Transcript Chapter 12 Theme Parks & Attractions

Chapter 12
Theme Parks and Attractions
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The Development of Theme
Parks
Size and Scope of the
Industry
Key Players
Regional Theme Parks
Management
Fairs, Festivals, and Events
Employment
Trends
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Development of Theme Parks
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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.
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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.
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Key Players
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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.
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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
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Epcot
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Epcot is a unique,
permanent, and
ever-changing
world’s fair with two
major themes:
Future World and
World Showcase.
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© 2008 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
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.
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Animal Kingdom
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Focuses on nature and the animal
world around us.
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Guests can go on time-traveling rides
and come face to face with animals
from the prehistoric past in the
present.
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© 2008 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Key Players
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Universal Studios:
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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.
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© 2008 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Key Players
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Anheuser-Busch Companies:
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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:
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Sea World
Busch Gardens
Adventure Island
Water Country USA
Sesame Place
Discovery Cove
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Key Players
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Hershey’s:
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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.
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© 2008 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Regional Theme Parks
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Dollywood:
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In 1961, a small attraction with a Civil War theme
called Rebel Railroad opened its doors to the public.
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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:
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Owned and operated by the LEGO Group.
Marketed toward young families.
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© 2008 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Regional Theme Parks
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Gatorland:
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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:
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First major water park in the U.S.
In 1998, owner Goerge Millay sold the Orlando Park
to Universal Studios Recreation Group.
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Theme Park Management
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Process includes:
 Planning
 Organizing
 Decision
making
 Communicating
 Motivating
 Controlling
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Festivals, Fairs, and Events
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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.
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© 2008 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Festivals, Fairs, and Events
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Oktoberfest:
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Rivers of beer and rowdy
people!
Sixteen-day festival.
About 6 million visitors attend
each year.
The Carnival in Rio de
Janeiro:
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World’s most famous Carnival
is Rio’s main event.
Happens at the peak of the
Brazilian summer.
Four-day celebration.
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Festivals, Fairs, and Events
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Reggae on the River:
 Small
event held in California.
 Important in the area of leisure travel.
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Mardi Gras:
 Began
over 100 years ago as a carnival.
 Has evolved into a world-renowned party.
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Grand Ole Opry:
 Held
in Nashville, Tennessee.
 Live radio show in which country music
guests are featured.
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© 2008 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Employment
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350,000 workers in
the theme park
industry:
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Designers
 Artists
 Inspectors
 Repair people
 Scientists
 Professionals
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© 2008 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
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.
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Walker: Exploring the Hospitality Industry.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
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.
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Walker: Exploring the Hospitality Industry.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.