benred23 Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 Not Being privileged enough to have ever been a Ride operator, I have to wander what Is the Hardest ride, from a control standpoint, to operate in the park? I can assume that rides like the Scrambler and alot of the rollercoasters run on a program and all the Ride op has to do in Initiate it, but when it comes to rides like Monster with all the Levers that have to be Used and the preciseness of having to stop the cars on the right spot, which exactly is the Hardest one to operate? I may be way off on the whole "Program" Idea, But please everyone, Eliighten Me! I'm Very Curious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhantomTheater Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 The Train, not as hard as the CP&LE but still harder then any other ride. DISCLAIMER: this is from an observational stand point, I have never worked in Ride Operations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 I believe that you are pretty much spot on. Most of the rides have programs. In the case of the flats, most of the rides simply require a start button to be pressed (sometimes in unison in the case of rides like the Zephyr and Scrambler. From there, the ride will run until the timer runs out and the ride stops. Granted, the ride operators have access to the infamous big red button, aka "E-Stop." The Monster is more of a manually operated ride. Monster also has to be balanced, in terms of loading arms opposite of each other. I can`t speak from too much experience at KI, as I have never been a ride op there. But I can speak about Coney`s rides. At Coney, most of the rides have "dead man" switches. In other words, the operator has to physically hold down a button the entire time the ride is running. If they let go of the button for any reason, the ride stops. There are some exceptions where all the ride operator has to do is hit a button once, and the ride will take care of itself the rest of the way (RIver Runner, Frog Hopper, Scream Machine, Dodgems and Python). THe two hardest rides to operate at Coney are Rock O Planes and the Ferris Wheel. Of those two, the more difficult to operate is the Ferris Wheel. Balancing of the ride is a must, otherwise "Bad Thing Happen." One must pay attention to not just the cars being loaded but the weight being loaded into each car. Ie, a solo rider who is just 49" tall would not balance well with a car on the other side that has two full size adults in it. And the Ferris Wheel is one ride where the weather can play a role in how sensitive the controls are. I`ve worked the ride where the controls went from being really loose, to extremely tight, and then back to loose again, all within a few hours! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fighting31irish Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 Not to take away from the original question, but I would also like to know what ride is the most FUN to operate? Maybe it's just an outsider looking in but I imagine The Beast would be fun just being in the atmosphere of one of the most prestigious coasters in the world, as well as seeing the "cult following" as Wikipedia describes it's riders. Also Diamondback seems amusing purely because it's one of the features of the park, and with the new technology I imagine it's not one of the most difficult (not to mention getting to see one of my hero's an average of 2,000+ times a season). Again, just an envious outsider looking in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeLorean Rider Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 Skyflyer is the most demanding. It also requires the most responsibility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheikra_rocks Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 As an Ex Rhino Rally driver. I can say it is one of the hardest rides to operate in a theme park. Not only do you have to drive the vehicle and act. You also have to keep guest, employee, and animal safety in mind during the entire time you are giving your tour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarketingExpress Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 Not Being privileged enough to have ever been a Ride operator, I have to wander what Is the Hardest ride, from a control standpoint, to operate in the park? I can assume that rides like the Scrambler and alot of the rollercoasters run on a program and all the Ride op has to do in Initiate it, but when it comes to rides like Monster with all the Levers that have to be Used and the preciseness of having to stop the cars on the right spot, which exactly is the Hardest one to operate? I may be way off on the whole "Program" Idea, But please everyone, Eliighten Me! I'm Very Curious! Monster is probably the one ride that you really have the most control over as a ride op. I would definatley put it at the top of the list as one of the more difficult rides to operate. The Train, not as hard as the CP&LE but still harder then any other ride. DISCLAIMER: this is from an observational stand point, I have never worked in Ride Operations. The train(s) is/are not actually operated by ride operators. Not to take away from the original question, but I would also like to know what ride is the most FUN to operate? Maybe it's just an outsider looking in but I imagine The Beast would be fun just being in the atmosphere of one of the most prestigious coasters in the world, as well as seeing the "cult following" as Wikipedia describes it's riders. Also Diamondback seems amusing purely because it's one of the features of the park, and with the new technology I imagine it's not one of the most difficult (not to mention getting to see one of my hero's an average of 2,000+ times a season). Again, just an envious outsider looking in. This is where your personal preference would kick in. I was never a fan of working The Beast or Racer. However, I did enojy working FOF, F/O (or Invertigo), Top Gun (Flight Deck). All have their own unique qualities. I did like working higher capacity rides, so working at AE was perfect for me where we worked to unload, load, and dispatch a train within one minute and ten seconds (and that was with one bar checker on each side with 3 trains operating; not the 4 bar checkers under 2 trains like what CF has in place now). Skyflyer is the most demanding. It also requires the most responsibility. I did forget about Skyflyer, this would probably be at the top followed by Monster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teenageninja Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 Joe Cool's Dodgem School is clearly the most difficult... followed by Pigpen's and Peanuts Off Road Rally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fighting31irish Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 I bet FOF is an employee favorite in the middle of the summer when it's 90+ outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tycoonrebel7188 Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 From experience, being in Controls at White Water Canyon is by far one of the most demanding spots in the park, especially when it comes to down time. In a downtime situation, the boats do not stop in brakes like a coaster would. Instead, the boats are free to float in the water, most often in one of 2 areas (bottom of the lift and by the tower where the employees can drench you). Hardest ride to operate?? Probably not, but it is by far extremely demanding when there are all 22 boats in the trough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fighting31irish Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 ^^I was thinking about that earlier. Plus you have to constantly walk on that rotating platform. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tycoonrebel7188 Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 ^ Honestly the walking wasn't that bad, great exercise lol. But standing out there in the heat of the summer can be brutal. I ended up with a great tan.. .. .. farmers tan that is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fear the Four Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 I've heard numerous times that Firehawk is the hardest... but I don't believe that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeLorean Rider Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 Joe Cool's Dodgem School is clearly the most difficult... followed by Pigpen's and Peanuts Off Road Rally. Would you like to tell us which dumpster is the hardest to operate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIfan1980 Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 Joe Cool's Dodgem School is clearly the most difficult ... While the Planet Snoopy rides may not be the hardest to actually operate, I'm guessing that having to deal with the kids (and parents) may make them one of the hardest places to be a ride op. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 Joe Cool's Dodgem School is clearly the most difficult... followed by Pigpen's and Peanuts Off Road Rally. Would you like to tell us which dumpster is the hardest to operate? Why, Rolling Dumpster, of course! Terpy, who I bet you thought would never say THAT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rcfreak339 Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 Skyflyer is the most demanding. It also requires the most responsibility. Yeah and standing out there on the hot concrete all day, whew! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedarPointer Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 Firehawk, definitely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monroe Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 Today I would have to say Sky Flyer because of all of the points the opperators have to check not to mention checking the riders state of mind....I remember the days when the drivers on The Racer were not allowed to talk when driving, because they had to concentrate on when to pull the BRAKE levers. OK fixed.......and no more typing without my glasses!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 Uh...brake levers. KECO didn't have break levers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 But The Racer, when it opened did have BRAKE levers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 Indeed....and some of the ride ops were break leavers...but that's another story... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wv_ki_fan Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 ^ a lot like the ride ops for the Haunted House at Camden Park in Huntington WV who push the cars to get them started and catch them to make'em stop...tough job when its 90+ outside (i've done it..tough job) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterguy15 Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 Firehawk, definitely. Agree, 100% Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Nemo Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 Monster! Case closed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 I wonder how difficult the Monster is to run compared to an Eli Bridge cable driven Ferris Wheel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasper Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 From a stand point of a visitor to the park, I would sat XSF is, due to all the checking of the restraints and the sheer hook ups that come with the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 I wonder how difficult the Monster is to run compared to an Eli Bridge cable driven Ferris Wheel. A very good friend of mine is an expert operator of either. He LOVES running the cable driven Ferris Wheel, and dreads running a Spider, which is in essence a smaller (and more difficult to operate) Monster, made by the same company that makes the Monster... And with a name like Parks...who is better suited to do either? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fighting31irish Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 I honestly don't believe the kids that run these monstrous machines get enough credit for what they do. They have many lives in their hands to an extent, for minimal earnings. People get paid a lot more to do a lot less in this world. Not to mention the disrespect that they receive from unruly guests who don't know their place in the park. I have respect for those ride ops and what they do. I'm sure it is not as easy as it often looks and their hard work is taken for granted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 Sling Shot is easy during the day, but at night its hard, we gotta see if the cable is crossing/twisted near the pullys at the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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