Stupid Guest Tricks

Okay, so over at Xcelerator, we have two lines. One for car 1, and another line for cars 2, 3, 4, and 5. For some reason, our pink sign that said "LINE FOR FRONT CAR FORMS HERE" failed to inform guests enough. We then made two very large yellow roadsigns that also informed guests that they would be entering the front car line. My encounter went a little like this:

Guest: "Sir, why is this line moving so slowly?"
Me: "Well ma'am, youre in the front car line."
Guest: "Oh. Well can I switch lines? I dont want to wait for the front car."
Me: "Sorry ma'am, once you enter this line, youre in it for good."
Guest: "Well thats not fair at all, I saw no signs telling me that I was getting in line for the front car."
Me: "So you didnt see any yellow signs or a pink one saying youd be in the front car line?"
Guest: "No."
Me: "I see, let me see what I can do."

Im pretty sure if I wouldnt have turned around then, I wouldve ended up laughing in the guests face. I had to run back to my load position so I could laugh without being noticed by the guest. I was almost in tears. How do you miss three very brightly colored signs like that!?!? The world will never cease to amaze me.

Freak wrote:How do you miss three very brightly colored signs like that!?!? The world will never cease to amaze me.

True story.

Years ago, I worked for a large upscale hardlines retailer. At the front of the store, we had a set of glass Emergency Doors.

In front of the doors was a three foot tall sign on a pedestal reading "THIS EXIT IS FOR EMERGENCY USE ONLY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO OPEN EXCEPT DURING AN EMERGENCY. IF OPENED, AN ALARM WILL SOUND."

Printed on the doors themselves were the words "EMERGENCY EXIT ONLY. IF OPENED, ALARM WILL SOUND."

To open the doors, you had to push on a black and yellow striped bar emblazoned with the words "TO OPEN DOORS, PUSH HERE. AN ALARM WILL SOUND."

At least once a month, we would have a customer exit through the doors, then look around with a shocked expression when the alarm went off.

^ Oh its the same at Xcel. People do indeed think that "Fire Exit" or "Emergency Exit" really means "Exit Here If You Dont Feel Like Waiting In Line" or something.

My best moment: Receiving a $2 tip from a guest for retrieving a dropped item on the ride. I spent it on some crappy, greasy food over at Lakeside (the employees' eating area at Knott's).

And I bet that's the last time you'll do that again! BTW, have you read the horrific health inspections over on the KBFDrama.com site? Next time you're given a tip, spend it on something that won't send you to the E.R. or the bathroom in a hurry.

Wow and I thought the Disney people here had it bad. That site sure has some disgruntled employees and for good reasons.

These are some of my musings.

I've taken a look at KBFdrama.com, but as much as I find Knott's Berry Farm despicable, I find that this web site stupidguesttricks.com is fairly civil in comparison.

Some rides I've worked on were Hammerhead (before the management klutzes finally razed that heap of junk in 2004), the Wheeler Dealer Bumper Cars (teenage and parental hell and short of me assuming the role as quasi-babysitter), Wipeout (it's quite miserable facing the westward afternoon sun), and Sky Cabin (pleasant but boring ride to operate, but at least it has air conditioning).

Some shift leaders I had were undoubtedly jerks (those looking to giving out "tracks" or to talk down to employees for no reason whatsoever) and attention-seekers, others I got along with just fine. Guest-wise, the park attracts a low-class customer base for whom possibly couldn't afford to go to Disneyland nor want to either, and KBF ends up receiving more of the gutter people. In short, KBF is the "Poor man's Disneyland", although after reading post after post here, Disney is filled with guest idiocy all the same.

As a ride operator, I've stood out in extreme heat (fear of heat exhaustion and stroke), in drenching rain (fear of ammonia), in freezing and lip-chapping cold, as well as breathed in lovely ash (during the awful 2003 wildfires). All this brings to mind: where the hell are the supposedly safety-minded, pencil-pushing bureaucrats at Cal/OSHA? I've dealt with many a disgruntled and stupid guest as well as came to near physical assault, while working at the bumper cars, by a psychopath who had a daughter not able to ride due to the height rules.

I was late to work a few times, but never really absent nor have I called in sick. I tried to do my job right, even if it is rotten to the core and very much thankless. The turnover there is high, as the number of flakes and dedicated employees alike come and go. There was a lazy female ride operator sleeping in the Sky Cabin, but she was never really disciplined and was later cross-trained to work on the Log Ride (don't know if she's still working there).

KBF was already bad when I first started in 2002. If what I have read about them lately is true (e.g., ride ops are lacking 200 employees), I guess word is getting out that it is a really poor place to work for. It seems like the mismanagement of KBF is really spiraling out of control. Hell, it's so bad over there, that the attitude-spewing dingbat scheduler Melissa G. is gone too (one time I was given a 15-minute shift, tsk.)

In 2004, I was de-certified from Wipeout by the then new supervisor Matt. The supposed reason was that a kid stuck his arm out of the ride and attempted to reach for a plant. Gee, the way the ride moves and positions during the cycle, it is difficult to catch and desist each and every guest-related stupidities. It didn't really matter because I put in my two-week notice previously and it was almost my last day at this theme park dump.

Service with a smile, indeed!

And Lakeside Terrace really reeks of odor, too.

Disgruntled Ride Operator wrote:... As a ride operator, I've stood out in extreme heat (fear of heat exhaustion and stroke), in drenching rain (fear of ammonia), in freezing and lip-chapping cold, as well as breathed in lovely ash (during the awful 2003 wildfires). ...

I've had that same fear of ammonia! And other cleaning products as well. (Sorry, couldn't resist! :twisted: )

Welcome, DRO. You'll fit right in here.

BRWombat wrote:I've had that same fear of ammonia! And other cleaning products as well. (Sorry, couldn't resist! :twisted: )

Welcome, DRO. You'll fit right in here.

My mother cleaned homes and those cleaning products get into your system and ruin your health. I knew you made a typo so I let the smart people post first. Hugs and welcome.

I think this site is way tamer than the Knotts site also. When Knotts got rid of all but a few token Indians then that was the end for me. Those people were kind, compassionate, taught kids lots of neat stuff and were very nice to me. Knott's used to be fun just to walk through to talk with people, see shows and maybe ride a few rides. It was a happy place then piece by piece it started being less family and more corporate.

I remember working there. :shudders: I know I posted this somewhere but anyways, Knott's is notorious for leaving their employees to the elements. I worked one year at Haunt on a cart with no phone and it was pouring rain. After three hours of standing there with power cords all around??!?!, I finally said screw it and called the office on my cell phone to find out what the hell to do. We did close my stand after the lead bitched about us losing money. I had not had one guest since the rain began! I got talked to, but I always kept my cell phone on me after that. Came in handy when I ran out of change or supplies and a manager maybe came by every two hours. During Haunt, stuff runs out quick. I feel your pain.