Chapter 12 Theme Parks and Attractions

1. Chapter 12 Theme Parks and Attractions • The Development of Theme Parks • Size and Scope of the Industry • Key Players • Regional Theme Parks • Management • Fairs, Festivals, and Events • Employment • Trends

2. Development of Theme Parks • Began with Knott’s Berry Farm: • During the 1920s in Buena Park, California, Knott’s Berry Farm was a berry farm and a tea room. • Business grew and different attractions were added to the site. • After 80 years of operation, Knott’s Berry Farm became the largest independent theme park in the United States.

3. Size and Scope of the Industry • Theme parks and attractions vary according to theme, which might be historical, cultural, geographical, and so on. • Some parks and attractions focus on a single theme, others focus on multiple themes. • There is an abundance of theme parks located throughout the United States.

4. Key Players • Walt Disney World: • Magic Kingdom • Epcot • MGM Studios • Animal Kingdom • Swimming pools, 25 lighted tennis courts, 99 holes of championship golf, marinas, jogging, bike trails, water skiing, and motor boating.

5. Magic Kingdom • More than 40 major shows and ride-through attractions. • Seven lands include: • Main Street, U.S.A. • Adventureland • Frontierland • Liberty Square • Fantasyland • Mickey’s Toontown Fair • Tomorrowland

6. Epcot • Epcot is a unique, permanent, and ever-changing world’s fair with two major themes: Future World and World Showcase.

7. MGM Studios • 50 major shows, shops, restaurants, ride-through adventures, and backstage tours. • Combines actual working motion picture, animation, and television studios with exciting movie attractions.

8. Animal Kingdom • Focuses on nature and the animal world around us. • Guests can go on time-traveling rides and come face to face with animals from the prehistoric past in the present.

9. Key Players • Universal Studios: • Guided tours on its famous movie sets. • Most formidable competitor facing the Disney Corp. • One reason for Universal’s success is its adaptation of movies into thrill rides. • Another is their commitment to guest participation. • Largest movie studio and theme park is Universal Hollywood.

10. Key Players • Anheuser-Busch Companies: • Largest corporate-owned theme/animal park company in the United States. • Leader in conservation and education. • Dedicated to preserving marine life and uses innovative programs to research various wildlife dilemmas. • Includes: • Sea World • Busch Gardens • Adventure Island • Water Country USA • Sesame Place • Discovery Cove

11. Key Players • Hershey’s: • 1900s: started producing mass quantities of milk chocolate, resulting in immediate success. • The following decades brought many product line expansions. • 1907: Milton Hershey opened Hershey Park as a leisure park for employees of Hershey’s Company. • 1908: The park started its soon-to-be huge expansion. • The park continued to add more rides and attractions. As the park continued to expand, the company decided to open the park’s doors to the public. • 1971: The park underwent redevelopment to turn the small regional park into a large theme park.

12. Regional Theme Parks • Dollywood: • In 1961, a small attraction with a Civil War theme called Rebel Railroad opened its doors to the public. • This attraction is now known all across the world as Dollywood. • The name came about in 1986 when Dolly Parton became a co-owner of the park. • LEGOLAND: • Owned and operated by the LEGO Group. • Marketed toward young families.

13. Regional Theme Parks • Gatorland: • Started when Owen Godwin built an alligator pit in his backyard. • After World War II, Godwin bought a 16-acre plot located off of Florida’s second most traveled highway. • Provides a close-up view of Florida’s animals in their native habitat. • Wet ’n Wild: • First major water park in the U.S. • In 1998, owner Goerge Millay sold the Orlando Park to Universal Studios Recreation Group.

14. Theme Park Management • Process includes: • Planning • Organizing • Decision making • Communicating • Motivating • Controlling

15. Festivals, Fairs, and Events • Woodstock, Gay Pride, the Olympic Games, and your local farmers’ fair have something in common. They can all be described under the umbrella of event tourism. • Fairs, festivals, and events are public celebrations that are staged all over the world.

16. Festivals, Fairs, and Events • Oktoberfest: • Rivers of beer and rowdy people! • Sixteen-day festival. • About 6 million visitors attend each year. • The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro: • World’s most famous Carnival is Rio’s main event. • Happens at the peak of the Brazilian summer. • Four-day celebration.

17. Festivals, Fairs, and Events • Reggae on the River: • Small event held in California. • Important in the area of leisure travel. • Mardi Gras: • Began over 100 years ago as a carnival. • Has evolved into a world-renowned party. • Grand Ole Opry: • Held in Nashville, Tennessee. • Live radio show in which country music guests are featured.

18. Employment • 350,000 workers in the theme park industry: • Designers • Artists • Inspectors • Repair people • Scientists • Professionals

19. Trends • New parks will focus on themes that are tied to the country or local region in which they are located. • Theme parks will become more of a symbol for regional pride, culture, and technological advancement. • New rides are being developed so that the riders can control the experience and intensity of the ride themselves.

20. Trends • Future expansion in the use of simulation virtual reality rides. • Increasingly more use of water-related activities with rides, landscaping, and attractions. • Continual development of artificial environments so that the parks can operate in all weather conditions. • The expansion of theme parks will result in greater job opportunities.