Understaffing at Cedar Point hits nightmarish levels...

DSShives said:

XS NightClub said:

The answer is and always has been $$$.

How do you “know” the park isn’t cutting payroll to make up for poor attendance mid summer?

Yes, because clearly it’s a great business decision to not open a refreshment stand by saving paying someone $9 per hour and selling drinks at $4+ a pop.

Thank you for making my point.

Actually says just the opposite.

Wow! Just went to CP facebook page to read some comments today. It’s truly saddening to read.

I don't really disagree with you 99er that the park's attitude is one of "if it isn't broke, don't fix it." I do think they're starting to realize that it's broke though. Zimmerman's recent comments about not being able to hire enough staff is an indication they know they have an issue. But you didn't hear him saying that they were going to have to raise wages to fill the positions. He said something about "casting a wider net." Not sure how much wider the net can get at this point.

I'm constantly seeing places like Melt and Fridays with long waits even though the place is only half full. As a result I'm sure a lot of people setting for a less expensive snack in the park or worse yet, leaving when they get hungry. This is literally leaving money on the table.

If they're not going to bring back the season long bonus program which literally was about $1,000 held over people's heads to get them to return for weekends, why not do something like a tiered bonus program for weekends to try to entice some locals or whoever to come work - and make it lucrative to work more. $1 per hour worked if you work 1-2 weekends. $2 per hour if you work 3-4 weekends, $3 per hour worked if you work 5-6, and $4 per hour if you work them all - payable upon completion of your agreed to dates. This could work out to about $900+ in bonus money for someone working all the weekends Friday night through Sunday. Most college kids coming from four hours away still aren't going to work them all because it is too much effort and cost to do so. But I'd come from locally or even Cleveland or Toledo to work weekends if they made it financially appealing in some manner like this.

The stuff they do with the fraternities and sororities and different groups raising money for charities is good stuff, but these groups usually come for one weekend and thus there's a huge training burden each weekend to get them up to speed. It's unrealistic to think that 100% of the summer staff is going to come for all the weekends. What would be nice if if they transitioned to more of a local workforce for the weekends and a lot of these same people stayed for a bunch of weekends, not just one. Heck, maybe if they were a bit more flexible with letting locals come in for a few hours in the evening during some of the summer nights when the college kids are working 80 hour weeks, a lot of these people would already be trained and ready to go.

I know it's a big problem and probably not really easy to solve, but they don't seem to be doing anything different than they've always done and that is kind of frustrating to see.

CP Maverick said:
It's not just Cedar Point struggling with staffing. While it's a reoccurring issue at the park, and Halloweekends attendance is only going up, they aren't the only business struggling to find bodies. We are at the lowest staffing levels we've ever been at and our attendance is the highest it's ever been. The applicants are people that are not available at the times we need them. I can't imagine trying to find enough to staff a park that size with such a limited population.

Population within 30 miles of Sandusky, OH = 350k

Population within 30 miles of Mentor, OH = 1,550k

Population within 30 miles of Mason, OH = 2,250k

[ source: https://www.freemaptools.com/find-population.htm ]

This is a true fact of population in the local area, that just means cedar point must cast a wider net. I have seen a few employees from as far away as Dorney and VF during what used to be the bonus weekends. Let's start with partnering with job agencies in larger counties, placing seasonal recruiting centers near population centers (Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo, And Detroit) then use charter buses to transport the groups of assoicates to and from those city centers.

I wonder if free* housing would be incentive enough for bringing in weekend staff. I’m not sure what they charge anymore. It’s been at least 15 years since I actually looked at employment benefits at the park.

*deposit required

^^ Yet Erie County's unemployment rate remains 1-3% above the national average and above Ohio States Average through the Summer months.

Lots of good comments on this thread, others not so much. I'm standing by this statement:

Tony Stark said:

I really hope Cedar Point spends more money to recruit workers. The situation is quite frankly ugly, and the park has the feel of a penny-pinching, rip-off joint.

CP has no qualms selling Fast Lane passes (I bought one on Sunday the 8th, a mistake on my part), one-day drink plans, and all the rest, and someone there had to know how bad the situation was. A 45 minute wait for a cup of Coke? Are you kidding me?

More from Facebook:

It was a terrible day. Very unprepared. I waited 45 mins to get my 15 dollar cup filled to be told we don't have any ice. The place was very understaffed. I was told multiple times during the day we don't have any ice. I've went there since I was 4. This has to be the worst time I've ever had there. If it wasn't for the season pass I would of left.

I understand that it was good weather and halloweekends but I will never come again that time of year!! I came because my Union was offering discount tickets and my kids don’t really ride the big ones but it was horrible all day!! Lines were long for everything in the park including bathrooms! Happy we got there when we did because no way am I paying to park in the grass and I would never pay full price for tickets to ride nothing larger then blue streak, it was way overcrowd

EDIT: Part of my post was lost. I'll post the rest later.

XS NightClub said:
How do you “know” the park isn’t cutting payroll to make up for poor attendance mid summer?

Because every opportunity to sell stuff would be fully staffed and rides would all be closed. Also, they've commented publicly to unitholders that staffing is a challenge. They're a public company, they can't lie about that sort of thing.

WDW is fully staffed. Come on down, spend money, fund my schools. :)

bgiese said:
I’d expect that eventually Halloweekends won’t be included with Season passes or platinum passes.

I suspect that may be the only real solution. Increased revenue to pay premium wages and limit attendance. Doesn't Carowinds or Knotts or both do that? Clearly they have a hot product on their hands and demand far outstrips supply.

Not really complaining because I am tuned in enough to know things can get bad but last night was just crazy. We showed up about 5 and the traffic was 1/2 down the causeway. The lots were just full, we eventually found a spot SOUTH of the tool plaza on the marina side back behind some maintenance buildings and dumpsters. Tons of vehicles we just stopping and parking right he isles blocking access. What a nightmare. Can only imagine what it was like for those leaving at midnight.

We ended up just calling it a night about 9 after getting turned back in Frontier Trail. Somewhere northwest of Professor Delbert it just became gridlock. A security guard was trying to keep people from jumping a low wall and bypassing it but most kids were ignoring him and just streaming through. Being somewhat responsible parent and Boy Scout leader I couldn't condone that with my kids. The security guard said they best way to get to the back of the park was just turn around and go around. Lol. That's a huge detour.

Anybody know what CP put in there to cause this? I don't remember anything last year that blocked the trail.

The only thing I can think of is the volume of traffic for the haunted attractions back in that area. The sheer volume of guests was just enough to cause a bottleneck.

Lines were long for everything in the park including bathrooms!

Increased staffing won't fix this. That's like people coming to the theater and complaining that it's sold out because too many people bought tickets before them.

Knotts haunt is not included with season passes. Perhaps they would sadly remove it from our passes (which sucks on some level). They also allow next years new pass holders a visit during halloweekends this year if they purchase early enough.

I don't believe the park would try to decrease attendance during a period unless the meet some unknown limit such as a fire code, which I am unsure is a reality.

I'm probably not the most common customer, but losing the Halloweekends perk on my season pass would devalue it significantly for me. The majority of my park visits are in September and October.

And you enjoy those visits? Lol. I am ready to write September/October off from my value calculations. Actually, September maybe not, MS Last Rites last year was busy but doable.

Scarowinds is Platinum Pass only. Regular passholders can get in from 10-5. The pain in the butt is they completely clear the place out and reopen. I wish they did it like HHN at Universal - scan your ticket and you can stay in a holding area

Cargo Shorts said:

And you enjoy those visits? Lol. I am ready to write September/October off from my value calculations. Actually, September maybe not, MS Last Rites last year was busy but doable.

High School football means lighter business for me, so it's easier to get a Friday off work. Plus I enjoy the night rides.

Well I Think CP Should Just Omit Halloweekends And Closed Labor Day,That Would Solve Everyones Problem.

CP Maverick said:

I'm probably not the most common customer, but losing the Halloweekends perk on my season pass would devalue it significantly for me. The majority of my park visits are in September and October.

I agree with CP Maverick, most of my visits are May-June and Sep-Oct (Fridays and Sundays). There are lots and lots of "regulars" doing the same thing, I see many of the same riders every time I am there.

I wouldn't care so much if the haunts were separated, they're way too busy and not as fun as they used to be IMO.

Lost part of my post, so to summarize:

Thinking of Jerry Maguire, CP needs to "show me to money" so to speak, and invest in hiring and retaining workers. Empty blather about 'casting nets' and groaning about how hard it is to staff is just that: hollow talk. Spend some money on the people who run your park.

This problem is not limited to HalloWeekends. Cedar Shores was being understaffed, and the situation grew worse as the year went on. Attractions were closed for no reason other than lifeguards were not there to supervise them.

If the park is overcrowded, stop selling drink passes, and charging for parking. Be honest and tell your customers that the situation is a mess, and that they'd be happier at home. There are reports of cars being parked in unsafe locations (think: fire hazards) and some customers not being able to park at all. Stop being so greedy, selling drink passes and Fast Lane passes on days like yesterday, and the days that I was there is dishonest and is only going to anger customers even more.

I hope CP learns from this mess, and focuses on their customers' experience, instead of the incessant push for ride passes, food passes, drink passes, preferred parking, and photo passes, but I'm not holding my breath.

GREEDER POINT indeed.

Cedar Point isn't you're local McDonald's. Where you can just go to a differen't one or choose some other option.

That's why they can get away with a systemic problem that's been talked about for years and years. Do they have to care? Absolutely not, should they? Yes. But recognizing a problem and actually doing something about it are two differen't things. If all these amazing new additions almost every year can be added to CP there is no reason the living conditions, food and pay haven't been improved for the worker. Other than the company not recognizing the value of their employees.

I'll be there closing weekend and staying at Breakers regardless. However I've learned how to navigate CP's weaknesses. Nothing can be done this year, hopefully things will start improving in the years to come. If not expect even more complaints as it continues to get worse.