Theme Park Design

Walt Disney is credited with developing the modern theme park; he was inspired by several smaller amusement parks, World's Fairs and Disney's own animated characters when he designed the world-famous Disneyland, which opened in Anaheim, California in 1955. Disney's revolutionary park ushered in an era of significant change, and many amusement parks were replaced with more modern theme parks like the well known Six Flags franchise and Universal Studios during the 1960's and 70's.

Today, Walt Disney World, which opened in 1971, is still the largest theme park and resort complex in the world. California and Florida feature the largest theme parks in the U.S., but demand for these enormous playgrounds continues across the world, featuring nearly every theme imaginable.

News

How 2016 Became the Year of the Theme Park Construction Crane: A Closer Look at the Market

Posted on October 12, 2016

The Orlando Sentinel dubbed 2016 the Year of the Construction Crane for the theme park industry, and that’s remained true both abroad and at home. If there’s one part of the theme ...

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Why Disney Introduced a Princess Without a Movie – And What It Means for Inclusive Parks

Posted on September 1, 2016

The highlight of a trip to Disney for many fans is seeing a favorite princess pass by in a parade, or posing for a photo during a character Meet and ...

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New Disney Patents Hint at Bioluminescent Plants in Avatar Attraction

Posted on August 11, 2016

The site Patentyogi recently uncovered patents from Disney that could hint at what guests have to look forward to in the forthcoming “Pandora – The World of Avatar” attraction. When the movie Avatar was first ...

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How Nostalgia Shapes Theme Park Visits

Posted on August 4, 2016

The nostalgia marketing trends that are everywhere this summer are bringing many of us straight back to the 1980s and 1990s: Pokémon, Lego, the Full House reboot. Major brands capitalize on nostalgia ...

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What Could Brexit Mean for Themed Entertainment?

Posted on July 1, 2016

As news of Britain’s decision to separate from the EU hit, stocks plummeted, the GBP took a plunge, and there was general unrest. Since then, experts have wondered what the ...

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Why Dinosaurs Are Hot Again

Posted on May 24, 2016

The classic grade school dinosaur field trip was stuffy: it most likely involved memorizing scientific names, studying artist renderings, and perhaps, if you were lucky, checking out some bones at ...

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Experience Marketing: How Entertainment Design Helps Brands Capture Consumer Attention

Posted on March 28, 2016

The way that brands market themselves is changing rapidly. Today’s consumers are no longer satisfied with generalized advertising and discounts. Instead, they’re seeking deeper, personalized relationships with the companies they ...

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The Newest Theme Park Trend is….Safety?

Posted on March 18, 2016

Over the past several years, a few devastating accidents have made front-page headlines around the world and raised concerns about theme park safety. A number of op-eds have asked “How ...

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The Alton Towers Galactica: A Sojourn Into Space

Posted on February 26, 2016

The world’s most thrilling roller coasters always play with gravity, with the ground rushing by and falling away as the ride car twists, turns, inverts and drops. However, with Alton Towers’ ...

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7 Roller Coasters We Can’t Wait to Ride in 2016

Posted on February 22, 2016

There are two kinds of rides that theme park fans love: immersive new dark rides that push the limits of our imaginations and thrill rides that get hearts pumping. This ...

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