Six Flags

signaltwo · Post by **signaltwo** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 2:00 am

Hi there! I'm not sure if this is the first Six Flags post, but it very may well be. That's moot. Anyway, we have our fair share of problematic guests. I'd like to share one such experience with my words written in red, kinda like Jesus in the Bible.

I'm a lead at a particular coaster at a particular Six Flags park. It's not important which, especially since SF combs the internet looking for employee posts.

So anyway, a family consisting of a mother, a father, and a small child board the coaster from the airgates. I'm next to the operator checking on some paperwork when I spy the small kid on the coaster. From my angle, it didn't seem like he was tall enough. I asked the attendant to check the height of the child. I watch him go and do this. I see that the child does not hit the heightstick, but the attendant walks away and goes back to checking the restraints.

At this point, I became very confused. I asked the attendant if the child was tall enough, even though I knew the answer. The attendant said, "No, but the mother said he could ride with her." I stared at the attendant for a moment almost ready to pass out. Firstly, this is not true for this coaster. Secondly, since when are we ignorant of our own policies and rely on the guests to explain them? I told the attendant the real story and asked for the heightstick.

I went over to the child and asked him to stand up as I aligned the stick next to him. While I'm doing this, the mother is jabbering on and on with those little intelligent quips that guests like to mutter. "...He's been on this ride before....He is allowed to ride with me...ect., ect."

I apologized and showed them the exit. The whole time the mother is jabbering on and on with things like, "This is rediculous! There should be a sign that says this, if it's even true at all!" BTW, major props goes to the husband who has to put up with this silently.

Anyway, the group began leaving for the exit so I started walking back to the operator's booth. I heard another comment from the woman about a sign being necessary. I turned around and asked her, "Okay, fine...Would you like me to show you all of the signs that explain this for this ride?" She said that she would. Thus, I led the entire group down the exit tunnel and to Sign #1.

There's a sign stating every rider policy hanging near where the exit tunnel dispenses into. She didn't seem satisfied, jabbering on about how there should be one near the entrance. I said, "Oh, but this is merely a wrinkle in our plethora of signs. Let me show you its brother."

So, I bring the group to the entrance and show them an identical sign. She started yelling about how the sign was too small (it is actually enormous) and not as visible as she'd like it to be. I said simply, "Well, the state of (insert US state) decided that the sign is large enough and as visible as required. I'm sorry you do not agree."

At this point, the husband is attempting unsuccesfully to get his wife to follow him away. Meanwhile, she says something along the lines of, "You know...I think it's pathetic that you're going to be working rides your whole life." (I'm 18, btw).

So, I responded with something along the lines of, "Well, I'm sorry you feel that way, but I find it equally pathetic that you're trying to argue your child's way onto a ride with restraints not designed for him, restraints we entrust our lives with, that is...."

I never saw her again.

IndyBob · Post by **IndyBob** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 8:51 am

Good for you for standing up to her like that. You have a major set of wevos(sp?) But I commend you.

techie-13 · Post by **techie-13** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 11:26 am

Excellent Job!

Mansion_Boi · Post by **Mansion_Boi** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 11:37 am

huevos, i think

GapToothed · Post by **GapToothed** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 11:39 am

IndyBob wrote:Good for you for standing up to her like that. You have a major set of wevos(sp?) But I commend you.

LOL. It's huevos!

signaltwo · Post by **signaltwo** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 12:18 pm

Well, it was the last day of the season and pretty much every employee has wanted to deliver the whole "Why are you trying to get your kid to ride this when we say it's not safe?" line. So, I did.

wheelieman · Post by **wheelieman** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 6:54 pm

I strongly dislike guests like that. Parents need to be responsible for thier kids lives, too. The safety of your child should be your number one concern, not if you get to ride or not. My six year old is right on the border of 48", and I ALWAYS let the R.O. decide if she is tall enough. ACCEPT that decision, even if it is not CONVENIENT at the time.

Dave

Dante101 · Post by **Dante101** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 8:06 pm

Cool story! I did the same sort of thing at Disney - I think it was on Star Tours. I took the family downstairs to see all the many restriction signs.

Another time a group insisted their child should be allowed to ride because "they didn't stop us downstairs." My response was "the person downstairs is there as a courtesy. Just because they might have missed your child entering the building doesn't mean they get to ride. It's not a game of 'sneak by the greeter' here."

I know they're just trying to save face, but really, what the hell's their logic?

Cloud Buster · Post by **Cloud Buster** » Sat May 15, 2004 4:24 am

Six Flags is a little different in terms of guest relations. Since it's not really a "family" park, for the most part, not to mention the vast difference in how it's managed, I think you can get away with a lot more working there. Almost makes me jealous.

As for when she called you pathetic, how about, "I think anyone who places their personal pleasure above the value of their child's life pathetic, ma'am. Good day to you."

Grumpy · Post by **Grumpy** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 5:38 pm

GapToothed wrote:
IndyBob wrote:Good for you for standing up to her like that. You have a major set of wevos(sp?) But I commend you.
LOL. It's huevos!

doesn't "huevos" translate to "eggs?" it's kinda funny that it's got that dual purpose. . . I know all languages have word that have meanings that have nothing to do with each other, but it's still funny