Great White Ride Operations Team Members prepare to be escorted down the ride.The anticipation is growing.
You are strapped in, heading up to the top of the coaster lift. You hear the familiar clacking and clanging all coasters make before that amazing first drop... then... nothing. The train just stops. What happens now?
It's really rare for this scenario to happen at SeaWorld San Antonio , but our team members are ready for those few occasions when a coaster comes to a stop for any reason. All SeaWorld Ride Operations team members attend a series of Ride Scenario trainings on just what to do if and when they face this situation with guests.
When a coaster stops working, the rides team for each coaster does their best to get the ride up and running safely as soon as possible because, let's face it, who wants to miss out on the great rides at SeaWorld. Due to all of the safety features built into coasters these days, something as small as a power blip can shut down a ride.
Now the procedure isn't to escort guests off the ride just any time. If it looks like guests will be waiting longer than 7-10 minutes, then the team begins escorting guests off the ride; that's what they were practicing again last night, escorting guests off the ride. Keep in mind, these team members have been practicing these different scenarios, on average, several times a month since January.
The team members took turns, on their respective rides, role playing the escorts and the guests on the ride. It was interesting to watch because the team members actually asked questions and reacted similarly to what I would expect if I were on the ride in this situation. They gave each other feedback and even coached one another.
I volunteered to be escorted off the half-way point on the Great White's lift. Wow, even knowing what was happening, it was still a bit of a shock when the coaster stopped. The team members came quickly to let me know about the “situation” and explained the procedures. They were very cheerful and smiled to put me more at ease. You can tell they really wanted to make sure I was ok. I had at least four different team members apologize for the interruption in my “day at the park” and make great suggestions for things to do in the park. They were spot on.
I certainly was reassured and they helped me feel calm. I was also awed by the team members' ability to stay calm, especially when walking us down from such heights. I love coasters, but I'm not the biggest fan of high places. There's a completely different experience from riding the Great White and walking down the stairs next to the track. And the Steel Eel? Can you imagine walking down from the top of the lift, almost 150 feet in the air, on stairs where you can see the ground? But after participating, I trust the Ride Operations team 100 percent to be able to step in when needed. I could keep writing for days about all of the things that these team members have to learn to make sure our guests have a safe and fun time, even if I just talked about the Ride Scenario trainings alone. Keep watching this series for more about what SeaWorld team members do to ensure coaster safety! Have fun and keep riding! Don't forget to share your rides with us.
