Theme Park Design

Theme Park Field Tools

Audience Mix

World Travelers

Character Huggers

Thrill Seekers

Audiences

Family Audience

Child Audience

  • Kiddiefication
  • Teenification

Disabled Audience

Nationalities

Male / Female Audience

Locals / Tourists

Enthusiasts

Localization

Language

Food & Merchandise

Theme & Story

Design

Attraction Mix

Weatherizing

Legal Changes

Theme Park Literacy

Attraction Mix

Attraction Grading

Differential

Climate

Demographics

Theme Park Layout

Requirements

Operations

  • Access
  • Utilidors
  • Infrastructure

Space Management

Shape & Size

Molded Layouts

Orientation

Wayfinding

Movement

Wienies

Anchors

Capacity

Distribution

Inaccessible Intrusions

Museum Feet

Experience

Rhythm

Reveals

Grouping

Pinballing

Rotation

Theme Park Layout Archetypes

Grid Layout

Midway Layout

Hub & Spoke Layout

Loop Layout

Organic Layout

Hybrid Layout

Theme Park Layout Elements

Entrance Corridor

Parade Route

Neutral Areas

Satellite Lands

Islands

Plazas

Dead-Ends

Expansion Plots

Situating Lands

Berm

Intrusions and Extrusions

Symbolism

Show

Microclimate

Park Capacity

People Eaters

Infrastructure

ATMs

Guest Information

Lockers

Lost & Found

Lost Children

Rentals (Wheelchairs, Strollers, etc.)

Restrooms

Smoking Areas

Ticketing

Times Boards and Directory Maps

Backstage

Park Entrance

Single Entrance

Arrival Sequence

Pre-Arrival

Resort Entrance

Parking Lot and Transportation Hub

Entrance

  • Entrance Plaza
  • Marquee
  • Security Check
  • Ticket Booths
  • Turnstiles

Lobby

  • Curtain
  • Title Card

Park Map Design

Tickets

Park Announcements

Park Opening

Park Closing

Telemetry

Promotions

Marketing Campaigns

Motivating Additions

In-Park Decorations

Icon Overlays

Neutral Attraction Spiels

Special Events

Ticketed Events

Employees

First Impression

Performative Labor

Casting

Training

Traditions

Terminology

Behaviors

Think Globally, Act Locally

Costume

Nametags

The Disney Look

Building a Performance Culture

Customer Service

Magic Moments

Equality

Quality Service Compass

  • Guestology
  • Demographics
  • Psychographics
  • Needs
  • Wants
  • Stereotypes
  • Emotions

Quality Standards

  • Safety
  • Courtesy
  • Show
  • Efficiency

Delivery Systems

  • Cast
  • Setting
  • Process

Integration

A Common Purpose

Behind the Scenes

Resort Design

Second Gates

Resort Layout

  • Face-to-Face
  • Back-to-Back
  • Dispersed

Transportation

Hotels

In-Park Hotels

Retail Entertainment Centers

  • Shops
  • Restaurants
  • Upcharge Attractions
  • Nightclubs
  • Shows

Water Parks

Other Attractions

Updated: June 8, 2022 3:20 pm

Dennis Cheatham

Associate Professor, Communication Design

Miami University

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