Theme Park Staff!

[sirius_kid]

As some of you know I alwayz talk about how I work at PKD and all. I wanted to know what do you think about Theme park employees. Are they nice do they do there jobs.


Incident Report- Can any one tell me when they encountered a park employee doing wrong doing or havent been doing there jobs lemme here your story:confused:

Dangerous/Rides/Parks- Have u every had a suspicion that a ride u were about to board. Was some what dangerous that you knew something didnt seem right?


Stupid Guest- Have u ever been 2 a park when gues do stupid things? Such as make scenes in line, Talk real loud, Singing curse out an park employee? Tell me:cool: :eek:

[Harpo]

In all of those categories, I have far more stories than I could possibly post here!

But, I'll give one example of each.

Incident: On Le Monstre at Six Flags La Ronde in Montreal, I was on the coaster, front seat, as it was returning to the station. I saw two employees (control panel operator and lap bar checker) playing catch over the track, ignoring the train that just pulled into the block brakes outside the station. After finishing their game of catch, with the train having been sitting for about 30 seconds, the ride operator finally pushed the button to allow the train to enter the station. (That's actually one of the more minor incidents I've witnessed. Press WWW and look at my letters to Six Flags to read about some, although not all, of the other issues I've encountered.)

Dangerous Rides: Cyclone, Williams Grove in Pennsylvania. I'm used to hearing wood rides creak, but that one sounded like it was splintering. Also, it desperately needed grease -- in spite of a fairly significant tilt to the station, the operator had to give the train quite a shove to get it going. To this day, I'm amazed that the train made it through the full circuit without stalling, and without the structure collapsing.

Stupid Guest: Used to have an item in our back room at my Guessing Game location at Cedar Point saying, "Reasons why stupid people shouldn't breathe." My favorite item on the list (which I added) was: "The weatherman said there was a chance of thunderstorms. He never said it was going to rain." Of course, those rainless thunderstorms are so common, I could see where the lady would have been confused. (I overheard the lady say this as I was following behind her while walking back to my location after dinner on a rainy day.)

[sirius_kid]

Originally posted by Harpo
In all of those categories, I have far more stories than I could possibly post here!

But, I'll give one example of each.

Incident: On Le Monstre at Six Flags La Ronde in Montreal, I was on the coaster, front seat, as it was returning to the station. I saw two employees (control panel operator and lap bar checker) playing catch over the track, ignoring the train that just pulled into the block brakes outside the station. After finishing their game of catch, with the train having been sitting for about 30 seconds, the ride operator finally pushed the button to allow the train to enter the station. (That's actually one of the more minor incidents I've witnessed. Press WWW and look at my letters to Six Flags to read about some, although not all, of the other issues I've encountered.)

Dangerous Rides: Cyclone, Williams Grove in Pennsylvania. I'm used to hearing wood rides creak, but that one sounded like it was splintering. Also, it desperately needed grease -- in spite of a fairly significant tilt to the station, the operator had to give the train quite a shove to get it going. To this day, I'm amazed that the train made it through the full circuit without stalling, and without the structure collapsing.

Stupid Guest: Used to have an item in our back room at my Guessing Game location at Cedar Point saying, "Reasons why stupid people shouldn't breathe." My favorite item on the list (which I added) was: "The weatherman said there was a chance of thunderstorms. He never said it was going to rain." Of course, those rainless thunderstorms are so common, I could see where the lady would have been confused. (I overheard the lady say this as I was following behind her while walking back to my location after dinner on a rainy day.)


I would never play like that well Idunno what 2 say lol:eek:

[iAMpaste001]

I've only been going to amusement parks for about 3 years now (other than the odd visit every few years), but I've still seen my share of incidents in each of those categories.

Incident report: My first visit to Six Flags Worlds of Adventure (now Geauga Lake again) on Superman: the ride op didn't even make any attempt to check my restraint. When I said something, she touched the seatbelt. She didn't tug on it like you're supposed to. And she didn't even touch, let alone tug on the shoulder restraint (which is what really needs to be checked!). Maybe it's something small, and I had ridden Wicked Twister a million times before so I knew how to fasten the restraint...but what if someone didn't know how to fasten it properly and she didn't check it?

Dangerous Rides: I'd have to say I haven't been on any ride that felt dangerous...

Stupid Guest: There are too many incidents to name. One in particular though stands out. It was about an hour and a half wait for Millenium Force. We were at least halfway through the wait when some kids ahead of us called their friends on their cell phones and told them where they were in line. So their friends cut through the line. I went and got a police officer and he escorted two of the offenders out fo the line. The rest of the kids were wondering why the police came and led their friends away though, so they left the line. Not only was justice served, but we were a little closer to the front of the line. :D

[sirius_kid]

[i]

Stupid Guest: There are too many incidents to name. One in particular though stands out. It was about an hour and a half wait for Millenium Force. We were at least halfway through the wait when some kids ahead of us called their friends on their cell phones and told them where they were in line. So their friends cut through the line. I went and got a police officer and he escorted two of the offenders out fo the line. The rest of the kids were wondering why the police came and led their friends away though, so they left the line. Not only was justice served, but we were a little closer to the front of the line. :D [/B]

Thats one thing I do not tolerate is Line Cutting. I remember the year before last year I use to call security alot of times for line cutters. Last year I didnt care like I did the other year I was tolerant then. It was this huge incident I mean it was huge. I was on board Controlling ride I open the gates so guest can get on board. Then I closed gates next thing you know I hear like 5 guest yelling."Cutter" "Skipping line" So my supervisor investigated called security. So I pressed the harness release button to let them off. Like 2 got off. Then the whole crowd was like NO NO SOME MORE ON THERE THE 3RD ROW. So I pressed the button again. Then They was like 5TH ROW 5TH ROW. So I pressed it again. Then they said 6TH ROW. So I pressed it again. By this time I'm laughing so hard in the inside. Then they was like 4 Th Row. I pressed it again. So more than half the train had line cutters in it. the regular people who was on the train was like what in the heck. Cuz the restrait kept poping up. And every time I press the button I have to say"Your Restaits are unlock recheck" on the mic it got tired after awhile. I was shocked amazed on how all the people who dont know each other brought justice lol. And security escorted them out the park lol.

[alpengeist04]

That's good to hear sirius. I wish Six Flags didn't tolerate line cutting!!!:mad: That's one of the many reasons why I'm glad PKD and BGW are now my home parks.:D

[sirius_kid]

Originally posted by alpengeist04
That's good to hear sirius. I wish Six Flags didn't tolerate line cutting!!!:mad: That's one of the many reasons why I'm glad PKD and BGW are now my home parks.:D

Six Flags dont do anything bout lin cutting? Well every operator job is to look for line cutting. Its kinda hard becasue our eye cycle is so large. Especially on Board Anywayz how is the tolerant level at BGW? I been thee like once I didnt like the park. And how is Six Flags tolerant level I havent been there in a while either.

[RCT2head]

i wouldn't know, never been
(pardon me if i start to go wayyyy off topic)
BGW also used to have a program called Club Busch Gardens,
and all it was was a place for local people who could walk over to the park, screw around and dance to crappy music on the 'pier', and then go and become dumbasses for the evening. i saw one person complain to security, but they said they didn't see the people/ gestures on the AC ride cam, so they can't eject from the park. there was also a period of time that the cameras got continuously flicked off. someone who was a single rider did that when my then 75 year old Grandad rode it, and we were going to buy the picture, except it was blanked out by the guy behind us flicking the cameras off. i thought of a system to counter-act that, but it might prove too cost-innefective. That, and people like to come in, and write their names on some of the wood, make the 1st lift support covered in gum, and chip paint off of the handrails. i think that all BGW has to do to fix those problems is called pressure wash, putty/sand/seal all things that need it, replace those that do too, and give everything that needs it a fresh paint of coat 2 times a sumer, at least.

[soundgodz]

I've got tons of stories too.
Good employee: at Carowinds I was trying to buy a tee shirt, but they just didn't have any extra larges in that style, and it was only the second week in June. So, now I'm running from Top Gun to the main store at the front of the park and back because I've been sent on a wild goose chase. Went to guest services and a supervisor got on the phone and managed to find the Borg shirt I wanted in my size. But the shop people couldn't have been bothered.
There was some guy named Marlon working Volcano at PKD that seemed to be pretty on top of things and actually, the Volcano staff were all really good.
At HersheyPark, at the end of the day, one ride op let my wife and I stay in our seats on Storm Runner for several cycles because there were only people waiting for the front seat and as long as they were in line, the ride kept running. At one point a second operator told us to get off, the ride was closed and we couldn't keep riding. We told her that the other person had been letting us and a few other people keep riding. Well, she was on a power trip, and unfortunately, we couldn't get the supervisor to sort it out. If the first person hadn't let us ride, we would not have even been on the ride, but the second person was treating us like line jumpers and criminals.
Six Flags Magic Mountain, Riddler's Revenge. Instead of paying attention to the station and the guests, the ride ops were too busy talking to each other and on the phone. Guests were jumping lines all over the place and there was no order on the platform. With a stand up coaster where it is very important that the restraints be on right, this is very bad behavior.
Probably the worst incident was on Test Track in Epcot. I had my nephew on vacation, he has ADD. We'd gotten in the single rider lane to save time. We figured one of us could ride first and meet my nephew when he got off. But instead of allowing me or my wife to ride in the first car, the CM made my nephew get on the ride alone, and before either adult could meet the child at the other end. The CM then put my wife and I in the next car together. But when we got to the station, my nephew was missing. It took a half hour to find him afterwards. All the CM did was cause trouble and yell at us that it's the single rider line and we should have known we would be separated.
I think the worst guest interaction was up at SF Great America. Wife and I get up to the station area and are looking for the shorter line. A woman is there with a few kids. They aren't really queued in any line, but when we moved into the big gap that was there, suddenly this woman went bat**** on us. Screaming we were cutting on her, got out of control real fast. Woman then gets a ride op and just as I'm about to board, security tells me I can't ride. So now we have to sort this all out, and you can see her kids are really uncomfortable with the whole thing (She'd been yelling at them pretty nonstop as well). Security was telling me that the woman wanted an apology from me for yelling at her even though she was swearing like a longshoreman at me. I refused to, but we found some language that made her go away. Then they put me on the next train.
There's line jumping, which I hate, but there's also a coutresy game where you count groups and figure out where empty seats will be or uneven amounts of riders. We'll ask if we can slip into the open seat(this works better on B&Ms because they're 4 wide). Many times, other groups will just ask us if we'd like to get in front of them because they all want to ride together. Sometimes if we are in the next group or one after and suddenly see that the train has an empty in, say the 4th and 7th rows and nobody else is going, we will quickly squeeze through to fill the empty seats. It's not really line jumping, if you're helping the train to go full. I hate seeing empty seats on a 32 person train when there's still 200 people waiting. I feel that we actually speed things up a little by evening out the loads, and coasters usually ride better when they're full. But when we do that, we are very polite about it!

[BorisTheFish]

My best memory of good staffing was at some little park called American Adventure (before it had its problems). We were on the Shoot-The-Chutes ride they had there, and were at the bottom of the final climb, when the ride failed. My family, and my cousins family who were at the top of the second drop were all told to get off while the ride is fixed. But, they also told us that if we wanted to go on it again later in the day, they would let us on through the exit, skip the queues and go straight on.

Also, i was impressed by the staff on RhinoRally at BGT. when i was due to ride on it, i was on the coloured 1st lot of colours o the floor ready to take our lace on the jeep. However, being Florida, a storm rapidly approached and the ride was put on standby until the storm had passed outside the danger zone. All members of staff and all drivers had run into their little hut except one, who stayed and took the time to talk to the guests, be nice, ask polite questions, answer question, and talked to my Mum about the differences in school year between US and UK (this was a couple of days after the schools had reopened last August), he also talked to us about the safety issues of storms, and how they have to wait for it to be a certain distance away before it is deemed safe to reopen the rides.

Also, at Islands of Adventure, we wanted to ride Dudley-Do-Rights, and wanted to get an Express Pass, so we asked the person on the entrance where the booths were. She asked to see our tickets, and becuase we had a 5-park ticket, she said we could go straight into the Express Queue, however, when we got to the staff member further inside the ride who asked to see our tickets, we showed him ours, and he explained how we weren't in the right place etc. so we explained how the first assistant let us on, and so he did too. It felt good knowing that the paying guests aren't penalised for a member of staffs minor mistake.

[Harpo]

A tale of two line-jumping incidents...

At Six Flags Magic Mountain, on the Batman ride, I saw a group of line jumpers, and I reported them to the ride ops. The ride ops went up and took a look at the line jumpers, but didn't say a single word to them, and let them ride anyway. (Also, I had a VERY hard time getting a ride op's attention. They just didn't seem interested in dealing with the crowd at all.)

On the same trip, at Knott's Berry Farm, I saw some line jumpers on GhostRider. Again, I mentioned them to the ride op. The op immediately removed them from the ride, told them they'd have to get back in at the end of the line if they wanted to ride, and warned them that line jumping can be cause for removal from the park. She then promptly allowed others to sit in the seats where the line jumpers would have been. She was firm but polite, which I consider to be critical when dealing with the public in a service industry. I thanked her, and I let management know that I thought she handled the situation very well. (Unfortunately, guest compliments are all too rare. Guests are ready to complain when something goes wrong, but they're less apt to notify management of good things they see. When I visit parks, if I see something extraordinarily good or bad, I make a point of letting management know about it.)

If line jumpers get away with cutting without any consequences, they're going to keep doing it. If they find out they can lose their place in line, or be kicked out of the park, they're going to wait their turns.

One of my favorite items in the Cedar Point park guide deals with line jumping. The wording has changed slightly over the past couple of decades, but it's been there for a looooooong time. "Line jumping is not a sporting event at Cedar Point." (In some versions, they just say, "Line jumping is not a sporting event," leaving off the "at Cedar Point.")

[sirius_kid]

Originally posted by soundgodz
I've got tons of stories too.
Good employee: at Carowinds I was trying to buy a tee shirt, but they just didn't have any extra larges in that style, and it was only the second week in June. So, now I'm running from Top Gun to the main store at the front of the park and back because I've been sent on a wild goose chase. Went to guest services and a supervisor got on the phone and managed to find the Borg shirt I wanted in my size. But the shop people couldn't have been bothered.
There was some guy named Marlon working Volcano at PKD that seemed to be pretty on top of things and actually, the Volcano staff were all really good.



Its Guest Like u we need more:up: Polite guest who nice things

[sirius_kid]

Originally posted by Harpo
A tale of two line-jumping incidents...



On the same trip, at Knott's Berry Farm, I saw some line jumpers on GhostRider. Again, I mentioned them to the ride op. The op immediately removed them from the ride, told them they'd have to get back in at the end of the line if they wanted to ride, and warned them that line jumping can be cause for removal from the park. She then promptly allowed others to sit in the seats where the line jumpers would have been. She was firm but polite, which I consider to be critical when dealing with the public in a service industry. I thanked her, and I let management know that I thought she handled the situation very well. (Unfortunately, guest compliments are all too rare. Guests are ready to complain when something goes wrong, but they're less apt to notify management of good things they see. When I visit parks, if I see something extraordinarily good or bad, I make a point of letting management know about it.)



If I would have handled the situation Usually I'm not polite with line jumpers I'm very Firm. I make them know I mean business. And I would call security if they even look like they gonna make a threat towards me or any guest. Like one incident I was mad that day I was very angry for some reason I dont rememeber why lol. But Two guest they were together boy and girl, so anywayz they told me two guyz in the 3rd row jumped line and they were on the train now. So me and my friend I said sir "You gonna have to get off the ride, he said why? "You are Suspected of cutting in line" he was mad he look like he was gonna hit me. So he pulled down the restrait. I put my signal for the board Operator to open the harness which he did. He put it back down. I said"You Know what I will call security" Then the two guyz looked at each other I guess they were thinking? so they got off. So the people who told me they jump line they were clapping and cheeering. So the line jumpers waited by the exit. Right than and there I knew what they was waiting for. So I informed the people who told me, I said can you let people go ahead of you while I call security becasue they are waiting by the exit for you. Do keep in mind these two people are teenagers. And the line cutters were like in there 20's. So I called security and they left. And I let the people get on the ride. Like I said I do not tolerate Line cutting the other associates may tolerate it but not me!:rolleyes:

[Griffman]

Actually I have seen people ejected from SFGRAV in Jersey from cutting. THEY CUT THE WHOLE LINE ON SUPERMAN!!! A THREE HOUR LONG LINE!!!

[soundgodz]

I just remembered, when we were at Paramount's Canada's Wonderland, near the end of the night, well, actually park was closed, we were on line for their version of Top Gun. There was no supervision on the queue line, and it probably should have been closed off already. So, here comes group after group cutting through the line by jumping fences and skipping an entire section of queue. Eventually I got fed up and stopped a bunch of them. But where were the park personnel and security to close the queue (as I said, the park had already closed) and stop the line jumpers?

[sirius_kid]

Originally posted by soundgodz
I just remembered, when we were at Paramount's Canada's Wonderland, near the end of the night, well, actually park was closed, we were on line for their version of Top Gun. There was no supervision on the queue line, and it probably should have been closed off already. So, here comes group after group cutting through the line by jumping fences and skipping an entire section of queue. Eventually I got fed up and stopped a bunch of them. But where were the park personnel and security to close the queue (as I said, the park had already closed) and stop the line jumpers?

Well I do have to say that Top gun for PCW is great I love that ride so much anywayz. Well I cant speak for other parks but I can say this. When its time for our ride to close if it is my time to close the line I do it. People can beg all they want. I have a firm face I say" No Park is closed" I'm very strict actually I think I'm the only associate that follow most of the park rules guide lines. Like when we operate on a saturday 3 train mode we have extra que poles for the entrance because we know the line will extend outside the entrance. So The manager loves when I'm line monitor because he well actually thre are three managers for that area. But Anyways they know that I'm hard on line breakers and I enforce rules. Like One saturday I was operating the board. The manager called the supervisor on the phone. He called to tell the supervisor that to send some one else to monitor the line because the (Associate name) is not enforcing the rules people breaking in line and guest are complaing. I got tired of pressong buttons on board so I asked can I go she didnt want me to go but she did anywayz:D so I went to the entrance told the(associate name) to go back inside. So I was fixing the que poles back up and I was sweeping cleaning up along the que line. Keeping a close eye on the line. So the manager came on to me and said good job make sure things go well. When we were talking some one bust in line right in front of our face:eek: I was like wow. An the guest who was angry was like "AYE THATS NOT RIGHT, GET IN LINE LIKE EVERY BODY ELSE" So I Immediatly came to the gentlemen and his crowd. The angry man was happy that I came. He said "Thats right" I asked the gentlemen and his crowd can they go back in the end of the line he was acting like he was def. He ignored me so I went back to my manager I said he refusing to move so he got on his walkie talkie. And said we have a line breaking at volcano he said it in code or something. Anywayz security came delt with the situation the manager left I was just go on bout my business. Then later on I went back inside I got to hot lol:p

[Squid2]

Hey, sirius, I'd just like to mention my experience at Volcano this past year. I had a friend of mine waiting in line, and I knew I couldn't ride, because I can't fit in the restraints. So I went up the exit line to wait for him at the edge of the station. (Note: NOT in the station itself, but outside the station gates.) One of the ride ops came up to me and asked what was going on... I think he was manning the shoe cart you have. Anyway, I told him that I was waiting for my friend, since I couldn't ride. We started chatting, and he offered to let me try and fit in a seat. I told him that wasn't necessary. (I'm sure that I can't fit... the only inverted that I've found that I might fit in is Alpengeist.) It was a very positive experience for me, and I tried to let managers know that they had some good ride ops on that coaster.

I do have one suggestion for Volcano, and, for that matter, Shockwave and Flight of Fear. Can you put a full test seat outside the coaster at the front of the line, so that people who aren't average-sized can check and see if they can ride? Please include ALL of the restraints, not just the over the shoulder ones... everything, belts and all. It will really make things more convenient for your guests, especially ones who might or might not fit.

Squid2

[sirius_kid]

Originally posted by Squid2
Hey, sirius, I'd just like to mention my experience at Volcano this past year. I had a friend of mine waiting in line, and I knew I couldn't ride, because I can't fit in the restraints. So I went up the exit line to wait for him at the edge of the station. (Note: NOT in the station itself, but outside the station gates.) One of the ride ops came up to me and asked what was going on... I think he was manning the shoe cart you have. Anyway, I told him that I was waiting for my friend, since I couldn't ride. We started chatting, and he offered to let me try and fit in a seat. I told him that wasn't necessary. (I'm sure that I can't fit... the only inverted that I've found that I might fit in is Alpengeist.) It was a very positive experience for me, and I tried to let managers know that they had some good ride ops on that coaster.

I do have one suggestion for Volcano, and, for that matter, Shockwave and Flight of Fear. Can you put a full test seat outside the coaster at the front of the line, so that people who aren't average-sized can check and see if they can ride? Please include ALL of the restraints, not just the over the shoulder ones... everything, belts and all. It will really make things more convenient for your guests, especially ones who might or might not fit.

Squid2

Well For Volcano They took off the extension because they say people where stealing them. I dont know why?:confused: but the park stop using them. I think they should continue using them because there have been some over large guest that could not ride. Not always because they cant fit its because our new policy says two operators cannot push the restait at the same time. Only one can and I'm not weak but I unly weigh 123 some lol or may be like 130 anywayz. Well we do have some good employees like any other job we have bad. I dont think the park managers will put seats out side the entrance anytime soon. Unless alot of guest complain. What I would do Squid2 is go to the ride exit and try to fit and not waste my time.

[soundgodz]

Squid, I think every coaster I've ever seen that had a test seat in front was a B&M. I can't prove it, but I'm pretty sure. But that is a great idea. Also, from what you posted, I'd guess that the seats you've gotten on Alpengeist were the "wide body" seats, usually in the 4th or 5th row that have the extra straps? Seems only B&M make that accomodation as well.

[sirius_kid]

Originally posted by soundgodz
Squid, I think every coaster I've ever seen that had a test seat in front was a B&M. I can't prove it, but I'm pretty sure. But that is a great idea. Also, from what you posted, I'd guess that the seats you've gotten on Alpengeist were the "wide body" seats, usually in the 4th or 5th row that have the extra straps? Seems only B&M make that accomodation as well.

Hey soundgodz You know the Ride Top Gun at Paramount's Carowinds? I'm a small guy and those seats sure can accomodate people of large size. You know on volcano the seats the more you push down the more secure the seat locks in. When I first got on Top Gun I was like whoa because the more you push down it doesnt lock. And I'm sure people who are bigger than an average guest they can get on. I love that ride soon as I got on that ride It was way better than Volcano. Thats a fact do you agree? when I went back to work to do a test ride on Volcano It did not feel the same. I went 2 PCW thursday went back to work Friday. It did not feel the same lol and have you notice they do things different than us. every time we send out a train we say"ALL CLEAR" PCW they say "CLEAR, ALL CLEAR,CLEAR" I didnt get that me and my associates notice that They did that

[SFA PKD Fan]

Superman @SFA now has a test seat at the queue entrance & that's an intamin.

IIRC PKD does have a test seat of sorts for shockwave,it's just the bicycle style seat minus the restraints though....at least superman has a complete setup including the bar,lap belt & that stupid un necessary back up belt on the lap bar.

[iAMpaste001]

Wicked Twister, Millennium Force and Dragster are all Intamins and they all have test seats as well (and they're the complete seat, with both lapbar and seat belt).

[Harpo]

I can't remember where (after 143 parks, some items tend to run together!), but I have heard some parks where the ride ops will say, "Front clear, middle clear, back clear, all clear." I've also been to parks where the ride ops, when checking lap bars, will say "check" with each bar they check. (Knott's was doing that for a while, but I don't recall them doing it the last time I was there, although I may have missed it that time, being that I was with my girlfriend on that visit.)

[soundgodz]

On one of the Superman flyers, probably SFoG, they were almost anal in calling out which seats were good and which weren't. I'm not saying it was silly or over the top, not when it isn't like any other seat in the industry. Also, I've heard very specific seat calls on Mantis and possibly Georgia Scorcher.

[Squid2]

Hmmm... well, my reason for needing the seats might not be what you're thinking. While I am a large guy, the reason I need the test seat is my shoulders, not my waist. I have a slight hunch in my back, which forces my shoulders forward. (I, quite literally, can't stand up straight.) Normally this isn't a problem, but on certain over the shoulder restraints, the ots restraints can't lock in place. I can't get in Shockwave at PKD for the same reason... I can't fit my arms in.

Oh, and soundgodz, it is SFoG's S:UF where they call out each seat after checking. Not sure why they do it that way... I've just heard it done there before. I think they did the same thing on Georgia Scorcher.

And while we're at it, are you visiting SFoG this year? If so, maybe we can meet at the park.

Squid2

[soundgodz]

Squid, I'll keep it in mind, but I'm not sure if we'll do the day trip to Atlanta this year. But things can change. If so, it'll be the last Thursday in August they're open.