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rides do breakdown and rides are out of commission for a period of time because of maintenance, etc.

However, there is no valid reason for rides regularly scheduled to open later then park opening except cost cutting.

If they don’t have enough staff to open the rides, that’s because they don’t want to pay enough staff to be there all day

If it’s anything to do with daily maintenance, that maintenance could’ve been done in the 12 hours. The park was closed if that’s the case it’s simply because the park does not want to pay maintenance staff to be there at certain hours.

Only running rides like the sky ride on certain days? Because they don’t want to pay the staff to manage or they want to reduce the wear and tear on the ride. It’s still cost cutting.

Somehow, Kings Dominion manages to have all their rides open from open to close. But the more expensive BGW can’t do that or even provide shuttle service to the poor people that have to pay $35 to patk.

It is 100% about cost cutting in these cases.

Companies like United parks and Six Flags are no longer entertainment companies. They are asset management companies. They do not care about maximizing. The customer experience to increase revenue. They are maximizing what they can squeeze out of every asset instead.

As attendance continues to decline because of a lesser customer experience and high prices, the companies choose to continue to cost cut and raise prices on those willing to pay more for a lesser experience In order to protect the bottom line. It’s really a vicious cycle with no good ending.
 
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However, there is no valid reason for rides regularly scheduled to open later then park opening except cost cutting.
What about weather? Opening procedures? Some attractions require a longer opening process than others due to their nature—Roman Rapids, Le Scoot, Skyride, Railroad, and even InvadR.
If they don’t have enough staff to open the rides, that’s because they don’t want to pay enough staff to be there all day
I can tell you for a fact the locations want to have more staffing, but corporate has cut their budgets to the bare minimum, if that. When I worked there, many rides only got minimum staffing despite realistically needing more. I actually know that Seaworld Orlando actually ended up scheduling a few rides *below* minimum staffing for recently (source from a friend of mine who works there).
If it’s anything to do with daily maintenance, that maintenance could’ve been done in the 12 hours. The park was closed if that’s the case it’s simply because the park does not want to pay maintenance staff to be there at certain hours.
I hate to break it to you but a lot of parks don’t have a 3rd shift maintenance team. Would it make sense to? Yes. But will they? No. Some parts of the maintenance process require daylight to do, such as full track inspections.
Only running rides like the sky ride on certain days? Because they don’t want to pay the staff to manage or they want to reduce the wear and tear on the ride. It’s still cost cutting.
The Skyride is notoriously difficult to operate, coming from someone who used to work it. Weather is a huge role in this attraction, as consistent wind speeds over 20mph will keep it down. If the weather forecast shows the winds as being around that all day, they will simply keep it closed out of caution. Staff will either be sent home or put on Area Host.
Somehow, Kings Dominion manages to have all their rides open from open to close.
Uhhhh I’ve had plenty of days where attractions opened late when I went, so…
 
That’s a si
What about weather? Opening procedures? Some attractions require a longer opening process than others due to their nature—Roman Rapids, Le Scoot, Skyride, Railroad, and even InvadR.

I can tell you for a fact the locations want to have more staffing, but corporate has cut their budgets to the bare minimum, if that. When I worked there, many rides only got minimum staffing despite realistically needing more. I actually know that Seaworld Orlando actually ended up scheduling a few rides *below* minimum staffing for recently (source from a friend of mine who works there).

I hate to break it to you but a lot of parks don’t have a 3rd shift maintenance team. Would it make sense to? Yes. But will they? No. Some parts of the maintenance process require daylight to do, such as full track inspections.

The Skyride is notoriously difficult to operate, coming from someone who used to work it. Weather is a huge role in this attraction, as consistent wind speeds over 20mph will keep it down. If the weather forecast shows the winds as being around that all day, they will simply keep it closed out of caution. Staff will either be sent home or put on Area Host.

Uhhhh I’ve had plenty of days where attractions opened late when I went, so…
Weather? They are delaying these openings on perfect weather days!

If opening procedures are longer, they need to pay their employees to come earlier, but that’s again cost cutting!

exactly. Corporate has cut budget so they can’t staff. It’s cause cutting! Pure cross cutting.

Thank you
 
That’s a si

Weather? They are delaying these openings on perfect weather days!

If opening procedures are longer, they need to pay their employees to come earlier, but that’s again cost cutting!

exactly. Corporate has cut budget so they can’t staff. It’s cause cutting! Pure cross cutting.

Thank you
I really suggest you join a cedar point group and see how much they complain about stuff being closed all the time and not opening at right times. Shit happens. If the biggest money maker/destination cedar fair park(i assume) in the chain doesn't even do it then im not sure why you're suprised Busch doesn't
 
Corporate
Read this again, but slowly. CORPORATE is making this decision. I can tell you for a FACT that the PARK LEVEL management has ZERO say in that decision. If they did, staffing would actually be a thing.
 
What about weather? Opening procedures? Some attractions require a longer opening process than others due to their nature—Roman Rapids, Le Scoot, Skyride, Railroad, and even InvadR.
Maybe I misunderstood the comment you’re replying to, but I interpreted “rides regularly scheduled to open later then park opening” to refer to the staggered village opening times. So that would exclude weather-related delays. And I would argue that, in general — unless the park clearly advertises otherwise — long opening procedures simply behoove the park to get those procedures started sooner. That isn’t an excuse for opening a ride late.

Read this again, but slowly. CORPORATE is making this decision. I can tell you for a FACT that the PARK LEVEL management has ZERO say in that decision. If they did, staffing would actually be a thing.
This argument seems to be a bit of a red herring and unfair to @Thriller. @Thriller’s criticism, as I understand it, is just that cost-cutting is happening. The fact that the cost-cutting is coming from corporate doesn’t refute that it’s happening. Cost-cutting by corporate is still cost-cutting.

I doubt I’m earning myself a lot of fans by defending @Thriller here, but for all of his posts that I disagree with, I think folks aren’t being completely fair here.
 
This argument seems to be a bit of a red herring and unfair to @Thriller. @Thriller’s criticism, as I understand it, is just that cost-cutting is happening. The fact that the cost-cutting is coming from corporate doesn’t refute that it’s happening. Cost-cutting by corporate is still cost-cutting.
I will give that fact is happening, yes the cost cutting is happening. The way it was sounding to me is that it seemed like it was being blamed on the park for the cost cutting measures, when that’s simply not the case.
 
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I will give that fact is happening, yes the cost cutting is happening. The way it was sounding to me is that it seemed like it was being blamed on the park for the cost cutting measures, when that’s simply not the case.
To me it was that it’s the only reason things aren’t open ect when there could be a lot of things happening effecting it so to say it’s only greed is a bit disingenuous. Because even if they did all of the parts tied to cost cutting concerns, there’s still good chances not everything would be able to open together because of all the other factors that impact operations.
 
Only two kiosk in the whole park working this afternoon. I become more and more convinced daily that this is a deliberate move to keep pass members from easily using rewards.
 

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It is astounding to me that United Parks, as a chain, created a new "solution" to the long-running problem of what were super annoying scanners... Only to have that solution be basically just as bad.

I feel like many places have solved touchscreen kiosks. I don't understand why this has proven so difficult for United.
 
It is astounding to me that United Parks, as a chain, created a new "solution" to the long-running problem of what were super annoying scanners... Only to have that solution be basically just as bad.

I feel like many places have solved touchscreen kiosks. I don't understand why this has proven so difficult for United.
I almost feel like they think they were plug in an go and wait for the manufacturer comes to service them. There’s a spot where cost controls impact them negatively in a stupid way.
 
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If anyone goes today can they provide updates. We're thinking of going this evening, but no point if we can't get the rewards.
 
Some of the benefits can redeemed on the app now FYI. Bring a friend tickets are almost always available. My single use skip the line is usually available too.

For the rest, I'd go to guest services with a picture of all the broken kiosks, have them print the rest for you, and then complain why we can't redeem the rest of our perks from the app.
 
Some of the benefits can redeemed on the app now FYI. Bring a friend tickets are almost always available. My single use skip the line is usually available too.

For the rest, I'd go to guest services with a picture of all the broken kiosks, have them print the rest for you, and then complain why we can't redeem the rest of our perks from the app.
Guest services takes forever.
 
We had something weird happen to us on Thursday…. The husband and I took some friends to the park with us, one of which has a pacemaker. When he was going through security, he showed the guard his pacemaker card so he didn’t have to go through the metal detector. The guard looked at the card and questioned if it was legitimate. Our friend pulled the collar of his shirt down and over to reveal his scar. Then, the guard believed him and did a security pat down and let him through. I have never had someone question a pacemaker recipient like this…. It was very uncomfortable.
 
We had something weird happen to us on Thursday…. The husband and I took some friends to the park with us, one of which has a pacemaker. When he was going through security, he showed the guard his pacemaker card so he didn’t have to go through the metal detector. The guard looked at the card and questioned if it was legitimate. Our friend pulled the collar of his shirt down and over to reveal his scar. Then, the guard believed him and did a security pat down and let him through. I have never had someone question a pacemaker recipient like this…. It was very uncomfortable.
Right to guest relations. Right away.
 
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