by Amer Numan

Created on: April 12, 2009   Last Updated: April 13, 2009

Theme parks have not only changed over the last 20 years, they have morphed completely. Visiting one is a completely different experience from the time you are booking your tickets to the time you are leaving. The best way to explore these differences is to categorize them by type;

TICKETING

One of the most obvious areas that theme parks have changed is ticketing & booking. For one, pricing has definitely become more complex, and higher across the board. You no longer just buy your "admission". There are more "grades" of admission than ever before; including multi-park rates, multi-person rates, rates by age group, academic standing, affiliation with the company's partners, and even by wait time for the rides. Annual passes are not just your actual admission for the rest of the year. You choose if you want to include your parking (and what grade of parking), level of merchandise & food discounts, affiliated event admission, and other perks that change the type of annual pass holder you are. Words like bronze, silver, gold, platinum, preferred, emerald, jewel, blue, passport, and VIP represent different pricing grades and corresponding privileges, and in many cases your credit card is digitally committed to keep renewing and paying for your ticketing until you opt out of the system. The added convenience of doing all of this online from your home or office offsets the complexity of it.

SECURITY & CONTROL

There was a time when guests would approach a booth, pay for tickets, and walk right in. Today, depending on the theme park, there are lines to get on secured shuttles, then lines to get to security check points. These are staffed with guards who inspect your bags, search you with a wand to detect firearms, and traffic you to electronic entry stations. These usually require a unique bar-coded pass per day, per guest, along with a fingerprint via a biometric scanner at the final turnstile before entry. Different parks may ask for identification, contact information, and other things before entry.

THE RIDES!

The most apparent change is the rides themselves. Advances in technology have allowed for technical, mechanical, and visual differences along your visit. The art of simulation emerged, where different motions, sounds, and graphics can immerse you in fascinating environments right from your seat. Three-dimensional effects bring the theme of a ride to life, and plug you into a different world for its duration. The incorporation of computing into the architecture itself has allowed for amazing inventions for the classic roller coaster as well - adding magnificent ideas for the shapes and sizes of tracks, as well as various options for the way you actually get on a ride. Some rides are floor-less, some allow you to strap in standing up, laying forward, or even without an actual "seat". Some rides are entirely stationary and make use of induced gravity alterations and pressure. It's quite amazing.

GUESTS

The most overlooked element that has changed about theme parks is the people who actually go there! The newer generations of theme park goers expect more - more speed, more creativity, more thrill. A lot of the change has been due to guest feedback and expectations from the industry. One thing will remain unchanged, though: The guests will keep advancing in their expectations & needs, and the parks will have to keep adjusting in their offerings to keep up! Ironically - change is the only element that remains fixed.

Learn more about this author, Amer Numan.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.