Adventureland - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Two Pickles · RV-Dreams Community Member

Adventureland

Judy L · RV-Dreams Family Member

Tom & Fran,

I haven't ever worked for Adventureland so can't speak to that part of your question but I have lived on the east side of Des Moines, Iowa (just a few miles from Adventureland) most of my life. To my knowledge this area hasn't had a direct hit from a tornado in my lifetime. We have been hit by high winds that have caused downed trees, roof damage, etc but not the devastating damage like the recent tornadoes in Oklahoma. Not saying it can't happen but we don't seem to be in one of those corridors prone to tornadoes. I repeat that I'm not saying it can't happen and would encourage you to confirm that the RV park where you'll be living has a storm shelter.

By the way, welcome to the forum!! Hope someone else can give you info about Adventureland.

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

If your familiar with Workamper News; there is a lot of info about the program. I worked there; started in mid-May of 2010' worked also in 2011; worked as a games attendant. The first year was difficult as I was put on games that didn't have great attendance; but I didn't have much experience operating the electronic ones; second year was better. The most complaints I heard were from the Foods Dept.and Retail; working in hot kitchens and the Summer heat; humidity and haze added to the frustrations for some.
Their showerhouses are made of cinder block and only had to go there on time in two seasons. If you are at work they say the orientation building is the safest; but never went there. You work through storms; but they shut rides down for lightning and high winds. This is when foods and games get real busy. I have seen the feel-like temps mid-July and August reach the 110's with a regular temp in the mid-nineties.
The second year I was there we had a power-surge because the Campground's new desk person put a 50 amp rig in our 30 amp area and it caused my roof AC to fail. The hotel and campground are run separate from the Amusement park. I had to suck up the cost as they wouldn't even have their AC repairman take a look at it.
I would have went back; but have health issues come up that need to be taken care of before I can think of working in the Summer heat.
You can also their HR Dept and they will send you and information Packet. They do a one hour phone interview and go over the Letter of Agreement and have you initial line by line stating you understood. Read everything; because many don't then get upset because they don't like the rules.

sgeaux · RV-Dreams Community Member

We worked at Adventureland and it was miserable!!! We only worked one month and left for a better job. We were told how much fun it would be, but we didn''t have one FUN day. Our biggest problem was working with young people who really didn 't want to work. They just wanted a paycheck. The owners and higher ups, those with black shirts, we not friendly at all. They wouldn't even say Hello. Lots of workampers have left for the same reason. Just too much work for the money they paid. Would never go back.

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

cry Sorry about your experience; the work was easy in the games dept. I didn't care what the young workers did as long as they were there for my batroom break!

-- Edited by PIEERE on Tuesday 17th of September 2013 02:51:13 PM

sgeaux · RV-Dreams Community Member

We worked in the Gulch in foods. That was hard work and everybody was supposed to hold up their end of the job and the young people didn't.

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

Foods was the one always got the most complaints; then retail. The best was games and rides for the physically fit!

SnowGypsy · RV-Dreams Family Member

It sounds more like a human resources problem than with Adventureland itself and a decent place can change quickly if management changes for the worse. We subscribe to Workamper News and the person that runs that used to hold some "important job" at Adventureland, can't remember what it was. I have seen complaints about the heat and standing on concrete/cement. An hour telephone interview?

sgeaux · RV-Dreams Community Member

Yes, the phone interview was 1 hour. He HR made it sound so good. Lots of people who live in Iowa come back year after year. I think, in my opinion, was if you worked they for several years, you got better positions. It wouldn't have been so bad if we hadn't been so far back in the park, that it took 20 minutes to get to the commissary and 20 minutes to get back. We never could use it cause we didn't have long enough to eat. The park itself is very nice. It's clean and has lots to do. As workampers, we had to wait 6 weeks before we could go in the park on our days off, unless we wanted to pay full price to get in. When we worked, we couldn't go to any of the other food concessions to eat. You either brought your lunch or walked to the commissary. Just one of those jobs we were glad our home is on wheels and we could leave if the job fit was not for us.

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

Steve Anderson was the HR Person for Adventureland before he became editor for Workcamper news; I believe he retired from there recently. Adventureland is not for every one as some other places are not either. But Sammie you are correct that is what wheels are for.

SnowGypsy · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm trying to encourage Workamper News to provide a more balanced view in their information when it comes to employers. Say along the lines of Pieere's experience versus Sammie's. I have read a lot of reviews where people were disappointed and leave early which is a bad experience for both. More about working conditions and in a better format then just trying to leaf through "ratings" by a limited amount of individuals. Frankly, I get better ratings on socks on a website when it comes to the positives and negatives. The clip we watched on working at Adventureland was all glowing and my husband was sold. Being familiar with the climate in this area of the country, I could only think of the heat and blowing dirt/dust or being stuck in food service based on experience I had previously that paid a ton more money per hour and again heat, heat, heat. I am a cold weather person.

-- Edited by SnowGypsy on Friday 20th of September 2013 08:30:26 AM

sgeaux · RV-Dreams Community Member

I think people should make up their own minds about any place to work. You will have pros and cons about every job. The people that keep working year after year really must love it. We just didn't. We came back to the Texas oil fields as gate guards which would definitely not be for everybody. We decided if we were going to work, we might as well go where the money was. We will be leaving here in the spring and just travel around before we settle down in Tennessee or Georgia.

SnowGypsy · RV-Dreams Family Member

I agree one has to make up their own mind but it would be helpful if you are going to have someone who would give it 5 stars speaking that you also have someone that would give it one star and that is where I my dissatisfaction lies. I always read 5 star and 1 star, best case scenario and worst! TN or GA, what a choice! Lived near the KY/TN border for awhile, and have passed through GA a few times and both are beautiful places with friendly people. Would be a tough choice for me.