#ride operator

Shutter Ghost: Glad you asked! The ride operator from the haunted house where I got my cutie mark taught me. His name's Tortoise Tin!

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- telling parents their kids are too short

- telling parents their kids need to have shirts/pants on

- taking more than five minutes to clean up puke is a sin against god.

- ma’am your daughter cannot ride the mini train with a full diaper.

- ma’am you can’t ride if you just had a c-section.

- no ma’am I can’t make it spin less

- please sit down.

- I told a kid not to touch puke

- I’m not in retail I don’t control the prices

- we can’t run this giant metal ride in a lightning storm

- please don’t smoke in line

-please don’t vape in line

- sir please pull your pants up

- put your phone away

- no, you can’t ride with your purse

- no, you can’t ride with your drink

- sir I just saw you kid puke before they got in line, in not going to let them ride the coaster that spins.

- I need to scan your line skipping pass I can’t just let you on

- I need to see your ada pass I can’t just let you on

- ma’am this ada pass is printed on the wrong color paper. We only use one color and this is not it.

- sir it’s just a pronoun button, please stop screaming.

We had a fairly busy Sunday during our Halloween stuff. I was at the mine ride panel when we had to tell a lady about our bag policy. I didn't hear the conversation, but it ended with her standing at the exit, waiting for her group. Her bag was a fairly small purse, but not small enough to fit into a pocket. While she was still waiting, she accused us of letting other bags on. There was apparently one bag, and on the train we were loading, a girl had, according to this lady, put a "large camera" under her shirt. She was talking about someone in the 2nd car. I looked at the girl I though she was telling my coworker about. I couldn't see a bulge that would have given away that she had a huge camera under her shirt.

During this, my one coworker, J, seemed to only be able to say "Rules are rules, ma'am." It wasn't even in that great of a tone. Okay lady, I understand that you feel wronged, but we're only human, we may let bags on by accident. (When that girl got back that had a huge camera, I did see her take something out from her shirt. I was one of those see through pouches for your phone, which we actually do let on.

1. We are not “fat-shaming” you when we do not allow you on a ride. Seat belts, lap bars, and harnesses need to be secure, whether you are riding a rollercoaster or a mild ride. If we cannot make the safety restraints secure, then you cannot ride. That simple. However, if you are polite, I will gladly suggest a ride that might be able to accommodate you appropriately.

2. If your kid is too short to ride, then your kid is not riding. I do not care if you have “super strength,” paid a full price ticket, came from another state/country, or have a season pass. 48″ means 48″, and if your child is shorter than the height stick or is wearing a 46″ band, then the child is not riding. Sometimes it’s the manufacture who mandates the height requirement, and other times the park decides what a safe height is. And, no, bribery will not change my mind when it comes to the safety of your child, and calling my manager is not going to change anything. I will suggest a ride that your child can ride if you are polite. PS: if you threaten me, I will call security on your ass and you will be removed/banned. Being banned because you threatened a ride op for not letting your toddler on a ride sounds stupid, doesn’t it?

3. If we tell you to put your cell phone away, then put it away. This one really peeves me, because I had to stop a ride TWICE in one hour because of someone refusing to put away her phone. In my intro spiel before letting on guests and right before I start the ride, I tell them to have their phones put away. If I have to tell you more than once during the ride to put it away, I stop the ride and guests get mad at YOU for not listening to the rules, not me for doing my job. If you’re on a rollercoaster and a ride op sees you with a phone, you’ll either be stopped on the lift hill and have your phone confiscated, or we’ll confiscate your phone as soon as you return to the station. Be smart and KEEP IT AWAY.

4. Just because we take safety seriously doesn’t mean we’re completely serious people. If there’s a bit of downtime, I try to make conversation. When I work crowd and have to keep the platform from crowding, I will ask what your favorite ride is, what you are most excited to ride, or if you come here often. When I’m on spiel and I ask how your ride was and you make a joke about it, I promise I will laugh. Everyone loves when people laugh at their jokes.

5. ANY employee will be happy to help you with any questions you have. I know the layout of my park like the back of my hand because I’ve been going there since I was a kid. If you ask me where the nearest bathroom is, how to get to a certain ride, or for a recommendation for food, I can point it out exactly and give you details. Plus, I’m a nerd and know trivia about all the rides, so if you ask me when my ride (or any ride) was built, I can tell you. If there’s any question we cannot answer, we will direct you to someone who can.

6. If you see an employee enter the bathroom, please wait to ask a question. We may seem like superhumans by being in the hot sun all day, but we also need to pee. Give us a minute to empty our bladders and then we’ll help you.

7. If you recognize an employee on their day off or when they’re on break, feel free to chat! I love making friends with the regulars in the park. I promise you are not going to bother me if you say hi, ask how I am, and what I’m up to today. Be mindful of who you want to hug though. I may be a hugger, but there are some people who are not comfortable.

My home ride has a strict no bag policy. Pretty much if you have anything other than a fanny pack or a medical bag, you either have to leave it with a non-rider or in a locker at the front of the line. We have 2 signs at the front of the line explaining this as well as a locker attendant to catch any bags as they walk into the entrance.