Rather than staying at home or setting up in a coffee shop while working remotely, Ryan Zeitz heads to Canada's Wonderland instead. He spends seven hours working from The Gryphon's Crown lounge before tackling a few rides at the end of the day, once the crowds have thinned out.
Being both a comedian and a mental health peer support worker, Zeitz says his workday at the park involves writing jokes, editing and uploading social media material, as well as preparing his 11-week mental health comedy course. He has maintained this exact schedule for the last 132 days.
The resident of Richmond Hill said making the amusement park his private workspace was not his original intention, as he sort of 'stumbled into it'.
'I was just gonna get a pass. There was even a world where I wasn't gonna get a pass at all, but they had this really amazing deal last year,' Zeitz explained during a 21 August interview with CTV News.
From Amusement Park Pass to Private Workspace
Zeitz bought an initial $99 (£72.84) Gold Pass for Canada's Wonderland that bundled in parking. Following that, he added a $110 (£80.94) meal plan before ultimately making the jump to the Prestige Pass.
All expenses combined, he shelled out $422.59 (£310.94), including taxes, giving him admission all the way through December.
'Trying to Find Ways to Work With My Brain'
He first used the admission pass alongside his significant other during the closing weeks of last summer.
'We just came for a weekend at the end of July and was just scanning my QR code, my pass everywhere, and getting free food and free drinks. It was like this cashless society where I was king,' Zeitz recounted.
Struggling to concentrate at home because of his ADHD, the 33-year-old has spent time looking for a suitable professional setting.
'I'm trying to find ways to work with my brain instead of against it, and there's this concept known as body doubling, which is really cool, where essentially just being in the presence of others helps you stay on task and accomplish tasks because there's this accountability, there's people (who) are watching me,' he explained.
Frequent trips to local coffee shops can also add up financially, according to Zeitz.
That initial getaway gave him the idea to set up his workspace right inside the park grounds.
'I've already technically prepaid for a year-and-a-half's worth of free drinks and food. Why don't I just come work here?' he said.
Making the Most of His $422 Pass
Management at Canada's Wonderland expressed enthusiasm over how thoroughly he is using his pass.
'We do advertise that they allow you to come and go like you own the place, and he's certainly taking us up on that offer,' Grace Peacock, director of communications for Six Flags, said in an email.
The package grants him two daily food items on-site and, thanks to his upgraded drink subscription, he can pick from options beyond regular fountain pop, including hot chocolate, coffee and Icees.
During each trip, he records his beverage tally, food intake and ride selections, keeping close track of their retail value.
'Some people say, 'Oh, you're not eating healthy,' or 'You're eating all this fat.' Honestly, I feel like I'm personally as healthy as I've been in a long time, if only because I'm properly hydrated for the first time in my life because it's a game now,' Zeitz said.
'I've gamified hydration because every single drink that I drink here is another $5.49. I get to add to my tally to try and hit that $10,000 of retail value. I'm drinking, I'm eating like a king.'
