Traning that is needed for SF management.

[Bob O]

http://www.miamiherald.com/business/story/245256.html

Now here is some training that SF management could use if they want to improve customer service and become more family friendly.

[Trailblazer Tony]

^Disney sometimes takes things too far though...especially when they were telling me the specific types of facial hair they allow for employees and such...

Still, it's not that ours are bad, but there is always room for improvement!

[batcave]

Umm, Disney training is no different than Six Flags'. Infact Six Flags has better training and better quality employees, it is just that seasonal mangement is TERRIBLE. Rereview sesonal mangement and the company will be fine.

[Clonebiscuit]

Infact Six Flags has better training and better quality employees

Thanks for the biggest laugh I've had all day. What color is the sky in your world?

[batcave]

I have worked at both, Disney rides are stupid...so the biggest idiot can operate them. Try visiting Disney on a weekly basis, and then visit Great America on a weekly basis.

I have worked for both, gone through both training programs, and Mark Shaipro has it right.

[FParker185]

I don't see why it'd take a different kind of idiot to operate SFGAm rides over Disney rides. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to hit the green buttons and keep an eye on riders.

I have never worked for a fixed site park in any capacity and even I know at most parks with AB control systems regardless of the chain....

Green button good
Red button Bad
Hands off the yellow unless you're important.

I think the main problem at SF is they are mostly seasonal parks, employees have nothing to work for cause no matter what, come the end of October you're getting laid off. At Disney being open year round means they can actually have meaningful goals to set for their employees like promotions and whatnot rather than "it's been a good year and you done good, here's your pink slip, have a nice winter and dont let the door hit you in the ass on the way out"

[cycamps]

So, you get laid off and have to apply again next year?

[RagingBullFan]

Yep, thats pretty much how it works.

[rcoaster]

What about for maint? Don't you work year-round?

[Bob O]

If I ran a park like disney's that is highly themed I would also regulate the facial hair/general appearnce of my employee's so as not to detract from the setting im trying to achieve, and if someone doesnt like that they can choose to work elsewhere. That is what believed and history has shown he was right in his thinking.

So I guess that SF is the gold standard in the theme park industry, where titans of business come to learn/teach there employee's in guest satisfaction?? And SF has better trained employee's????
Now that is some good humor!!!

As for rides being easy to operate, that should be the goal!!!! The easier a ride is to operate the less likely there will be mistakes that will affect the safety of ones guests. As for operating rides, SF buys rides that are manufactered by other companies who devise the rides and operational manuals, and vewry few if any are in house custom built rides; While disney thru WED makes/creates many of there rides on there own and devises there own operational procedures. The coasters in the parks come from outside manufactuers but most dark rides ala HM/POTC had ride systems created in house.

[batcave]

Actually the gold standard in the theme park industry in Herschend Family Entertainment.

[RagingBullFan]

There are full-time positions in maintenance as well as seasonal.

[Clonebiscuit]

Try visiting Disney on a weekly basis, and then visit Great America on a weekly basis.

Yeah, done that. And I still disagree, as I'm sure most people would.

I have worked for both, gone through both training programs, and Mark Shaipro has it right.

Keep drinking the Kool-Aid.

Or is that Operation Spy Girl brand Kool-Aid?

[Bob O]

Batcave, while I dont think Herschend Family entertainment does as good a job as WDW/DL , I do think they do a GREAT JOB and it is a company that could teach SF a great deal on creating a family theme park experience.

I visited SDC/Dollywood the last 2 years and had a great time at each park, I only wish they were closer to home so I could visit more often. At these parks you did see IMHO the mix of guests that SF is trying to get with the chages that Shapiro is trying to implement. And with the wide variety of itmes/crafts you can buy, most people were leaving with items they purchased and not won by playing games.

[Trailblazer Tony]

^Great point about the crafts!!!!! Part of the purchasing at Dollywood has to do with it's location in the rural mountain country side, though, which would be hard to approach in our area....