[Slappified]

I went with my wife, mom, sister, and brother in law yesterday and took them all to ride the flyers. At first they didn't want to and thought it wouldn't be much fun and that it was a kiddie ride. Boy were they surprised after their first ride. All were able to snap the first ride except my mom, she was a little scared of it. By the 5th ride even she was snapping. It was a great day.

I did learn something new. The cars can hit each other. We had just finished the ride and were sitting there waiting for the attendants to stop the rocking when my wife and I hit each other. It surprised me and we weren't even rocking that much. Has anybody else experienced that before? I figured it could happen based on how much rocking you do when the ride stops.

My goal is to try to get the car to turn 180 degrees. A little over 90 is all I managed.

[montumax]

My goal is to try to get the car to turn 180 degrees. A little over 90 is all I managed.

Actually saw somebody do a 360 once at PPP. I think everybody's jawdropped when he did it. It was hysterical.

[bgwfreak]

I've been bumped once already from the guy behind me at the end of the ride.

We had both been snapping and he bumped into me. Scared me to death! I wasn't expecting it at all.

Plus it was a VERY windy day, and that always plays into it.

What happened to our fun operator that was always "GET THEM HIGHER!!!" He was so much fun. Now the crew all look like they are on downers. lol

[Jonathan]

I think we need to get a flyer session together sometime soon. Maybe some weekday evening after everyone is off from work.

[bgwfreak]

^ (oops I about put ^^) LOL

That would be fun. I had about as much fun watching you guys on opening day as actually riding.

And my flyer video of "the kid" is priceless.

[swampfox43]

FLYER RIDE FOR SALE!

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[bgwfreak]

Wow that would be cool to buy if you had the room...

No Snapping!!!


Check out his other auction.
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Did a park just go out of business in WV that we didn't know about??? <_<

[MarkD]

Hmmm, I have an acre of land as my backyard. Wonder if the crew from Carowinds could come over and get her hooked up and running? That would be a blast. Of course you all would have to sign your life away to ride.

[RollrCoastrCrazy]

The crazy employee who was so much fun the first few weeks has been fired I'm pretty sure. He never actually physically checked the belts when I was there (like half of the employees don't right now....) and I think his enthusiasm turned to weirdness sometimes. One time as he was "checking" belts he walked by my tub and said to me "You're going to die tonight!" in a mock-spooky voice and then ran off cackling. While he was fun, I don't think he was all there mentally lol.

And yes, I have hit the tubs in front of/behind me numerous times after the ride has ended. Surprisingly, i usually hit them on the runs that I wouldn't consider as my best.

The ride-ops who work there now are either reeeealy rude and angry all the time, don't check the belts correctly, or are just plain lethargic. C'mon Carowinds, get us some more crazy people!

[bgwfreak]

^ You may be right on that.

I also noticed that the really skinny older guy that was working there at the start of season is no longer there. IMO he was scarier than the other guy. lol

In general most of Carowinds' operators need to get a "happy shot" and no I don't mean in a negative way.

I've been to several parks where you had such a good time just because the operators were always having fun.

I think Top Gun is probably the only exception. They seem to have fun, although they don't really interact with the crowd like I'd like to see.

All it would take is saying stuff over the speakers like "Are you guys ready to fly???" or something like that as you leave the station, or get ready to.

[Jonathan]

I hate to say it, but the current flyer crew (at least when I have been there) is one of the worst I have seen, and makes the staff at most Six Flags parks look wonderful. I almost feel bad riding the flyers, because it seems like it's some sort of inconvenience to them that people are there to ride their ride. They are so painfully slow that it seems like it is killing them to move, and that can be quite a problem since the flyers are one of the lowest capacity rides in the park.

I've been to several parks where you had such a good time just because the operators were always having fun.

Ditto. At parks such as Holiday World, Cedar Point, Dollywood, Silver Dollar City, and Disney, the employees take great pride in the park and their jobs, and I know for me personally it really adds to the experience. I don't know how those parks motivate their employees, but I wish they would share their secrets. I know as much as anyone that it's hard to go to a job every day and be perky and excited, but when the employees are utterly miserable, some of it rubs off on the guest.

[bgwfreak]

^ Interesting note about Disney and their motivation...

Bank of America bought the rights to also use the"motivation method" that Disney uses. Ours is called Spirit. I think theirs is either called that or Magic.

It's basically "treat your customers the way you'd like to be treated". It has helped a lot at the bank, but you still find people that don't have any "spirit" at all. :rolleyes:

That seems to be a rare case though at Disney and Dollywood. I've only had one bad employee at Dollywood. The lady did not need to be working with the public!