Author Topic: End of Summer Report Card (Read 3849 times)

rjholla2003 · « **on:** August 25, 2007, 03:11:37 PM »

With August coming to a close, everyone is getting their last trips in for the summer. How do you feel the park was operating between June and August? Was this a great summer? Was there room for improvement? Was it completely terrible? Vote, and share your thoughts on the most important part of the season.

UrsaMajor · « **Reply #1 on:** August 25, 2007, 04:51:22 PM »

Overall, I would have to say A, probably the first time I would have considered this grade. During July, when I got the majority of my trips in, I can't ever remember a day when more than three rides were closed. The food service was excellent, especially improved at La Cocina. A number of nice employees helped earn this grade as well. Overall I would probably say A-, so I'll vote A.

WadeJ · « **Reply #2 on:** August 25, 2007, 08:45:22 PM »

Every time I've been to the park since June every single ride was operating (as far as I could tell) with exception of Chiller. And while sometimes a few of these rides were barely running like having one side of the sky ride, 2 parachutes, half of RT, etc., more often than not, these attractions were operating at max capacity. Seeing attractions like the sky ride, bumper cars, parachutes, Kingda Ka, RT, and many more operating at Max capacity is something I haven't witnessed in years. Many many years. And to see this into July and August is simply amazing.

I gave it a B. A very solid B because many times food services were awful. A few times I would have returned the food had the line not been horrific. Half cooked burgers, burnt burgers and various other issues haunted me all season. The pizza sucks and is over prices and every single time we ever got food there were only a few people in front of us and yet it still took 25 minutes to get our awful food. Yes, there were outstanding moments with food but this still took my grade down. I know its luck of the drawl but it shouldn't be!

Other issues were cleanliness (sorry RJ!). Too many times I tried taking the kids into the men?s room to find crap (literally) on the seat, and in the un-flushed toilet. There were several times with pee everywhere as well. Again, we've been there where you could practically eat in the bathrooms but there just seemed to be a few moments were things slipped. And this happens.

Overall though, the staff has been awesome all season. Morale seems to be holding up better than ever even with the summer heat and the rides seem to actually stay running!

Best season in 6 years for me. Easily 6 years and maybe more. If they make services more consistent, they won't be beat

.

edit: Holy Typos Batman

Thats what I get for typing too fast!

rjholla2003 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 25, 2007, 08:59:41 PM »

No need to apologize to me Wade. As long as it wasn't my shift. LOL! You haven't seen crap literally on the seats until you've seen some of the things that I've seen! Then again, I've seen it places no crap has ever gone before...

This season was amazing on so many levels, yet it had it's disappointments. My real sore spot was the lack of entertainment this season. Even knowing going into the season that a few venues would stay dark this season, it was a disappointment to me.

Rides killed it this season. They had everything running so well this season (minus Chiller, but it is Chiller) that it was simply awesome. When Chiller was running, it was going consistently as well. I had to give it up to them this season.

When it comes to Park Cleanliness, the Park Services department definitely got way more attention this year than last year. They rode us pretty hard and pretty consistently this year. Sometimes to the point where it got so annoying that you wanna chuck your radio into the lake, lol. But, as always, we strive to do more with less.

I gave it a solid B, because there's definitely things to be improved for next season. There were some things I tried to do this season that didn't pan out, but I'm already thinking of ways to get that to work for next season. Some of it relies on civil disobedience. LOL. It was definitely the best summer I've experienced at the park in a while, and I hope that enough people return next season who can bring some of this summer's hustle to next season as a whole.

Bubba Z · « **Reply #4 on:** August 25, 2007, 09:42:53 PM »

I'm giving it an A! I never eat at the park and I only use the bathroom near Chiller. Which BTW is always freezing and spotless. Wait time's for rides this year were unreal and when there was a problem ( The Kingda ka night) we were sent to El Toro to make up for it. Other things to factor in was the Channel 12 shoot, Rise and Scream and of course the Hug, lol.

darkridedan · « **Reply #5 on:** August 25, 2007, 11:58:47 PM »

I haven't really been to the park this season. I've only been on two rides so I can't vote. Wade I agree that it has been the best season in 6 for operations. 2000 & 2001 were the best operation years in the time that I've been a season pass holder.

Off the top of my head from what I remember from June and from what I have read, I would probably have given it a B. I could only be impressed with all of the rides operating at full capacity if GA had at least half of those 12 flat rides they gave away or removed. Just running between El Toro and Kingda Ka is not my cup of tea.

If they could have as many rides operating again as they did 6 years ago and if they continue treating the employees as well as they do today, they'll be hitting an A everyday to me.

ChuckR · « **Reply #6 on:** August 26, 2007, 12:50:15 AM »

Ride operations have been so good that on busy Saturday's you can easily do Ka, Toro and Nitro within three hours. It's amazing! To also see both sides of the skyride and all eight Parachutes running is insane!

I haven't really ate at the park this year so I can't vouch for that and I really didn't see any shows this year because nothing really got my attention. Hopefully next year we will get more shows to fill in those dark areas of the park.

Besides that, I will give it a A-...

rjholla2003 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 26, 2007, 01:59:44 AM »

Quote from: Bubba Z on August 25, 2007, 09:42:53 PM

I'm giving it an A! I never eat at the park and I only use the bathroom near Chiller. Which BTW is always freezing and spotless.

Blue Parrot Mens (The bathroom you're talking about) is cared for by probably the most dedicated, and one of the top 3 porters in the park. He's one awesome guy. His only rivals in the park, maid and porter wise would be my two favorite Jamaicans over in Aqua (The restroom by the Dolphin Show) and the porter over in the Teepee restroom, who was in Studio 28 (the restroom by BTR) for most of the season. The former Teepee maid is now in the water park, and would be on that list too. I give them all mad props whenever I can, because they've always been amazing for me, and the park.

peterpjr · « **Reply #8 on:** August 26, 2007, 08:50:18 AM »

I have to give the Grade an A myself. My job at the park gives me the unique opportunity to be with guests and interact with all departments in the park. My personal feeling is "wow what a great job" everyone is doing but then again I may be a little bias. The true test comes from the guest that I escort who are always commenting to me how much the park has changed for the better. I am always hearing how clean the park is, how beautiful the landscaping is, how great the ride operation is running (4 trains on Ka, dispatch times etc.), how friendly everyone is, they like the variety of food choices, how they love the fact that there is so many characters in the park. The list goes on. So when I hear it from them, I know that GA is running a great operation.
Of course there are isolated incidents, but what large company running an operation like that does not have them. I find they are few and far between.

This being my first season working at the park after many years as Season's Pass holder, I have been very impressed with park's emphasis on guest satisfaction. Management and employees truly want to make to the extra mile to make sure a guest has a great time and wants to come back. The seeds are being sewn for Great Adventure and Six Flags to be known for their commitment to Guest Satisfaction. Everyone of my guests that I escort this season has left the park saying they can't believe what different park GA has become. Hats off to all the hard working employees at GA who have made this happen.

RJ. I agree with you about the gentleman at the Blue Parrot restroom. He is great. Such a hard worker and a nice guy. I wish I could remember his name off the top my head. He keeps that restroom so clean and is always nice to the guests who use it. I hope Park Services have recognized him this year for his hard work.

WadeJ · « **Reply #9 on:** August 26, 2007, 09:24:25 AM »

I'm probably a different type of guest now. I'd definately be giving this an A if I had not been visiting with my family this year. Why else would I buy food in the park or use the most frequently used bathrooms lol.

Seriously though, forget Cedar Fair.... Great Adventure is catching up to Disney in regards to guest satisfaction and experience.

GADVwow · « **Reply #10 on:** August 26, 2007, 09:33:07 AM »

While Cedar Fair apparently does it best to emulate the old "Gary Story's" Six Flags....

coastermom · « **Reply #11 on:** August 26, 2007, 10:12:41 PM »

Well I too feel like Wade on this one. I have to use LOTS of bathrooms in the park with a 5 year old . He has been using the bathroom with Dad but there are just those times he has to come with me. IT is VERY hard to find a really clean bathroom sometimes . Example of annoyances are when womans issues come up

and every machine is EMPTY or BROKEN as was the case last night at the park This is annoying with teenage girls and as a mom . Every time we have visited we have not really had any problems We really enjoyed this season . There have been the usual break downs but that happens every where and when it has happened this year I have seen people working on it right away. We arrived last night at 4 PM and by 11 PM we had ridden Nitro once , SM once , buccanerr , fantsy fling , BBLTT , jolly roger, we went to WW,we did ET , KK twice , RT 3 times , the log flume and RMT 3 times. This all on a Saturday night which is pretty amazing . KK was walk right up to the station maybe a 5 min wait . I am looking forward the park keeping up the good work next season.

I give it a B a good solid B .

coastersue · « **Reply #12 on:** August 28, 2007, 04:29:52 PM »

To be completely honest, I'd give it a C. Our favorite thing to do has always been to go and reride Rolling Thunder over and over. Since that's no longer allowed, that's a big negative for us. Ever since the coaster get seatbelts, the dispatches have been slower. By not allowing rerides and having the attendants have to close up empty seats, it makes the dispatches even slower.

Everything else has been great, but that one point brings it down. The thing that I appreciate the most is the enforcement of the no smoking policy. After seeing people smoking all over the place at GL and CP this past weekend, it makes me appreciate it even more. At CP, we watched upper management walk right by smokers and not say a word.

Dubya91 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 29, 2007, 01:21:19 AM »

I gave the Park an A, for many reasons. First of all, everytime I went this year so far, every ride was running and running at full capacity, weekend or weekday. This includes both sides of the chairlift and the Jolly Roger! That shocked me and was great to see. Another thing was that the staff was very very friendly and helpful. If you had a question they knew what you were asking and had an answer and they would also talk to people and not talk down or snotty to guests, which is a great thing to see. Another thing was that the park was clean. I hate going to a bathroom that smells and has toiletpaper/paper towels all over. The staff did a great job keeping them looking and smelling clean and this was not only in the bathrooms but around the park in general.This year was probably one of the best operating years in a LONG time and I am happy to see the park making a turn for the better. Keep up the great work!

Grade: A

Its also nice to know that you dont gotta worry about leaning in gum anymore, while waiting for a ride

WadeJ · « **Reply #14 on:** August 29, 2007, 08:27:59 AM »

Ya know Robb, you bring up a good point. Nearly all of the queues were amazingly clean this season to!

WadeJ · « **Reply #15 on:** September 06, 2007, 11:33:07 AM »

*bump*

Please vote if you haven't already! Unfortunately, we still haven't figured out a way to let guests vote without allowing guests to post (which leads to spam) but we've got way more than 12 active members on this site!

Bubba Z · « **Reply #16 on:** September 06, 2007, 11:53:46 AM »

are you sure about that !

Sorry, that was supposed to be funny. I like our little group !

GADVwow · « **Reply #17 on:** September 06, 2007, 08:28:59 PM »

At least one of the active members hasn't had a great adventure late this summer....yet.

Sigh!

SilverBullet · « **Reply #18 on:** September 06, 2007, 09:04:40 PM »

I haven't either.

Actually....I haven't been this whole entire summer. =(

Ogolo · « **Reply #19 on:** September 06, 2007, 09:25:04 PM »

No trip the entire summer

...For shame!!!
You have missed a great summer.
Lets see what the pull off in the fall.

Robert T Ackerman · « **Reply #20 on:** October 09, 2007, 10:21:32 PM »

I voted B with a curve.

The park's operations are much better, could use a little more help on rides other than the "big bad coasters" and they keep taking rides out, so B sounds pretty reasonable to me.

MRHSfalcon · « **Reply #21 on:** October 09, 2007, 10:54:27 PM »

Since I worked in the park and have not gotten a lot of visits to the park, I am going to grade what I have seen and heard through my few visits and the radio (or walkie talkies). I would give the park a B because there is always room to improve. Rides had a great season by having almost all the rides open. Park services, maintenance, games, and merchandise all had good seasons (food I really cant comment on). The only Dept. that needs major help is the entertainment.

Being a lead on the east and west side of the park for the summer(unfortunately never worked with Reggie too much because he was in central

). I got to work with a group of great employees, including, like Reggie said, two of the best porters in the park (the man from Blue Parrot and the one from Tee pee). The internationals also made this season easy and fun, they were great employees and fun to hang around with during and after work (Reggie you know who I am talking about on this one

). Most of the employee's that I was honored to work with made this season go by so much quicker.

That's my review from what I saw in the park, unfortunately this will be my first and last season working for Six Flags and the park services dept (and I thank everyone in the dept for the experience that i had), this weekend will also be my last as an employee.

rjholla2003 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 10, 2007, 01:41:50 AM »

I think I might have to put in a "Pimp Down" call for you man!

peterpjr · « **Reply #23 on:** October 10, 2007, 07:23:42 AM »

Quote from: MRHSfalcon on October 09, 2007, 10:54:27 PM

Rides had a great season by having almost all the rides open.

I have to agree with you. Rides did an incredible job this season. Special kudos to the El Toro crew. Matt and his crew did were amazing. Fast, friendly, efficient. They got those trains out of there quickly time after time.

I interact with a lot of rides people with my job at the park and they all have been wonderful. Thank you to all of them.

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Author Topic: End of Summer Report Card (Read 3849 times)