way29 Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 My family has been a season pass holder for several years and we really enjoy taking our young girls to Kings Island as much as they enjoy riding the rides. This was the first year ever that we went on opening day and it was awesome. The lines weren't too bad and the Kings Island employees were extremely friendly and ambitious. In fact I have never seen them this cheerful but now looking back I have noticed that as the season goes on the KI employees do seem to get less ambitious if not down right rude by the end of the season and now it makes sense. They probably get tired of customers, get tired of their bosses or tired of whatever, or maybe they realize they are actually working a real job. This isn't a complaint by any means, just an observation. I probably spent around $300 in the park today. As the year goes on I tend to spend less and less each visit, and it's mostly because of the attitude of the KI employees. Today, I don't know how many times we were greeted with "Welcome to Kings Island" and "Have a Great Day" right down to when we were leaving I was told "Thanks for coming, have a safe trip home" when turning in our rented stroller. The KI staff interacted with our children which they loved and overall we felt like we were welcome guests. Now rewind to August or September of last year or any of the end of the season in the past years and the service usually goes more along the lines of "Could I get a straw with my drinks please" KI employee rolls eyes and sighs "We aint got no straws, NEXT". Like I said, this isn't a complaint, just an observation on what the Kings Island season looks to me, a regular gold pass holder, and hopefully it can help KI management find a way to extend that great opening day KI employee enthusiasm to last throughout the season to keep their visitors happier and their profits higher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
way29 Posted May 1, 2011 Author Share Posted May 1, 2011 The one complaint I do have with opening day, and its not really Kings Islands fault, but more the parents fault of the teenage girls who cut in line in front of us, and as usual no one says anything, but it caused me and my daughter to be on the ride ahead of my wife and my other daughter so I pointed this out to the line jumper in a nice way I thought. Her response was "So what, too bad, and deal with it" and actually started yelling at me asking me what I was going to do about it. A KI employee saw the commotion and came over to ask what was going on. The girl admitted that she cut in line, but he wasn't prepared or didn't want to deal with it either so he just walked away. She got her way, and it dint't really affect me too much. we just let a few riders behind us go ahead so my family could all ride together. The only reason I am posting this is in the hopes that some parents will take charge of their kids instead of letting their kids take charge of them and in turn making their kids think they can do whatever they want because today that is exactly what happened, this girl did what she wanted with no consequence. Someday that is going to get her into trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopan Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 The one complaint I do have with opening day, and its not really Kings Islands fault, but more the parents fault of the teenage girls who cut in line in front of us, and as usual no one says anything, but it caused me and my daughter to be on the ride ahead of my wife and my other daughter so I pointed this out to the line jumper in a nice way I thought. Her response was "So what, too bad, and deal with it" and actually started yelling at me asking me what I was going to do about it. A KI employee saw the commotion and came over to ask what was going on. The girl admitted that she cut in line, but he wasn't prepared or didn't want to deal with it either so he just walked away. She got her way, and it dint't really affect me too much. we just let a few riders behind us go ahead so my family could all ride together. The only reason I am posting this is in the hopes that some parents will take charge of their kids instead of letting their kids take charge of them and in turn making their kids think they can do whatever they want because today that is exactly what happened, this girl did what she wanted with no consequence. Someday that is going to get her into trouble. Generally i dont see people jumping line very often, though 90% of the time its teen girls(not harping on girls thats just who i see doing it all the time for some reason much more than teen boys i dont know why) who have some friend or whatever ahead and they just cut right in with them, but not too often. The only time it really got bad was when i went on a "math and science" day, pretty much every ride some kid or kids would jump the line to be with their friends, which is why i will never go on one of those days again. I know its not Kings Islands fault though they cant have someone on every ride just standing there watching for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
selective Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 Anytime schools visit the park, line jumping happens constantly on every ride, all day long.... I would say at least once every thirty minutes for every ride. Last year I remember a time waiting for Flight of Fear when five kids jumped the line practically walking past the entire crowd in front of the UFO, and because they ended up in front of me, when I got to the coaster I heard several people tell on them. The entire ride was stopped while they looked for the kids but a positive identification could not be made of which kids so after ten minutes of looking for the kids while the entire ride was stopped, they let everything slide due to no evidence and those accused denying they jumped the line. However...... this gave me a great idea! Everyone has cameras that can film movies. So next time someone jumps line, have your camera handy and ready, and film them when they line jump. Then tell and show an employee, so that person that jumped the line get's kicked out of the park and if they have a season pass, they'll possibly have that shredded also! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 Filming juveniles in a park without their or their parents' permission can get you in some dandy trouble, to put it mildly. Not a good idea. Not to mention under many circumstances, your phone could be seized as evidence and not returned to you for a very long time, if ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
selective Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 Filming juveniles in a park without their or their parents' permission can get you in some dandy trouble, to put it mildly. Not a good idea. Not to mention under many circumstances, your phone could be seized as evidence and not returned to you for a very long time, if ever. Terp, now you sound like the police! I guess if a cop was doing something illegal and being filmed, you would also suggest that cop has the right to confiscate the camera filming them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 I am stating facts. You can live in whatever reality you choose, until that reality affects you or others... And the law enforcement officer does not have that right, but does have the power. To enforce a right takes money, time and often still does not happen. Line jumping. A park. Either go, or don't. When you take enforcement into your own hands, you can suffer consequences. Not usually, but the hazard exists. Also, thanks for making my day. Me? Sound like law enforcement? Somewhere BavarianBeetle is laughing himself crazy...and me, too. Gabe probably, too. Thanks! I haven't laughed so hard in years. So is Security Officer, a poster here... SNORT! Thanks, again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
selective Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 Terp, Are you defending line jumpers? You don't sound like you are enforcing any "NO LINE JUMPING" rules of the park! ... and since no one has ever seen this rule enforced, it is now being laughed at as a joke, and your post didn't help! At least I'm trying to think of a solution. Please, tell me how we are going to stop line jumpers other than having real police officers stand at the entrance of Diamondback! BTW, they didn't catch any either, I'm pretty sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 PARKS enforce PARK rules. When other patrons attempt to do so, they can and sometimes do face consequences. You suggested filming underage patrons. I told you (and the other readers here) why that is not a good idea. YOU just stated noone has ever seen that rule enforced. That is simply untrue. Many have. Again, you can choose whatever reality you think you live in, but your observations do not mean that what you see or think you see is universally true. In any event, this thread is SUPPOSED to be about EVERY DAY SHOULD BE LIKE OPENING DAY. You hijacked that, I went along for a short ride, but I am not doing it anymore. I was there opening day, and *I* saw a linejumper being dealt with. By security, no less. And I will not participate further in this thread in your usual attempts to make Cedar Fair and the park look bad. At least you didn't suggest filling the park with homeless people this time, yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
selective Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 This is still about opening day! and.... way29 mentioned line jumping in the 2nd post! My reply was to that Nice try in your defense of giving no answer, you trying to change the subject... However, I think you forgot way29 created this thread and I'm sure way29 would still like an answer........ Terp, is your answer "So what, too bad, and deal with it" ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongliveKingsCobra Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 Wow. Now your throwing words down Terps Throat? Hahaha. I feel like opening day always has its own special magic to it. Everyone is happy, and excited and the employees are usally ready to help (they aren't burned out, like by the end of July haha). I agree if everyday could be like Opening day (minus all of the ride closings) I think it'd be a great Season! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 A thread about dealing with line jumping: http://www.KICentral.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=23542&st=0&p=421073&hl=+line%20+jumping&fromsearch=1entry421073 Starting a debate with someone who doesn't take sides will be very interesting to watch, good luck Selective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
74Gibson Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 I'm being kind, I promise. Selective your being rude an inappropriate to a well respected man... one I and many here call a friend. Filming those kids could have gotten you into legal trouble. I enjoy photography and have gotten into ugly situations taking Pics of kids. I'm an Elem. counselor. Easy to defend. We all hate line jumping. The best advice that h as been given on these boards... and many others I read is to get another group to agree to report it with you. Then wait till they get to the station and report it to the ride ops. If you have two groups reporting it the ride op will do something. If they don"t, get the name from their badge and report it to Customer Services. The best part is, the people will have to wait through the whole line and everyone will get to watch them get escorted out. Often you expose a fool and they start a rucus ang get tossed out of the park. This is how we will greatly reduce line jumping this year. I'm on a personal mission. ON TOPIC IT was so great to read this PTR. I agree completely and that is what I love about going to parks, particularly ones that treat you like HW. KI has a great kids section and I really like the rest of the park too. Working at KI has to be a drain by the end of the year so... I'm talking to you Kinzel, Please do everything you can to make your employees feel valued and happy so that your patrons can continue to feel valued and happy. We are telling you that we like to spend money on a fair deal and a good time. EDIT: to remove We don't like Line umping thanks Snowman. I wasn't looking at what others were doing in this thread and also: Selective, BrownTigrr said this "Being a father of young kids, I am not a fan of camera phones." in the above thread It was not even related to what you and my freind Terp were talking about. Being a School Counselor I am trained in knowing about such concerns as picturing and videotaping young ones. Do you even know why we would be concerned? Respect your elders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyGuy4KI Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 Very nice report Way29! Thanks for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dieseltech20 Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 Nice report, though if you think 2 plus hours for a ride isn't bad, I envy your patience Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beast Man Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 I must admit that by closing day last year that employees seemed to have a poor attitude,as if they were in a hurry to get the park closed.Planet Snoopy closed an hour before the rest of the park,but I didn't see anything posted about it(unless I missed it).I was in line for Surf Dog with several other people and it was announced(while the ride was running with people on it) that the ride was now closed and we had to leave the line.I went over to Flying Ace Aerial Chase(which I assumed was open because the entrance was not blocked)went up the queue,stood at the gate for a few seconds only to be told that they were not open.I politely told the ride op that if the ride is not open then they should block the entrance like they do on any other operating day. The last ride on The Beast did not go exactly smoothly either.There were a number of us waiting at the entrance a couple of minutes before 8 only to be told that the riders were already taken up to the station.This might have been a miscommunication as we were finally allowed to enter the station. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedarPointer Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 They must have had different hiring or training techniques this year, because I can't think of a single rude employee I saw, as opposed to quite a few I saw during the first few weekends last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.