[Davidtmp]

The one thing about Carowinds that I have noticed is long lines for like Top Gun and Borg, and some waits on others rides. I am all about safety, but I feel like the rides could go quicker if the attendents did their job instead of talking so much. Even on the Goldrusher, the second train has to wait on the other to board, and there isn't that many people on Goldrusher! I know Borg has a lot of checks they do, but some of the other rides used to go much quicker. There doesn't seem to be less attendents.
Other than that one thing, I don't have any complaints. I have had fun regardless. Park has been very clean.

[thewinds]

I have no doubt that attendants can "pick up the pace" and load and unload faster- every location can improve on capacity, but remember a few things:
The addition of seatbealts has greatly increased wait times, and sharply decreased capacity. For many rides, as you mentioned, it's no longer possible to dispatch a train before the other returns behind it.
Also, don't forget that Carowinds "checks empties". That is, even if there's no one in the seat (you mentioned that there's not that many people on Goldrusher) an empty seat restraint's security is still verified.
Again, I'm sure associates can always improve on capacity, but their working with more constraints than ever. (Personally, I remember when Goldrusher had skid brakes, could sit three to a seat and ran 3 trains!)

[Jonathan]

How did Goldrusher have skid brakes when the brake run is straight? I'm not saying you're wrong (I don't know anything about it), but I'm just curious as to how it worked if it did have them.

[Davidtmp]

You mentioned Goldrusher, did they redesign the trains in the last 5 years or so? When I rode today I actually had a little leg room, I remember my knees hitting the front and being uncomfortable before. Could just be that I hadn't been out there much in the past few years, age tends to distort things you know.

[RRRAPIDS]

I think Vortex has the worst dispatch's. If your on the brake run waiting for the train in the station to dispatch, You sit on the brake run longer than the duration of the ride itself.

[bgwfreak]

Hurler has been a very slow dispatch the past few years. The kids working the ride seem to always talk and play around too much. And don't get me wrong, I'm all for having fun. But do your job first, then play!

I found Top Gun and Borg's crews to be the most effecient.

But I have yet to ride Borg this year. Borg is a slow load because of the restraints and how the ride works, keep that in mind.

[Davidtmp]

The problem with Vortex is a lot of skinny people and smaller kids can't get the seat down to get on. Then they have to reset the row to get their feet flat on the floor. Plus the ride isn't that long. I didn't have a problem with that one yesterday really, Vortex is a little slower boarding ride but the guys did a good job.

[bgwfreak]

The problem with Vortex is a lot of skinny people and smaller kids can't get the seat down to get on.  Then they have to reset the row to get their feet flat on the floor.  Plus the ride isn't that long.  I didn't have a problem with that one yesterday really, Vortex is a little slower boarding ride but the guys did a good job.

Also, every time I ride (which isn't often as it's a...well...let's just say an AC/DC album name comes to mind) the driver seems to like to lock the restraints before people have had time to get in position.

Then they have to unlock/relock/unlock/relock several times.

[Thriller]

If I got paid the crap wages that most Carowinds employees do, I would not give a rats a@@ either. These attendants are hot, tired, and forced to deal with hundreds of public visitors everyday. McDonald's has got to the point of paying better and offering better work conditions! BUT, these employees should have known about what their job would be (outside theme park), so really, the employees have the right to leave if they are not happy. Lines are moving slower because Cedar Fair takes extra safety measures and yes, employee slack does not help either.

[UpperNick]

Do you even know what the Carowinds wages are? Do you know how much the employees get paid by paycheck? Do you know how many hours they work? The only change made to the Goldrusher has been the addition of seatbelts. I am sure the employees can move faster but they are only teenagers for the most part. Most of the employees are there for the money and have no other incentive than that. Besides periods hurt, we get water that is dirty with no ice, and it is hot

[Jonathan]

I don't know what the wages are at Carowinds, but I would assume they are comparable to other amusement parks. I have been to some where the operations are far better (see one of our new sister parks, Cedar Point) and some where the operations are far worse (see another of our sister parks, Kings Island).

I don't think the pay is a tremendous factor in making an employee care about what they are doing. It all goes into training programs and finding ways to enforce the standards that you have set for yourself. I know at Cedar Point they have (or at least used to) intervals for their rides that operators are expected to meet under normal conditions, and if they are missing it consistently they have to answer to their superiors.

And you know, I do expect operations to improve over time. That is one of the things that I do feel somewhat confident in Cedar Fair about. When I went to Cedar Point and Dorney Park both had excellent operations. Worlds of Fun had some problems, but the park was empty and there were no lines so I didn't really think much of it.

[Davidtmp]

hmm, no incentives? If the kids were there just for the money, maybe they should start thinking about their future. Going above and beyond will get you noticed, I don't care where you are. Good recommendations to colleges is another incentive. What about keeping the park in business. Having waits because of slow moving attendents drives people to go to other parks, causing Carowinds to not have the money to purchase new rides. These are incentives kids don't think about, maybe it should be part of the training.
I am not bashing everyone that works at the park. I know they work long hours, it is hot, etc. Did they expect otherwise? This has been like that for a long time. I just think at times on certain rides the pace could be sped up and more people can get rides on. The way you make people come back is by them not having long waits on busier days. Hell, I wouldn't mind working Sat & Sun myself, but I know what I would be walking into.

[Thriller]

Honestly, I feel that the biggest problem here (not a big deal though), is dumb riders. I know we all have seen those riders that don't buckle the seat belt, can't figure it out, the rider isn't tall enough (or too big), and just craziness like that. Slow moving riders I feel is the biggest thing here. Of course, these dumb people that act as if they never rode a ride before or been in public, piss off the employees and that again goes into having those slow moving, mad at the world employees. I must agree though that not all employees are this way, and yes, the problem is probably being worked out and I feel that good changes will happen for the 2008 season with employees!

[RRRAPIDS]

Well for starters, I'm an Employee at Carowinds.

I not coming on here to bash anybody but to clear some things up.

First off, I can truly say that Carowinds is a great place to work.
The pay is O.K but not the greatest.

THere are people of all ages that work there such as School Teachers, College Graduates, teenagers, people of all proffesions, etc work there.

Working at Carowinds is what you make it. Yes there is a few people that don't care about their jobs, but the majority of us do.


Many people such as the general public think it's easy and can easily complain about certain things that's out of our control. Some people wouldn't last 2 hours if they were in our shoes. AS a matter of fact, it'd not all that difficult.

Rides like Borg, Vortex, and Rip Roaring RApids have to wait for clearance, loading and unloading of guests,and dispatches of multiple trains. Alot of times, it is the guests that make the lines long.

But for Borg, One reason why their line may move slow is because they assign you to the row annd only allow the number of people who are about to ride into the station.

With Rip Roaring Rapids, Which I work, has two lines and loads two boats. One boat for each side that holds 6 riders. On that, we have to wait on guests to be seated and to fasten their seatbelts for us to all get the "Clear" to disbatch the boat.

So as you can see, ther are a little technical behind the scenes issues the general public don't realize.

But thats OK, cause you wouldn't know unless you work there.

But I totally agree with everone in the above posts. Carowinds is improving in many area and will be even better next year.

But as far as the lines are concerned, it's out of our control.

[Chris]

But for Borg, One reason why their line may move slow is because they assign you to the row annd only allow the number of people who are about to ride into the station.

I don't believe that for one second.

You're always waiting for a train to return even if you are in one of the 6 "lines". If it was the other way around (the train waiting on people), then I would believe that.