For the first time in a long time the temperature is in the double digits, it’s partly cloudy so the operations team forgoes the usual sunburn that comes from the morning meeting. The department heads churn out the usual information to everyone, hours, attendance guesstimates, news, sports, weather, and the occasional ride incident report. For the last four months this team has assembled in this very same spot, preparing to do battle in an arena filled with hostile guest and dangerous machinery. Thinking back to the start of this season I am reminded that I didn’t trust some of these people to operate a toaster. Yet, with some training and guidance and a whole lot of experience, they are now confidently and safely operating a $15 million piece of hardware. For the department trainers, the fruits of their labor are on full display here. These truly are some of the best ride operators we have ever had.

As you look around at this group of people you can feel the energy that they bring. These people have done an amazing thing, they have come together as a team to put on this performance for the guest entertainment. A show filled with dangerous and expensive machinery that must be operated safely and efficiently in climates of varying extremes for extended periods of time and arguably marginal pay. They have handled hostile guest and severe weather, cleaned up vomit and kept the guest safe. Today is Labor day, the last hoorah for the summer travel season, school officially starts tomorrow. At 6 PM this team will cease to exist as it is today, for the majority of them the job is over, there is no tomorrow. They leave with just an employee ID to turn in, and a locker to clean out. For those of us who stay behind for the rest of the season we are tasked with filling the shoes of those who left. You can rip the heart and soul out of this department, but we will rebuild. We will always come back bigger and stronger.

We wish to thank the thousands of seasonal employees that made this summer possible. Stand up, take a bow, you guys earned it.

Filed under: Corporate Blog, Ride Operators, Theme Park Operations, Theme Park Trainers | Comments Off