Apollo's Chariot

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warfelg said:
Maybe my thinking is a bit too simplistic here, but have a sensor every so many feet on the track, and one on the Zero Car, Middle Car, Tail Car. All three train sensors must pass over the track sensor. As long as it’s moving over them the track keeps playing. Then if the ride breaks down or the lift stops, the music stops.
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You wouldn't even need that, just replace the existing code with this:

Code: 
|            Lift_Motor_AUX                                              Lift_Music         |
|-----------------| |-------------------------------------------------------(OTE)-----------|
|                                                                                           |

Turn the Music on when the Lift VFD is running. Lift stops for any reason, so does the music.
 
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warfelg said:
Maybe my thinking is a bit too simplistic here, but have a sensor every so many feet on the track, and one on the Zero Car, Middle Car, Tail Car. All three train sensors must pass over the track sensor. As long as it’s moving over them the track keeps playing. Then if the ride breaks down or the lift stops, the music stops.

And I know this wasn’t in your post but, ride ops that are turning the music off because it’s annoying to them are selfish. Just like doing their own spiels because they get tired of the recorded ones are selfish. I’m sorry but those things aren’t about the team member. Those things are for the enjoyment of the guests and team members that don’t feel that way are asshats. (Pardon my language) I’m tired of park employees doing something for their convenience and ignoring who the park is for.

So playing the lift hill music and recorded spiels shouldn’t be an option. It should have to happen automatically because it for the guests not the team members.
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I don't mind if a spiel is given by a TM, and also don't mind if they expand upon it if it's professional and with the theme.

However, it seems most other rides including Griffon and Tempesto always have auto-spiels on, so not sure why AC is different (yes, I know different technology when installed, but figured it wouldn't be hard to update and standardize if they chose to).
 
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As someone who live spiels when they operate I take great offense to being called selfish just because I don't play the automatic spiel.

Spieling is different from a thematic part of the ride being disabled, and when done right interferes little with operations and provides an even better experience for guests.

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Jonesta6 said:
However, it seems most other rides including Griffon and Tempesto always have auto-spiels on, so not sure why AC is different (yes, I know different technology when installed, but figured it wouldn't be hard to update and standardize if they chose to).
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To my knowledge, it is due to having the volume of the auto spiels lower than the volume of the mic's. When I was at griffon, I almost always manually spieled because the volume on the recordings were so low that even a small crowd in the station would be enough to not hear the recorded spiels.
 
I agree with much of what has been said. I have no issue with a ride op doing a custom spiel as long as it ties into the ride. My issue is that I feel that often when they don't play the automated spiel they are just chatting about whatever they want to over the speaker instead of either hyping people up for the ride. Too often I hear them talking about sports teams or commenting on jerseys someone in line is wearing or clearly just chatting with the other ride ops over the intercom.

Either play the automated spiel or actually talk about the ride and hype us up for it. Don't just do whatever you feel like doing.

As far as the lift music goes, I agree that it should just always be on because it is part of the theming of the ride. To me it would have been like riding Darkastle but with none of the effects on.
 
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I shouldn't have used selfish on the spiel part for al ride ops, but there are plenty of ride ops who don't make it an event. And I should have added that. But at plenty of parks I've been to, there's always be the ride ops that seem to not care about the park guests. Rather it comes off as "ugh I got to say X, Y, Z and I hate the pre-recorded". Conversely I have had a few rides where the person doing the spiel is really excited about what they do (Kennywood used to have a guy that wouldn't let Racer go until both trains were screaming wildly).
 
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warfelg said:
I shouldn't have used selfish on the spiel part for al ride ops, but there are plenty of ride ops who don't make it an event. And I should have added that. But at plenty of parks I've been to, there's always be the ride ops that seem to not care about the park guests. Rather it comes off as "ugh I got to say X, Y, Z and I hate the pre-recorded". Conversely I have had a few rides where the person doing the spiel is really excited about what they do (Kennywood used to have a guy that wouldn't let Racer go until both trains were screaming wildly).
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Enthusiasm is good, but forcing guests to react is annoying - I am talkative, but don't generally don't react to someone telling me to scream or whatever. Delaying ops because of a lack of response is walking a fine line.
 
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Unfortunately, the spiels efforts are top down. If they higher ups don't convey the importance of the story of the ride and the spielers conveying that, then the ride ops will just go off on a tangent. And, despite what the "kids" may think, not everyone has a voice or talent to be on a microphone.

The park should invest in quality voice actors recording a compelling, thematic spiel* and that should be all that's heard. It sets the mood and it's the last reenforcement of the theme. Only in certain instances should a TM take to the mic. And if then - "here's a list of what is approved to say on the mic". That's it. Don't like it? You're now working Prince Elmo.

*Unlike the pre-record for InvadR, which is the most boring, amateur spiel for any ride, ever!
 
GrandpaD said:
Unfortunately, the spiels efforts are top down. If they higher ups don't convey the importance of the story of the ride and the spielers conveying that, then the ride ops will just go off on a tangent. And, despite what the "kids" may think, not everyone has a voice or talent to be on a microphone.

The park should invest in quality voice actors recording a compelling, thematic spiel* and that should be all that's heard. It sets the mood and it's the last reenforcement of the theme. Only in certain instances should a TM take to the mic. And if then - "here's a list of what is approved to say on the mic". That's it. Don't like it? You're now working Prince Elmo.

*Unlike the pre-record for InvadR, which is the most boring, amateur spiel for any ride, ever!
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Yes and no - auto speil by default, sure, but the right TM on the mic can enhance, even with a simple 'How was that ride!?!' between the unload/load speils.

Though "brace yourself for 2/7ths stops" at the end of Wilde Izzy/Maus definitely fit with the theme of a cheap carnival ride.
 
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I think rides should have a loop of different spiels that get the same safety but different welcomes and dispatch phrases.
 
warfelg said:
I think rides should have a loop of different spiels that get the same safety but different welcomes and dispatch phrases.
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Most parks don't bother with the fluff. They want to be as blunt as possible with safety and rider guidelines for the rides in the autospiels.

Having differing spiels can help avoid guests tuning out the autospiels, but having them be slightly different can cause problems in the courtroom in case god forbid something happens that manages to get there.

@GrandpaD is also correct that BGW's ops spieling is a top down problem, because management is not enforcing or clarifying to employees exactly what is correct and incorrect to say.

However guest engagement is an important factor in a lot of parks internal and external auditing so outright banning employees from interacting with specific guests because they are wearing a sports uniform or even memorabilia from another amusement park defeats the purpose of trying to make a guest's day.

Each operator has a different way of spieling, especially those who are good at it (like me!). I particularly do not attempt to interact with individual guests, and play best spieling to the entire train, line, etc. I do know many operators, and have trained many, that are quite good at interacting with individual guests and do not detract from the overall rider experience for the hundreds of others that could be crammed like sardines into a station.

It's all on how an operator is trained and groomed to interact with guests in the work environment, and it may be rude of me to say but if the operators on Apollo are as bad as y'all are describing it says more about management and leadership than it does about the crew itself.
 
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Spieling is something that you learn from observation, not by reading out of the SOP. You can only learn as much as the others you observe. I, thankfully, had a number of excellent team members my first few years that helped me refine my spieling and have gotten many complements, both formal and informal, from guests about it. If new team members do not have any spieling role models to learn, they turn out to be pretty bad on the mic. If there are no role models, the supervisors should step in when a team member shows genuine interest in learning. That said, no one should lack the common sense to say some of the things that Zachary has witnessed and that is very much attune to a training and professionalism issue in that area, most likely due to hiring based on friendships and not on merit, which happened during my tenure at the park and I'm sure has not stopped since I have left. That said, it is a discussion for another thread.
 
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I'll preface by saying this spieler conversation should be moved...

I'm sure @b.mac you're a fine spieler. But (contrary a bit to @ControlsEE points) is that the pre-record should be the primary. I certainly don't want to hear a ride op (no matter how good they may be) overriding the (as example) Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain or Hagrid pre-records. I see the "loaders" being the ones that do one-on-one guest interaction, not the one with the mic. Companies lay out big bucks for theming, etc. and it shouldn't be compromised by ride ops that think they're good on a mic (no offense intended to those that do it...just a general opinion).

Now, about the recent high speed passes people say are happening....
 
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You know what makes my day special when I’m queuing or boarding a ride? Truly special?

Being efficient. Getting everyone, myself included, through the line and onto your crew’s awesome attraction without unnecessary imposition or delays. Thereby making it better for everyone.

Letting us all enjoy our day at the park without the kid on the mic unilaterally insisting we immediately address the burning social issue of “Are you ready to ride? I SAID, ARE YOU READY TO RIDE?!!”

I’m already in the vehicle, restraints checked, all ops’ thumbs are up and/or platform station buttons pressed and held. The video timer expired thirty seconds ago. It’s 97 degrees in the station. Of course I’m ready to experience the attraction I just spent considerable time waiting for. We are all ready. This isn’t a stand-up set, Caleb. Your “audience” doesn’t owe you anything. Hit the damned dispatch.

I enjoy interacting with employees, and I enjoy it when they have some freedom and like their jobs. But the median mic work in the coaster booth is sad, to the point where I’d rather see it just go away most of the time than being mostly annoying and very occasionally entertaining. Parks need auditions for those who want to grab the mic and go ham. If you don’t clear a very high bar, then it’s pre-recorded spiels for you and you’re strictly limited to as-needed mic work. Want the status of being mic-approved? Okay. Study up and practice. More.

As the oversight and effort to make that happen are unlikely to materialize, let’s just have the prerecorded stuff until things get a bit feisty during the hour or two before close.
 
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halfabee said:
You know what makes my day special when I’m queuing or boarding a ride? Truly special?

Being efficient. Getting everyone, myself included, through the line and onto your crew’s awesome attraction without unnecessary imposition or delays. Thereby making it better for everyone.

Letting us all enjoy our day at the park without the kid on the mic unilaterally insisting we immediately address the burning social issue of “Are you ready to ride? I SAID, ARE YOU READY TO RIDE?!!”

I’m already in the vehicle, restraints checked, all ops’ thumbs are up and/or platform station buttons pressed and held. The video timer expired thirty seconds ago. It’s 97 degrees in the station. Of course I’m ready to experience the attraction I just spent considerable time waiting for. We are all ready. This isn’t a stand-up set, Caleb. Your “audience” doesn’t owe you anything. Hit the damned dispatch.

I enjoy interacting with employees, and I enjoy it when they have some freedom and like their jobs. But the median mic work in the coaster booth is sad, to the point where I’d rather see it just go away most of the time rather than being mostly annoying and very occasionally entertaining. Parks need auditions for those who want to grab the mic and go ham. If you don’t clear a very high bar, then it’s pre-recorded spiels for you and you’re strictly limited to as-needed mic work. Want the status of being mic-approved? Okay. Study up and practice. More.

As the oversight and effort to make that happen are unlikely to materialize, let’s just have the prerecorded stuff until things get a bit feisty during the hour or two before close.
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but why Caleb? I blame Payton.
 
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