So just today, just after the train departed the station I headed to the front of the depot building to answer guest questions and such. Most popular questions for me are usually, when is the train coming back, when is the next train and of course, where is the bathroom.
We have a sign in front of the station that reads "Train Departs on the hour every hour. *Except on busy days where the train leaves when it is at capacity." A guest looked at the sign and stared at it for what I'm going to call an abnormal amount of time (3 minutes.) Then turns to me and says, "I don't understand what this means. (points at sign)" I look at my watch and tell them that the next train leaves at whatever time was up next.
I've also noticed that, while I wear a watch because I have to and don't feel right without one on. None of our guests do. Typically during an interaction regarding when the train comes back I am invariably asked what time it is. Most of those guests either don't come back or come back as the train is leaving.
Also today, while I'm thinking of it and guest interactions. I caught a guest smoking in the park. We have three designated smoking sections. I approached the guest and explained to him that smoking is only allowed in designated areas. He turned around and looked at me and said "I'm deaf, I can't hear you." So I signed No Smoking. He then replies ok and walks away, while continuing to smoke.
Finally, to round out today's series of events. The train for whatever reason became popular this afternoon and during two cycles, filled to capacity before it reached its scheduled departure time. In that case we just send it out because its full. I had stopped loading guests because I needed to know how many seats were left before I overloaded and upset anyone. I closed the gate and this woman four people back in the queue starts yelling at me that she *needs* to get on the train because her children are on it. I explain to her that the train is almost at capacity and I need to find out how many seats are left but I would get her on the train with her kids. This only infuriates her because apparently I didn't let her bypass waiting in line with the other guests while I figured out how many more guests I could fit in the train. So she starts grumbling to other guests about how this is ridiculous and she should be let on. I ran up all 5 cars to find out I had 8 seats or so spread out and that the back two cars were completely full. So I'm directing the guests to the front of the train where the open seats where. She approaches me and says I need to get back there because that is where my kids are. I explain to her that the back two cars filled up first and that there are no seats and if her children "just got on" as she asserted, they would be upfront. She yells at me that she just wants her kids. I walked away and let her do whatever. Ironically they had to walk up to the front of the train so they could all sit together. As I was taking a final count she gave me a fairly nasty look. I just smiled and waved at her kids and said have a great ride. After the train left I called my sup to ensure they knew what happened before she stopped by guest relations. I don't know if she did or didn't but I wasn't going to risk it. The kids were youngin's so my thought is what are you doing letting little kids run ahead of you in a theme park to get on a ride?
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