Some people work at fast food restaurants. Others work at offices. But there really is no other experience like working in an amusement park. Here are nine signs you've worked at one.
1.The Tan Lines
Days are spent outside in the sun and by the time you hit the peak of the Summer season, your polo, shorts, shoe, and sunglasses tan lines are here to stay. It takes maybe a week to develop these awful tan lines and months to get rid of them.
2. The Birds
Odds are you have a fear of birds, or rather a fear of being attacked or pooped on by them. When I worked at a park, we were right on the water so seagulls were everywhere from opening day to the last day of the season. They’d perch themselves on top of food stands and light posts and watch their prey and decide who would become their next victim. Park birds are a different kind of nightmare.
3. Living on Fried Food
While a cheeseburger and fries may sound good on a special day at the park, to the employee working six days a week, the work cafeteria can become nauseating. While we tend to walk or sweat it off, the heat can get to you and that feeling of fried food in the heat does not sit well. By the end of the season, I found myself happier to go on break when I knew I had a packed lunch in my backpack.
4. Crazy Work Hours
Working at an amusement park generally means you are selling your soul from May through October. Your day could start as early as 7:00 am and not end until 1:30 am the next day. While this is extreme, it’s normal for some employees. Fifty hour work weeks are often common and the exhaustion becomes real. And don’t forget the ever important days such as Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. Parks are more crowded and the odds of a shift being extended are more likely. I worked with a lot of minors so they always had to take the opening shifts therefore the odds of having to close late at night tended to be a more recurring theme.
5. The Multicultural Experience
Working at a successful amusement park means that people from all over the world will come to the park. I got into the habit of asking people where they were from and I eventually discovered that I met someone from every state! Not only that, but I also met people from countries such as China, India, Canada, and more! There were times that people spoke little to no English which made our interactions more challenging, but it was still a unique experience none the less.
6. The Common Questions
“Where’s the bathroom?” “How do I get to *insert location*?” “What time does the park close tonight?” I would get asked these questions at least ten times a day. While working multiple years at the park, I could tell you where every ride is, as well as the closest bathrooms, and your dining options. On a good day I could also tell you your live entertainment options as well.
7. The Loss of Enjoyment in the Park
Losing enjoyment in the place you work is common. When you spend roughly forty hours a week in a location doing something you may not particularly enjoy and being treated poorly by guests for things out of your control, the joy of the lights and rides tends to fade in time. Even the rides begin to lose their spark.
8. Rainy Days
Rainy days were either a blessing or a curse.If you were an opener the chances of opening later are slim to none and you’re stuck under a small shelter while standing in wet clothing from walking to your location. However, if you were fortunate enough to get a rainy day and you had to come in later, there was a chance of getting called in later or getting the day off.
9. Your Newly Found Apathy for Employees
Whether it be your day off or visiting after long since ending your days at the park, you can look at the other employees and fully understand what it’s like to be them. You try to make their days a little better because you know how hard they always work.
