Park Spy — Question on Rain

PARK 4, WV

First contact: Automated machine. Chose new reservations.
Answering phone: Female.
API: Stated question.
Staff: Umm, most of our activities are rain or shine. Um, the only thing that does sometimes get postponed is our zip line tour. In high winds or lightning we can’t run those.
API: OK. So what happens if there is high wind and lightning and I want to do the zip line?
Staff: Well, what they do is, um, well we never know in advance, so they’re always the day of. So, if you haven’t started the tour yet and they need to postpone it, um, I mean, they keep a close eye on the weather, and if it looks like it’s going to pass they’ll postpone it and you’ll get to do it, um, if not, um, we’ll let you either reschedule, take a rain check or take a refund. And if you’re already on the course and have to stop then you’ll be prorated. (Whew, that almost makes sense!)
API: Um, OK. So either way, you guys provide some kind of rain check or rescheduling or refund option?
Staff: Correct. Huh-uh!
API: Thanks so much!

Rating: 6
Comment: After she found her way around what she was trying to say, we finally settled on an actual answer. Whew!

PARK 5, FL

First contact: Female.
API: Stated question.
Staff: Mmm. Well, we will allow you to do the course in a light rain, but if it’s heavier and there’s lightning they’ll pull you from the course until it passes, and then get you back going. Normally if it’s not more than like 30 minutes to an hour then we don’t have to close the park.
API: OK.
Staff: OK, but we don’t have a refund policy. We will try to advise you before, because we do keep an eye on the weather, if we know that rain is supposed to be in the forecast. So you kind of use your own discretion about, um, doing the courses, if, um, if there’s rain in the forecast. So once you start we do not issue refunds or replacement or rain checks.
API: OK, so if I’m midway through the course and it starts down pouring and we have to come off there are no refunds?
Staff: There are no refunds, no.
API: So if I made a reservation and saw weather in the forecast could I reschedule?
Staff: Um, well, we don’t require reservations. I mean, if you were doing a reservation, which then we require a contract and deposit and everything, then you would have the option of doing it that way. But if you’re just showing up then no, no we don’t do that.
API: Right, but if I had a reservation I could reschedule for another day?
Staff: You can. Yes. As long as you guys aren’t on the course then yes, you can do that.
API: Great, thanks so much.

Rating: 5
Comment: Had to pull a couple teeth, but finally got all the information about how they handle weather issues.

PARK 6, FL

First contact: Automated machine.
Answering phone: No one ever did.

Rating: 3
Comment: After calling numerous times to try and figure out how to get a human, I went online (finding the park’s site without the help of the automated voice.) The website talked about the weather policy, which is a plus, but quite the obstacle course to find it!