hear people complain about how sketchy and unsafe it looks but i'm like bruh it's 40 hour training whereas most rides are typically 1-2 hours XD
I'm trying to convince my parents to let me work at a park an hour away. How long do you usually travel for work?
When I worked at cedar point I actually lived there in their dorm rooms! Maybe try to explain to your family that the job is important to you and that you’re willing to be responsible about the commute. Working at a park you make really good friends and gain a tonnnn of valuable life skills such as how to work with others and how to work with guests, maybe this is something you could explain to your parents so that they can see it’d be a good experience for you to have!
Do you prefer CP or KI. What rides were you at for both?
Good video
i’m planning to work at a cedar fair park in california and was wondering if they drug test u after the initial pre-employment drug test?
Good 👍
Are you working at KI for the 2020 season? Also, how does the park assign you to rides?
Yes I am! Last year they gave me 3 different rides to choose from and I had to pick one of those three, this year as a returner I was able to send them the rides I wanted to work the most and they assign you based on the choices you give them.
When you apply to be a ride op, is there a part on the application where you choose if you want to work a coaster or in a kiddie area like planet snoopy? I want to be a ride op there next summer when I'm 18, but I'd much rather work at a coaster than in a children area
I want to try and apply next summer as well! Want my contact information so we can help each other if we have questions?
I’m wanting to work at lagoon just working with food and I’m 14 do you know how to just cooperate with other people well? Also what do they usually ask during an interview
I wasn’t great at working with people before working there, but once I started the job the skills kinda come naturally and you learn as you go! As for the interview, they ask basic interview questions such as “describe a time you had to work a difficult customer” or “why do you think this job is a good fit for you?”. The questions don’t really have right or wrong answers, they just want to see how well you’re able to respond. Since you’re 14 they may ask school-related questions such as “describe a time you dealt with a class mate that was giving you a hard time”, things like that!
Ah! This makes me so excited for next summer! Though there’s a slim possibility of me becoming apart of the Cedar Point team, I am applying next year :) It’s been a dream to work there and I would love to be a ride operator! I LOVE interactions with the public, even though sometimes they do get rude, but I mean, what can you do. I just hope I get an interview! - side note: I’m a fursuiter/cosplayer, so I’m used to being harassed by strangers. But I still love what I do! I just really hope it happens
Looking at the ride operator gave me anxiety sometimes. I'd be concerned about sending that ride off and a restraint got overlooked, for example.
Im 15 and i live in Belgium so i have the legal age to do a vacation job, i will work in plopsaland de panne and i have to travel an hour by train and i start next week
What i want to know is if you ever feel like you are gonna go crazy if you a hear song for 10 thousandth time? Because being there as a customer, we can just go to a different part of the park if we feel the same, so i guess what i am asking is: How do you put up with hearing the same song over and over?
After a while the songs just blend into the background and we don’t even notice them anymore lol
is it better working at kings island or cedar point? i'm from columbus and the parks have been a huge part of my life so i want to work at one of them some day.
I wouldn't say that either one is better than the other, I would just say they're very different. So cedar point is more of a full time commitment, I worked 6 days a week when I was there and working there you're likely to not have a ton of free time to do much else other than going to work and hanging out at the park on your days off. Whereas kings island is a lottttt more flexible with your schedule and it seemed like the ride crews are a lot bigger so you meet way more people and get to work with different people every day. Kings island is a lot more accommodating with days off and allowing you to switch your schedule around if needed so that you still have time for other things as well.
Overall it just depends on what you're looking for, if you're looking to work every day and become super close with your co-workers I would say cedar point is a better choice, but if you're looking to work with a ton of different people and have a super flexible schedule then I would say kings island is a better choice. Hope this helps!
Leah Churchwell That was really helpful! Thank you!
I hope you respond- but by a certain type of person what would you say are the traits you should have?- I’m introverted and extroverted and I’m good with people for the most part but I’m nervous .
Hi there! When I say "certain type of person", I just mean that it's a job that requires thick skin and the ability to work with and deal with a variety of people. Sometimes people aren't super nice and you have to be able to just not let it get to you and handle whatever comes your way. I consider myself pretty introverted and I did just fine! You also have to be comfortable working outside in all weather conditions including rain, storms, extreme heat, etc.
Do you think driving 45 minutes to work at a theme park is too long of a drive?
In my opinion, no because I drive much further than that to my college for class several times per week so driving far distances doesn't bother me lol but it's all personal preference, if driving doesn't bother you then I'd say go for it!
@@LeahChurchwell Ok thank you very much! :D
I’m debating whether I should drive 1hr 30 a day not not to work at kings Dominion
I worked at an older, smaller amusement park near my home,at that time I lived near Chattanooga...they stuck me on the paddle boats,and kept taking away anyone who was working with me...and they were beyond petty too. But what I wanted to say was they would have two young guys come around and see if you wanted anything to drink, the one guy says to me," you look like a coca cola man!",I said ,"oh, I am!"...he sticks out his hand and asks me for money! I couldn't believe it...I didn't have any cash...then they say,"how about some water? Water is free!" And two girls come up a few minutes later and offer me water...the water was in old,used sports bottles with other people's names already written on them in black magic marker! And they were dead serious...just no.
Did you ever get an operational?
I got written up at Valravn for allowing the wrong Fastlane wristband through the line, does that count?😂 I’ve never gotten an operational for anything related to checking seats or anything serious like that though
i would be terrified to actually press the buttons cause i would totally send people out to early.
the computer won't allow the train to advance until the one in front has reached the block zone so you can't really send people out early
I'm a ride operator and most of us got to sit while we push the pedal
I was just thinking what do you guys do if you need the toilet cause I assume you cant just leave the ride?
I work in tech support. Shitty customers arent fun.
Someone on another channel posted that people got stupid after they walked through the gate. I didn't agree, knowing that those types were stupid long before they showed up at CP.
Eric B was it good to enthusiast that posted the video?
@@RollTerps Yup
You repeat yourself a lot, not giving any details about your training or protocols, ie: securing customers on the rides, getting them off the rides what the job entailed. You mention how bad whether is, how uncomfortable you are. How you have down time, rides being shut down. What do you actually do? Sounds like you'rev venting, about being cursed, and screamed at. What do you do to secure rides, cleaning, safety, security, do you direct people to food corps, restrooms, arcade, game rooms, or what about providing outstanding customer service, do you do that? You should look at each video you create so you can edit also look at other amusement park videos listen to their explanation. Perhaps they can shed some insight.
Hi there! This video was meant to be a “vent” style video, it wasn’t meant to be 100% detailed about what it means to be a ride operator. I also didn’t intend for it to reach 11,000 views, I assumed it would reach a smaller audience who was already aware of the basics of what all goes into being a ride operator.
I haven’t worked in the amusement industry since 2019 so I won’t be making anymore videos like this in the future. For training, we would have one day of training in a classroom setting and one shift (usually the same day, or the next day) physically working at the ride being shown which buttons to press and how to check restraints. As far as what we actually do? We run the rides, we check guests safety restraints to ensure they’re secure, we measure children’s heights, and we press the buttons that make the ride go. That’s basically what it entails. When rides were closed for weather or mechanical reasons, we would clean the ride or the area around the ride. The point of the video was to show that rude guests and bad weather make the job very difficult to manage at times, plus working very long hours on your feet (sometimes 12-14 hours) without overtime pay makes it difficult to manage as well. It was just a rant video, that’s all it was. It was never meant to be informative or useful lol. Hope this helps!
Hello good evening am so glad I stumbled upon your video am so nervous I of to get a resume ready for the 1st of February for a job fair could you please help me ?😢
Watching this bc I just started my first ride operator job and I’ve worked at theme parks before (merchandise/turnstiles) but THIS position…. I have never been so overwhelmed by the amount of information given on a single day 🥲