violakat03

Sadly, most of my department wasn't as friendly as you guys's was. I never got to experience Steak n Shake.

I have a friend who worked with me that was 14 when he applied (during pre-season) and didn't start until mid-June after he turned 15. Same for me, I applied in May when I was 15 and started working after I turned 16 in June. And being that I'm now 23 ... I feel old.

I haven't really noticed a difference from pre-all-over drinking to current policy. Those who were determined to get drunk just did so within the confines of the allowed areas. I actually think it might be better because rather than chugging down the beers while in the designated areas, they can leisurely carry them around with them, so they may actually drink less. Theoretically, at least.

I only worked half days during the school year, and they're used to high school students with full schedules. I worked 4 or 5 hours on Saturdays and Sundays during 'off season' and then went to open availability in the summer. I took an optional summer school class both summers I worked there, so I was always a closer once school let out. I'd go to school until noon and work from 2 to 10. I was 'full time' so I worked 5 days a week (and had some gorgeous paychecks!) but there were many, many others in my store that only worked 5 hours a day and 2 or 3 days a week. Just let them know up front exactly what your availability will be so they can place you in a location where it wouldn't be an issue. That's how I got in the waterpark to start with - the hours fit perfectly with my availability.

Wood: The Beast Steel: Flight of Fear Flat: Avatar or Delirium And RailRider - I wish they would dust ALL the freaking props. I mean, the TV screens have like 2 inches of dust on them!

Just for those who keep saying you can only work in food or sweep if you are 15... 15 year olds work in all these departments: Food Service Environmental (sweep) Merchandise Games Admissions (front gate & parking) The ONLY thing they cannot do is ride op and lifeguard. You must be 16 for both of those. However, I never worked in either of those departments (just merch as a 16 - 18 year old) and I still experienced what it's like to work in a park and had a ton of fun at it too. Plus when you're in your second season, you're more likely to get 'loaned' out to other locations or departments. Before I got my management promotion (and got bumped out of it by someone in a different department, which led to me quitting) in my second season, while I was assigned to a particular store, I helped set up 3 stores in pre-season, worked in every single store in the park for at least one day, and even spent time in food and admissions when other departments were under-staffed. The only thing I couldn't get loaned out to was rides because you have to be trained and certified on each ride you operate.

Born and raised Buckeye fan, and on-and-off student (when I have the money) at the one and only "THE" Ohio State University.

I don't get it either. The only thing I could think of is that they figure 15 year olds will be getting their license sooner or be better friends with people with cars than 14 year olds would be, since transportation was a big issue when I worked there. If you rode the bus to work, you had to work early or swing shift since Cincy buses stopped running at midnight. They always had problems getting enough people to work close between minor hour restrictions and transportation issues, so they prefer to hire people with their own ride, but it still doesn't make a whole lot of sense to not hire 14 year olds but 15 is ok.

I'm really glad to see the gold pass getting more perks each year. And while some of the gold pass benefits at KI were kind of 'meh' (well, except the free parking, holy crap, greatest idea ever), this news about Diamondback is just amazing. I'm hoping they start doing like CP does with platinum passholders and adding additional rides to the early ride time. While the platinum pass has no benefits over the gold pass at KI, I'm so glad the extra perks carry over to CP. That extra hour of ride time is worth it's weight in gold.

One of my favorite memories was the one employee ride night I had a chance to go to. It was the year Tomb Raider opened and they had it and The Beast open after hours. Everyone went straight for Tomb Raider for some reason so I jumped on Beast and rode it 3 or 4 times in a row with just a 1 or 2 train wait each time. There was so much energy and excitement, it was a whole different experience than during the day when guests are riding it. Another memory is from working at main lockers in the water park during a bring-a-friend-free day. We were absolutely slammed but there were only 2 of us working that day (I think it was the first BAFF day, so they weren't expecting the crowds they got) and at the end of the day we had piles and piles and piles of keys to sort out, so we lined up all the baskets along the back of the booth and started 'shooting hoops' with them. Security called because they thought we were throwing them at each other and wanted us to stop, but laughed when I explained what we were actually doing. I don't know why but that memory in particular just embodied the fun and friendship that was the prevalent mood among employees. And ... last one for now (I'm sure I'll have more - 2 summers leaves a lot of memories!) was helping out a Spanish family. I took spanish in high school (don't remember a lick of it now) so I had "Hablo Espanol" on my nametag. They stopped and asked for directions and were obviously frustrated because they couldn't find anyone to help them since they spoke almost no English. The relief and joy on their faces when I gave them directions in spanish and they could finally understand what was going on meant so much to me.

During PKI days (not sure if it's the same) we had 15 y.o.'s working in merchandise. Just make sure you don't check "willing to work any position" or you'll be in food for sure. I specified merchandise when I first applied. And I can definitely say that NO they do not hire everyone, but they'll hire everyone who seems serious, hardworking and honest. Dress to impress, prepare for your interview with your parents or another adult you trust, and be honest about yourself, and you'll be fine! The only other thing I can recommend is don't work for one of the pain in the butt managers - I worked under a manager who put everyone who quit as "rehire with interview" - and for the next 3 years, they had enough applicants and instant rehires that they didn't take anyone under that status, even though I left on good terms and had been approved for a management promotion when a position opened. I have not reapplied under Cedar Fair management but I've heard that they've cleared out all previous records, so I'm hoping I could work there again if I wanted to, though I'm leaning more towards going up to Cedar Point for a summer.

Yeah, the ride ops on Firehawk weren't very enthusiastic yesterday. At all. I got an "ugh" look from the girl on yellow train that I handed my glasses to, we were left with the blood rushing to our heads for what seemed like 4 times longer than normal and then I didn't even hear so much as a "clear" as we were, as you said, unceremoniously booted out of the station. But, the ride was still as fun as I remembered, and the ops at Flight of Fear were having fun (two of them got into a 'fight' over who got to ride with a single ride before they got off their shifts) and livening it up, so it made up for it.

I didn't keep count (I will next year) but it'd be a close call between Racers and Beast, leaning towards Beast. And Backlot Stunt Coaster was up there too, since it always had the shortest line and it's a fun coaster. I didn't get on Flight of Fear nearly as much as I wanted to.

Just want to post this picture I took at sunset of construction today. I like the American flag at the apex, it's a nice touch.

Aha! I couldn't figure that out because the track was coming from over on the other side of the Crypt. I forgot the helix. That and I have horrible visual-spacial skills and can't figure out what part of the ride is going where until it's built.

Anyone who went yesterday would notice that it looks like someone had too much fun with a chainsaw over by The Beast. All the trees behind the sign, and The Beast's sign itself, are GONE. What gives? I could understand some of them needed to be cleared for Diamondback's track, but not all of them. This may need to go into the rumors section, but is anyone else suspecting retheming?

We're getting a late start because we came across a car accident on our way home last night ... we didn't get to bed until after 3. So now we're on our way. I'll keep an eye for all of you, and anyone who is also heading down around now, I'm wearing a black Ohio State t-shirt and a grey Ohio State hoodie. My husband's going to be wearing a black Ohio State hoodie. You'll probably find us in either Action Zone or X-base. I'll be one of the few people who actually wear their prescription glasses on the rides!

On second thought, we may make a run down there tonight too ... I want one last night ride on The Beast this season.

I will be there on the 2nd until around 4:30 when I have to leave for work. My husband and I will both be there, most likely wearing Ohio State pullovers. I've got waist-length dark brown hair (will probably be pulled up) and he's 6'2" and blond. Say hi if you see us!

exatly.. i HATE that like they cant see that you are right across the station And then they give the ride op this "I don't know what you're talking about" face when they unlock the bars and tell them to get out. My husband (who is not a small guy) started chewing out a kid who stole my seat on The Beast. He was getting off the previous train and decided "hey look, empty seat!" while I was putting our jackets in the bin. The kid had the "oh crap, I'm gonna get pounded" look as he scampered off very quickly.

My biggest gripe is people's lack of respect for others. This includes many things such as: - smoking in no-smoking areas (I'm allergic to cigarette smoke and don't enjoy spending my time waiting in line coughing hard enough to lose a lung) - blatant line jumping and walking under/over the bars to beat the person walking around them (this happened once on Gemini and I made the kids get behind us) - YELLING to the person who's standing RIGHT NEXT TO YOU. Get a darn hearing aid if you're having that much trouble. - flipping off the on-ride camera so the people behind or in front of you can't get their picture - cursing, especially yelling curse words just because you think you're cool. - spitting in any place or form except maybe off into the bushes - holding up the line for something stupid - like your kid is obviously 3 inches too short to ride but you're going to argue with the ride op anyway. Or even better, the "you mean I CAN'T carry my 6' stuffed animal and 30 lb backpack onto Firehawk?!" and then waiting while they deposit their weight's worth of crap into the bins or fight with the ride op because they don't want to leave the line. - stealing someone's seat when they get up to put something in the bins The one that I don't think anyone's mentioned yet that really peeves my husband and I is people wearing obscene shirts. At Cedar Point we saw a guy wearing a shirt that had skeletons posed in various sexual positions. I don't remember exactly what the text on it said but it was something about boning. I found it very vulgar and inappropriate for the atmosphere and we notified a park police officer who had the guy turn it inside out. Any shirts that directly reference sex, violence, or drugs, and some of the more obvious allusions to the themes should not be worn or permitted.

A coworker of mine pulled that in the employee lot. He knew what my car looked like and there weren't usually a lot of cars in the waterpark section of the employee lot. Well, he walked faster than me and opened up the door and sat down in the car, and I looked over at him and said to myself "I KNOW I locked my car..." As I got closer, I realized it was the same color and model, but had no sunroof - and he'd just gotten in someone else's car! Mine was about 5 spaces further down the row. I later discovered my car's twin belonged to a lifeguard when we passed each other at the parking lot entrance gate one day.

Ok, I guess I had my inevitable embarrassing moment on Saturday. Anyone who's been to Halloween Haunt is familiar with the fact they horribly overuse the fake smoke throughout the entire park. While in the Coney Mall arcade, it started getting to me and I started having a coughing fit. It got to the point I couldn't breathe and had to be taken by the in-park ambulance to the First Aid station.

About the worst I've ever had happen was a bird poop on me, but that was years ago. However, I saw a pretty good one at Boomerang Bay. I was waiting in line for the boogie boards and a probably 13 or so year old girl was ahead of me. The water got a little frisky with her top and when she washed out, she was laying on her back with her boobs hanging out for the world to see and had NO idea! The lifeguard had to say something to her about it and she turned red as a lobster. At Cedar Point I was wearing a low-cut top and when we got off of one of the coasters (don't remember which one now) it had pulled down to show a little too much of my bra. They had pulled my photo because my bra was showing, I guess because it washed out in the photo and looked like there wasn't anything there.

I especially love the expression on the guy behind you who looks like he's about to cry!! I wish I could find the original of my Face/Off picture, but all I can find is the one I scanned that's still inside the paper frame. If you take the paper frame off, you can see my brother's friend's hand in the corner of the picture. He was facing me and trying to smack me through the entire ride. Here's my submissions: Me on the left, my best friend on the right - this was her first coaster ever, can you tell? Me on the left with arms up (I ignore the warnings) and my husband with his face all scrunched up on the right. His first TTD ride.