Park operating season
I have never seen anyone ask this question on here. But I have always wondered why the park does not open until the Middle of May. If the park is so popular(Which I know why from visitng the park as much as I can) why can't they open in April, and stay open later in October?
The weather in April in Sandusky can be very unpredictable. Just a few scant years ago they had several inches of snow on Easter. May is far more stable. Help would probably be hard to find as well.
-------------
Timothy A. Bretz
"Remember to pillage before you burn"
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/tabretz
-------------
Timothy A. Bretz
"Remember to pillage before you burn"
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/tabretz
Their operating season is based on when students are done with classes at local colleges. If they opened in April, they would have very little employees because classes are still going on. Most of their recruiting comes from area colleges. Now, the weekends in September and October I'm not sure about, but maybe those are high school students or local seasonal workers...but the park is not as crowded at that time and a lot of the shows have no performances at that time too.
I would have to think that the weather plays more of a role than the lack of help. You could get enough employees to run a barebones operation (ever been to Hersheypark during their last week of operation?) but what is the Po!nt if nobody is going to show up because it's too cold?
-------------
Duane Cahill
http://www.nittanylions.com
-------------
Duane Cahill
http://www.nittanylions.com
But barebones isn't Cedar Point. It takes a good, complete crew to operate a ride or a food stand, something that few other parks get. Also, check those name tags... you'll find a relatively small number of college kids within commuting distance, or heck, even US residents!
-------------
Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
-------------
Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
Yep, I see plenty of tags that say Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Toledo, you get the idea. Too far to commute and too long of a day to spend while in school.
Okay, for those of you who don't know, I'm gonna spill the beans.
A lot of us students become commuters during the end of the season. Cedar Point (at least most departments) requires employees within a two hour drive to come back and work weekends after their contract is up unless they have actual legitimate activities that would prevent them from doing so. That's why on Fridays of Halloweekends only part of the park is open. For Saturday and Sunday the crews are run as tightly as possible. People are pulled from sweeping and other ride locations to work the open rides. That still leaves crews that have difficulty running break schedules, but somehow everyone manages to work it out. It's difficult to balance work and school with an added bonus commute in there, but a lot of people manage to do it and do it well. (But I'm not speaking for myself here. ooops) You've just gotta be disciplined and keep dreaming about that bonus.
A lot of us students become commuters during the end of the season. Cedar Point (at least most departments) requires employees within a two hour drive to come back and work weekends after their contract is up unless they have actual legitimate activities that would prevent them from doing so. That's why on Fridays of Halloweekends only part of the park is open. For Saturday and Sunday the crews are run as tightly as possible. People are pulled from sweeping and other ride locations to work the open rides. That still leaves crews that have difficulty running break schedules, but somehow everyone manages to work it out. It's difficult to balance work and school with an added bonus commute in there, but a lot of people manage to do it and do it well. (But I'm not speaking for myself here. ooops) You've just gotta be disciplined and keep dreaming about that bonus.
"requires employees ... to come back and work weekends after their contract is up ..."
Maybe this is a dumb question, but how can Cedar Point *require* anyone to work once their contract is up?
Maybe this is a dumb question, but how can Cedar Point *require* anyone to work once their contract is up?
When you sign your contract, you are required to contract for weekends after your end date in certain departments if you're from a certain radius. Many people are contracted to work weekends after they're finished working daily. Some people choose to come back after their contract is up, but you're right, that's not "required." Your chances of getting your first choice job assignment tends to hinge on the length of your contract. The more days you can work, the more desirable you are.
Glad I was a landscaper - much less confusing :-) Of course, working in maintenance is like a different world (with different rules) compared to everyone else.
net said Michigan State..That school provides CP with the best employees!! Go spartans!! not to offend DbCahill which I know must be a Penn State fan..He must hate the state of MI this year right Duane..sorry had to razz ya a bit!!
Jeffrey Spartan *** This post was edited by Jeffrey Spartan on 12/23/99. ***
Jeffrey Spartan *** This post was edited by Jeffrey Spartan on 12/23/99. ***
I've never heard of anyone being "required" to stay past their contracted end date either. I myself have never been required to do this, but obviously I work in a different department. I have always stayed past my contract, but it was never because I had to. Once the contract is up, the bonus is yours up to that point anyways, so you are more than free to leave. I can understand about people doing it so that they can get a better assignment due to longer availability dates, but I have never heard that it was because they were forced to stay past their contract...just an observation.
Right now, I hate the state of Michigan AND I hate the state of Minnesota. With any luck, I won't have to hate the state of Texas after tomorrow night. Alamo Bowl... Feh!
-------------
Duane Cahill
http://www.nittanylions.com
-------------
Duane Cahill
http://www.nittanylions.com
You must be logged in to post