chapter 12 theme parks and attractions

Walker: Exploring the Hospitality Industry. © 2008 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.

Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Theme Parks and AttractionsTheme Parks and Attractions

The Development of Theme The Development of Theme ParksParks

Size and Scope of the Size and Scope of the IndustryIndustry

Key PlayersKey Players Regional Theme ParksRegional Theme Parks ManagementManagement Fairs, Festivals, and EventsFairs, Festivals, and Events EmploymentEmployment TrendsTrends


Development of Theme ParksDevelopment of Theme ParksBegan with Knott’s Berry Farm:Began with Knott’s Berry Farm:

During the 1920s in Buena Park, During the 1920s in Buena Park, California, Knott’s Berry Farm was a California, Knott’s Berry Farm was a berry farm and a tea room. berry farm and a tea room.

Business grew and different attractions Business grew and different attractions were added to the site. were added to the site.

After 80 years of operation, Knott’s Berry After 80 years of operation, Knott’s Berry Farm became the largest independent Farm became the largest independent theme park in the United States.theme park in the United States.


Size and Scope of the IndustrySize and Scope of the Industry

Theme parks and attractions vary Theme parks and attractions vary according to theme, which might be according to theme, which might be historical, cultural, geographical, and so historical, cultural, geographical, and so on. on.

Some parks and attractions focus on a Some parks and attractions focus on a single theme, others focus on multiple single theme, others focus on multiple themes.themes.

There is an abundance of theme parks There is an abundance of theme parks located throughout the United States. located throughout the United States.


Key PlayersKey Players Walt Disney WorldWalt Disney World::

Magic KingdomMagic KingdomEpcotEpcotMGM StudiosMGM StudiosAnimal KingdomAnimal Kingdom

Swimming pools, 25 lighted Swimming pools, 25 lighted tennis courts, 99 holes of tennis courts, 99 holes of championship golf, championship golf, marinas, jogging, bike marinas, jogging, bike trails, water skiing, and trails, water skiing, and motor boating.motor boating.


Magic KingdomMagic KingdomMore than 40 major shows and ride-through More than 40 major shows and ride-through

attractions. attractions. Seven lands include: Seven lands include:

Main Street, U.S.A.Main Street, U.S.A.AdventurelandAdventurelandFrontierlandFrontierlandLiberty SquareLiberty SquareFantasylandFantasylandMickey’s Toontown FairMickey’s Toontown FairTomorrowlandTomorrowland


EpcotEpcot

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


MGM StudiosMGM Studios

50 major shows, shops, restaurants, 50 major shows, shops, restaurants, ride-through adventures, and ride-through adventures, and backstage tours.backstage tours.

Combines actual working motion Combines actual working motion picture, animation, and television picture, animation, and television studios with exciting movie attractions. studios with exciting movie attractions.


Animal KingdomAnimal Kingdom

Focuses on nature and the animal Focuses on nature and the animal world around us.world around us.

Guests can go on time-traveling rides Guests can go on time-traveling rides and come face to face with animals and come face to face with animals from the prehistoric past in the from the prehistoric past in the present. present.


Key PlayersKey Players Universal Studios:Universal Studios:

Guided tours on its famous Guided tours on its famous movie sets. movie sets.

Most formidable competitor Most formidable competitor facing the Disney Corp.facing the Disney Corp.

One reason for Universal’s One reason for Universal’s success is its adaptation of success is its adaptation of movies into thrill rides.movies into thrill rides.

Another is their commitment to Another is their commitment to guest participation. guest participation.

Largest movie studio and Largest movie studio and theme park is Universal theme park is Universal Hollywood.Hollywood.


Key PlayersKey Players Anheuser-Busch Companies:Anheuser-Busch Companies:

Largest corporate-owned theme/animal park company Largest corporate-owned theme/animal park company in the United States.in the United States.

Leader in conservation and education. Leader in conservation and education. Dedicated to preserving marine life and uses Dedicated to preserving marine life and uses

innovative programs to research various wildlife innovative programs to research various wildlife dilemmas. dilemmas.

Includes:Includes: Sea WorldSea World Busch GardensBusch Gardens Adventure IslandAdventure Island Water Country USAWater Country USA Sesame PlaceSesame Place Discovery CoveDiscovery Cove


Key PlayersKey Players Hershey’s:Hershey’s:

1900s: started producing mass quantities of milk chocolate, 1900s: started producing mass quantities of milk chocolate, resulting in immediate success. resulting in immediate success.

The following decades brought many product line The following decades brought many product line expansions. expansions.

1907: Milton Hershey opened Hershey Park as a leisure 1907: Milton Hershey opened Hershey Park as a leisure park for employees of Hershey’s Company. park for employees of Hershey’s Company.

1908: The park started its soon-to-be huge expansion. 1908: The park started its soon-to-be huge expansion. The park continued to add more rides and attractions. As the The park continued to add more rides and attractions. As the

park continued to expand, the company decided to open the park continued to expand, the company decided to open the park’s doors to the public. park’s doors to the public.

1971: The park underwent redevelopment to turn the small 1971: The park underwent redevelopment to turn the small regional park into a large theme park. regional park into a large theme park.


Regional Theme ParksRegional Theme Parks Dollywood:Dollywood:

In 1961, a small attraction with a Civil War theme In 1961, a small attraction with a Civil War theme called Rebel Railroad opened its doors to the public. called Rebel Railroad opened its doors to the public.

This attraction is now known all across the world as This attraction is now known all across the world as Dollywood. Dollywood.

The name came about in 1986 when Dolly Parton became a The name came about in 1986 when Dolly Parton became a co-owner of the park. co-owner of the park.

LEGOLAND:LEGOLAND: Owned and operated by the LEGO Group. Owned and operated by the LEGO Group. Marketed toward young families. Marketed toward young families.


Regional Theme ParksRegional Theme Parks Gatorland:Gatorland:

Started when Owen Godwin built an alligator pit in his Started when Owen Godwin built an alligator pit in his backyard. backyard.

After World War II, Godwin bought a 16-acre plot After World War II, Godwin bought a 16-acre plot located off of Florida’s second most traveled highway. located off of Florida’s second most traveled highway.

Provides a close-up view of Florida’s animals in their Provides a close-up view of Florida’s animals in their native habitat. native habitat.

Wet ’n Wild:Wet ’n Wild: First major water park in the U.S.First major water park in the U.S. In 1998, owner Goerge Millay sold the Orlando Park In 1998, owner Goerge Millay sold the Orlando Park

to Universal Studios Recreation Group.to Universal Studios Recreation Group.


Theme Park ManagementTheme Park Management

Process includes:Process includes:PlanningPlanningOrganizingOrganizingDecision makingDecision makingCommunicatingCommunicatingMotivatingMotivatingControlling Controlling


Festivals, Fairs, and EventsFestivals, Fairs, and Events

Woodstock, Gay Pride, the Olympic Woodstock, Gay Pride, the Olympic Games, and your local farmers’ fair have Games, and your local farmers’ fair have something in common. They can all be something in common. They can all be described under the umbrella of described under the umbrella of event event tourismtourism. .

Fairs, festivals, and events are public Fairs, festivals, and events are public celebrations that are staged all over the celebrations that are staged all over the world.world.


Festivals, Fairs, and EventsFestivals, Fairs, and Events Oktoberfest:Oktoberfest:

Rivers of beer and rowdy Rivers of beer and rowdy people! people!

Sixteen-day festival. Sixteen-day festival. About 6 million visitors attend About 6 million visitors attend

each year.each year. The Carnival in Rio de The Carnival in Rio de

Janeiro:Janeiro: World’s most famous Carnival World’s most famous Carnival

is Rio’s main event.is Rio’s main event. Happens at the peak of the Happens at the peak of the

Brazilian summer. Brazilian summer. Four-day celebration.Four-day celebration.


Festivals, Fairs, and EventsFestivals, Fairs, and EventsReggae on the River:Reggae on the River:

Small event held in California.Small event held in California.Important in the area of leisure travel.Important in the area of leisure travel.

Mardi Gras:Mardi Gras:Began over 100 years ago as a carnival.Began over 100 years ago as a carnival.Has evolved into a world-renowned party. Has evolved into a world-renowned party.

Grand Ole Opry:Grand Ole Opry:Held in Nashville, Tennessee. Held in Nashville, Tennessee. Live radio show in which country music Live radio show in which country music

guests are featured. guests are featured.


EmploymentEmployment 350,000 workers in 350,000 workers in

the theme park the theme park industry:industry: DesignersDesigners ArtistsArtists InspectorsInspectors Repair peopleRepair people ScientistsScientists ProfessionalsProfessionals


TrendsTrendsNew parks will focus on themes that are New parks will focus on themes that are

tied to the country or local region in which tied to the country or local region in which they are located.they are located.

Theme parks will become more of a Theme parks will become more of a symbol for regional pride, culture, and symbol for regional pride, culture, and technological advancement.technological advancement.

New rides are being developed so that the New rides are being developed so that the riders can control the experience and riders can control the experience and intensity of the ride themselves.intensity of the ride themselves.


TrendsTrendsFuture expansion in the use of simulation Future expansion in the use of simulation

virtual reality rides.virtual reality rides. Increasingly more use of water-related Increasingly more use of water-related

activities with rides, landscaping, and activities with rides, landscaping, and attractions.attractions.

Continual development of artificial Continual development of artificial environments so that the parks can environments so that the parks can operate in all weather conditions.operate in all weather conditions.

The expansion of theme parks will result in The expansion of theme parks will result in greater job opportunities.greater job opportunities.

chapter 12 theme parks and attractions

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