I worked at Story Land, a kid's amusement park, for six years. At 14 years old, it was my first job. I stayed there up until my second year of college. I worked all the way up in the ranks, from a little area cleaner to a management position where I was in charge of the park, the employees and the guests. Being there for six years, I learned a lot about the business and will never forget the amazing experiences that I had there. Here are just a few things I learned from working in such a unique environment.
1. The Schedule for the day will change
It won't only change once, or twice, but probably three times. With people calling out sick, people not wanting to be put on the Tea Cups for the third day in a row and all the lovely people who just didn't feel like showing up. You can bet the schedule will change a few times. You'll have management begging you to switch with the girl who can't drive the Pirate Ship even though you were there yesterday. All you can do is smile and deal with it.
2. Guests will try to blame you for the fact that their child is too short
I've had this happen to me more than once. A parent will try to bring their 40 inch child on a ride that has a 42 inch height requirement. Let me tell you. We have signs EVERYWHERE that tell you the requirement. We also state that it is a SAFETY issue to let a smaller child on the ride than recommended. However, they don't care at all! They blame me. My favorite excuse is "we just took her to the Doctor and he said she was 42 inches." I'm sorry ma'm, I don't care if the Pope said she was 42 inches, I am looking at her with the height gauge and she ISN'T. They throw a huge fit and ask to speak to management, who will just tell them the same thing. The best part of it all is that the kid doesn't even care about the ride most of the time, they are just fine. It is the parents that throw a tantrum. Go figure!
3. Evacuating a Ride is all fun and games until someone falls into the water
When I was in management, sometimes rides would stop working. The rafts would stop on the lift, the coaster would get stuck in the station, etc. Maintenance would usually show up and get it working fine. However, we would sometimes have to evacuate people from the rides. This where all the fun started. Sometimes boats would be too far away from the edge, so we would need two people to hold it down to have the people be escorted to safety. Sometimes the coaster would stop on top of the 42 foot lift and we would have to climb all the way to the top to get everyone off. All while apologizing that their ride was stopped short. All in all, e-vacs were always fun.
4. A "Clean Up" is exactly what you think it is
Of course no one wants to say over the radio "Coordinator for Area B, come in please somebody shit all over the floor in bathroom number two." That's just not very pleasant, now is it? However, it does happen. I've cleaned up animal poop, human poop, pee, throw up, ran over animals....you name it. If something happens, we have to clean it and it is just as fun as it sounds.
5. You will have to repeat directions at LEAST 47 times until guests actually listen (which they probably never will)
"Please follow the yellow path."
"No lap riders!"
"Please stay seated at ALL times!"
"You will get SOAKED on this ride!"
"Please place cell phones in the cubbies over there because they WILL fall out and we CANNOT get them until the park closes at 6 o'clock!!"
Guest: "I think I lost my phone off the ride can't you just sneak under and get it real quick?"
No sir. I cannot go underneath a MOVING roller coaster sacrificing my safety because you refused to listen. I'm not sure how many times I have had guest lose wallets and phones off of the Roar-o-Sarus, our fast moving roller coaster. We have signs everywhere. We verbally tell them the whole time they are in line. They DON'T LISTEN. I never understood that.
6. You will be disregarded and unappreciated
"Thank you have a nice day!" Ignored.
"Hey ma'm you forgot your bag!" Takes bag, ignores you.
Guest: "My child is stuck in the bathroom!" I help get her out, they leave without a word.
Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of very nice and appreciative people that you come in contact with, but a lot of them act like you don't exist. It has given me a completely different perspective on amusement park workers and now whenever I go to one I ALWAYS make sure to thank the ride operator. They are usually taken off guard.
7. You will have to answer the same question 90 times a day
"Where is the bathroom?"
"Where is the Roar-O-Sarus?"
"Do you have a raft ride here?"
"Can my son ride this ride even though he's under 36 inches?"
You have to learn to not get annoyed after hearing the same question for the bazillionth time.
The truth is, even though it was tough work, I loved my job. I learned a lot from working there and I learned a lot about myself, customer service and gained a killer work ethic. I think everyone should try this business. It sure isn't "run in the mill."
