Aahh...Never again

[Michael72688]

Sea World is not as bad as you all make it seem, infact I think overall its better the Disney parks, yest Disney has a magical feel to it but who cares, personally I think the employees at both Sea World and Universal combined are better than most Disney employees. Disney is in the craper right now, so the other parks in my opinion are better for now

 

[AndyP]

Originally posted by mkt
most Sea World employees I've had the fortune of dealing with have been fairly rude to me, and I don't appreciate it. I know that Anheuser-Busch is a Brewery and not a hospitality company, but damn! If you're gonna venture into a business that differs from your core business, then at least do it right and give the current standing companies a run for their money.

Not even the free beer is enough to get me back there for more than the 1-2 hours it takes me to park, ride kraken, and leave.

I've never had a problem tbh.

 

[Figment1986]

Originally posted by mkt
most Sea World employees I've had the fortune of dealing with have been fairly rude to me, and I don't appreciate it. I know that Anheuser-Busch is a Brewery and not a hospitality company, but damn! If you're gonna venture into a business that differs from your core business, then at least do it right and give the current standing companies a run for their money.

Not even the free beer is enough to get me back there for more than the 1-2 hours it takes me to park, ride kraken, and leave.

The company "Busch Entertainment" Is trying to fix their parks. Lately they have been attempting at getting better employees for their parks. I know BGT's job fair they were looking for people who could make the ride experances better.

(I wish BGT and SWO had those greart Ride Ops now....)

 

[xfkirsten]

Originally posted by mkt
most Sea World employees I've had the fortune of dealing with have been fairly rude to me, and I don't appreciate it. I know that Anheuser-Busch is a Brewery and not a hospitality company, but damn! If you're gonna venture into a business that differs from your core business, then at least do it right and give the current standing companies a run for their money.

Not even the free beer is enough to get me back there for more than the 1-2 hours it takes me to park, ride kraken, and leave.

Heh... it's funny you should say that, actually. We just had our business plan meeting a few nights ago, and we talked about walkthroughs. August Busch III actually walks through each park on a regular basis (every few months) as sort of a quality control measure. And he's very thorough. (When was the last time Michael Eisner did walkthroughs in the parks to make sure everything was in perfect order?) Well, at our business plan meeting, we found out the SWT and SWF had awful walkthroughs lately, so they should be changinig. SWC, on the other hand, had a great walkthrough last month. Honestly, even before I worked for SW, I didn't find them all to be "rude" like you say, and I spent a LOT of time at SWC. In fact, they tended to be just as friendly to me as Disney CMs.

And if you're not interested in animals, don't rip on the rest of the park because there is only one ride you like. As I've said before, SeaWorld is not a "ride" park in the first place. It is a marine park, with a few rides as an added bonus. The main focus of the park is the animals.

-Kirsten

 

[mkt]

I am interested in animals... but I am also interested in getting good service in a theme park, and not being treated like a child by a 16 year old button pusher working in Atlantis (exact events that soured my SWO experience, and why I will never ride that again)..

Atlantis story #1- I'm towards the back of the queue, as I just entered, and my cellphone goes off. I answer it... less than a second later, I have an employee yelling at me "SIR! HANG UP YOUR PHONE NOW!" Ever heard of PLEASE? Geez...

Atlantis story #2- anyone that knows me well, knows I hate wearing shoes. So aside from work, I generally wear sandals/clogs. I was getting boarded onto Atlantis on the boat, and my sandal fell off, so I go to grab it. What do I hear next, "Sir, if you remove your shoes again, you will be escorted out of this ride." ?!?!?!!??

Atlantis story #3- I take my glasses off, so they don't get wet while i'm being loaded on the boat. I put them in a plastic bag and am trying to put them in my pants pocket. While I'm doing this, I shift to get to the pocket. "SIR! SIT DOWN OR YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO RIDE!" ?!!? I'm sitting down! Shifted, yes but sitting down.


and this is just one work area. While all of the animal care people I've met there (As well as all of their discovery cove people) are great, they really need to hire better people in other areas. I've seen employees out in the park on cellphones (and I'm not talking about suits.. i'm talking hourly in wardrobe), and whatnot.

Now that you know my stories, you can all kiss my foot..

:wave:

 

[speck76]

Busch parks are a real pain in the @$$ when it somes to shoes on rides. Now, I know the safety issue and whatnot, but I used to wear sandels and on Montu, the ride-ops would make me sit on them...not comfortable.

When I worked at Cedar Point, we let guests hook them onto the Safety belt.

 

[Michael72688]

First of all on Kraken I never wore shoes, ever, neither did anyone else, so I dont know what your talking about with the shoes. Also I find it very hard to believe that the CM's there would have that many problems with you. I never had a bad experience at Sea World, with the park or its employees. I also dont see what there is to improve at Sea World Orlando, its among my favorite parks, I dont see whats wrong with it

 

[AndyP]

Originally posted by speck76
Busch parks are a real pain in the @44 when it somes to shoes on rides. Now, I know the safety issue and whatnot, but I used to wear sandels and on Montu, the ride-ops would make me sit on them...not comfortable.

When I worked at Cedar Point, we let guests hook them onto the Safety belt.

Well I can underdtand that they have their own regulations on things like that.

I think MKT has just been down right unlucky!

 

[speck76]

It seems many SeaWorld employees are maybe a little rough around the edges.

When I was at SeaWorld last weekend, I was looking at the Sea Lion exhibit, and noticed a very small baby Sea Lion. I only saw one employee around the exhibit, so I asked her how old the Sea Lion baby was.....her response was "Is that what these are....I work on Kraken, and they told me to come over here and sweep"

Ok, how about..."Sir, I am not sure but let me find another associate who can assist you"


See...it is just that easy!

 

[mkt]

Originally posted by Michael72688
First of all on Kraken I never wore shoes, ever, neither did anyone else, so I dont know what your talking about with the shoes. Also I find it very hard to believe that the CM's there would have that many problems with you. I never had a bad experience at Sea World, with the park or its employees. I also dont see what there is to improve at Sea World Orlando, its among my favorite parks, I dont see whats wrong with it

In case you haven't noticed, you and I really don't agree on anything...

while 60% will is good enough for you, I've been spoiled, and won't settle for less than perfect, which is sadly what I get every time I go to Sea World.

 

[xfkirsten]

Originally posted by mkt
In case you haven't noticed, you and I really don't agree on anything...

while 60% will is good enough for you, I've been spoiled, and won't settle for less than perfect, which is sadly what I get every time I go to Sea World.

You won't settle for less than perfect? Then why do you put up with Disney? I love the Disney parks just as much as the next person, but the CMs at Disney are far from perfect. In two weeks, I had four separate questions, and went to Guest Relations and spoke to four different CMs, as well as asking other CMs in the park that might be in the know. My answer every time. "I don't know." I did not get one CM that offered to try and find out for me. Nor did any of them even try to point me in the right direction to someone who would know. I really don't see how you're bashing SeaWorld for doing the same thing.

-Kirsten

 

[Michael72688]

Originally posted by mkt
In case you haven't noticed, you and I really don't agree on anything...

while 60% will is good enough for you, I've been spoiled, and won't settle for less than perfect, which is sadly what I get every time I go to Sea World.

uh no, I do go for perfect, thats why I havent been to Disney in over a year, well except for one time in December, but only cause I got to go for free. I'm sorry but right now I'm not going to pay to go to Disney, in my opinion Sea World and Universal Orlando are both a notch above Disney, and maybe one day, if Disney execs get their mind were it belongs they will be able to create a theme park were it is 100%, but for now, Sea World and Universal execs are doing it for them for their parks

 

[disney_nutter]

MKT never said that all the workers were bad just most of them. Sea world isnt my favourite park but i dont hate it. It offers a different pace to all the other parks in orlando but i have also seen ride attendents shouting and basicaly not showing good costmer service to the people in the parks and these people seem to manily work either in shops or at the rides. As for saying universal and seaworld are a nothch above disney for there serivce then im sorry but i still recommend that 99% of disney staff are the most brilliant at pulling of there job. espically the ride attendents or the hosts in world showcase. i have never had a bad experience with any castmembers at disney and they have always seemed to me to be putting 100% in there job.

 

[Michael72688]

ok well I've never had a bad experience at Sea World or Universal Orlando, Disney is another story. Also I'm going to be applying for a job at Universal soon, I was going to at Disney untill I heard such horrible things about working at Disney, and Universal was a much better place to work. I also have heard nothing but good things for working at Sea World. I just find it funny that almost everyone I know that works at Disney hates, it makes me wonder where all this "good" service you all are getting is coming from

 

[mkt]

Originally posted by xfkirsten
You won't settle for less than perfect? Then why do you put up with Disney?

I don't put up with Disney, but just like them, I don't stop going. I just limit what I do and the periods of time I go for. I am very vocal when I see/experience something wrong in ANY park... WDW, Universal, Sea World.. whatever. I don't put up with it. I gave 100% when I worked in the parks, and still do... why should some little punk that's there for the summer give half and not get in trouble for it. I don't think so.

 

[mkt]

Originally posted by Michael72688
ok well I've never had a bad experience at Sea World or Universal Orlando, Disney is another story. Also I'm going to be applying for a job at Universal soon, I was going to at Disney untill I heard such horrible things about working at Disney, and Universal was a much better place to work. I also have heard nothing but good things for working at Sea World. I just find it funny that almost everyone I know that works at Disney hates, it makes me wonder where all this "good" service you all are getting is coming from

I'll see you at work

I'm still seasonal at Universal.... and yes, it is a MUCH better place to work at than WDW.

 

[speck76]

Originally posted by mkt
I don't put up with Disney, but just like them, I don't stop going. I just limit what I do and the periods of time I go for. I am very vocal when I see/experience something wrong in ANY park... WDW, Universal, Sea World.. whatever.

To give a full view into the situation, you also recognize good service and comment on that.

My experience is that the AB parks enforce rules at any expense...many times lacking tact is doing so. One of the first things I learned in my old job was to find creative ways to say "No"

All of the parks in Orlando could use some hospitality training, some jsut need it more than others.

I also think that SeaWorld in Orlando does not get the quality of employees that they may get in San Diego. Here they have to hire a lot of teenagers and high-schooler, as WDW, Universal, and the many hotels take the college students.

 

[xfkirsten]

Originally posted by Michael72688
ok well I've never had a bad experience at Sea World or Universal Orlando, Disney is another story. Also I'm going to be applying for a job at Universal soon, I was going to at Disney untill I heard such horrible things about working at Disney, and Universal was a much better place to work. I also have heard nothing but good things for working at Sea World. I just find it funny that almost everyone I know that works at Disney hates, it makes me wonder where all this "good" service you all are getting is coming from

Having worked for both SeaWorld and Disney in the same line of business, I can tell you SeaWorld management treats their Team Members much better than Disney does! Safety is a number one priority at SeaWorld, and they actually stand by that in the parks. If we have a costume issue or a safety issue and we bring it up, it gets taken care of, pronto. Disney, on the other hand... well, they'll let worker's comp take care of it. Not to mention that as soon as you start working at SeaWorld, they steer you towards management positions and get you involved in shaping the department. Seems to me that there's a lot more room to move up the ladder at SeaWorld than at Disney. I know at least all the people I work with here love their jobs. They want to be here, and we have a lot of fun. If we're out escorting a character, we're out smiling, having fun, and actively interacting with guests. Quite honestly, it makes it a lot more fun if you're out there playing around than if you're just standing around, waitiing. I don't know if SWF is the same way - it's been awhile since I've been there.

-Kirsten

 

[xfkirsten]

Originally posted by speck76
I also think that SeaWorld in Orlando does not get the quality of employees that they may get in San Diego. Here they have to hire a lot of teenagers and high-schooler, as WDW, Universal, and the many hotels take the college students.

Actually, we hire a lot of high school and college age students here, too. SeaWorld San Diego is the biggest employer of teens in the San Diego area. And our Education department is almost entirely college students. I'm not sure why SWF has problems with their teens, and we don't.

-Kirsten

 

[speck76]

Originally posted by xfkirsten
Actually, we hire a lot of high school and college age students here, too. SeaWorld San Diego is the biggest employer of teens in the San Diego area. And our Education department is almost entirely college students. I'm not sure why SWF has problems with their teens, and we don't.

-Kirsten

I don't know why they have problems either. The teens that they have working there don't really rank high on a professionalism scale. There is a problem at SWF, the problem is not nearly as bad at BGT, which makes me believe that in Orlando they probably get the scraps left behind by the other parks.