My Career Website
To be truly successful at anything, I feel that one of the best things you can do is learn is by example. That’s why I have included this page that offers websites to some of the biggest names in the themed entertainment industry. It’s interesting to note that most of these companies also excel in other areas of entertainment. It just shows that the same talent that goes into making great movies and television are the same that go into making great theme parks. CREATIVITY RULES ! Here are the big shots…
The Walt Disney Company
The granddaddy of them all, Ol’ uncle Walt and his grand experiment essentially started the themed entertainment industry.
http://www.waltdisneyworld.com
Universal Studios
Universal Studios creates what are in my opinion some of the most exhilarating theme parks in the world. While they still have a lot to learn from Disney on the concepts of crowd control, people movement and customer satisfaction (Don’t buy the dinner and movie deal at Universal Studios CityWalk. It’s a rip-off.), the parks are very exciting. Check them out.
http://www.universalstudios.com
Anheuser-Busch
They make good beer, and great theme parks! If you like mind scrambling rollercoasters, Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay, Florida and Williamsburg, Virginia can’t be missed. Anheuser-Busch also operates the various Sea World parks around the world. These are the so-called “Eco-Parks”. They are a combination of theme park and zoo. They have profited greatly from the recent interest in environmentally friendly tourism. So much in fact that Disney has made its own attempt at the “Eco-Park.” However for thrilling rides along with a fulfilling educational experience, the parks of Anheuser-Busch are the gold standard.
AOL/Time Warner
I feel kind of bad about ragging on these guys since I work for a Warner Brothers affiliated television station. However of the major theme park operators in the United States, this company has the most to learn. In an effort to compete with the other major entertainment companies in the theme park industry, Time Warner acquired the struggling Six Flags amusement park chain. With no master concept plan for the parks and no idea of creating an overall theme for their various environments, the Six Flags parks where simply a collection of thrill rides. The parks were fun for first time visitors, but not very inspiring and lacking in repeat business. Time Warner has been slowly improving on these parks by creating themed “lands” and doing tie-ins with various other Warner Brothers franchises like Looney Tunes and Batman. Look for that Harry Potter themed land very soon!
All hail the mighty Theme Master !
(Walt Disney in case you were wondering.)