Amusement parks are self-contained areas that include shops, rides, and restaurants, usually spread over several a significant amount of space. In contrast to carnivals or fairs, many of the larger amusement venues are sprawling, permanent conglomerations that take up a number of square miles square kilometers. Many are more amusement complexes than parks.
A theme park has a distinctive theme, or themes, to its layout, rides, shops, and attractions. The idea can be traced back at least to medieval times, when bands of entertainers and musicians would gather in a town field or park to wield their skills for the amusement of the townsfolk.
Coney Island, arguably the prototypical amusement park, included theme park flourishes such as the Scenic Railway, an early roller coaster that included themed dioramas past which passengers rode, and an elaborate nighttime show that included simulated burning buildings and other effects. Although Disneyland is generally acknowledged as the model for modern day theme parks, there are parks that preceded it that could also be called theme parks—or at least theme park-like.
For example, there were parks with holiday themes, such as the circa three years before Disney opened his park Santa's Village in New Hampshire. It is still delighting families today with its compelling Christmas theme.
Water parks figure into the debate as well. Could they be considered theme parks? Often, water parks will feature a single theme, such as pirates, hurricanes, or the Caribbean. Their themes might influence the landscaping, background music, names of slides, and other elements. But the rides themselves typically don't attempt to tell any stories.
That is changing, however, as some water parks add dark ride features to their attractions. The uphill water coaster takes riders into a dragon's lair and past a fire-breathing dragon projected onto a water screen. Universal's creative team, which has pioneered rides such as Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts , is using sophisticated storytelling techniques at Universal Orlando's water park, Volcano Bay.
There are no federal guidelines or industry standards to determine what distinguishes an amusement park from a theme park. And there are plenty of parks that straddle the line. In general, however, if its attractions attempt to tell stories and are part of larger, unified themes, it's a theme park. If it is mostly a mishmash of rides and its primary goal is to deliver thrills, it's probably an amusement park. Actively scan device characteristics for identification.
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In most states, it is necessary to obtain an amusement park license. Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate an amusement park business. Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide.
To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses. To avoid liability and potential lawsuits, amusement parks should have their clients sign waivers. Recommended: Rocket Lawyer makes it easy to create a professional release of liability form for your amusement park when you sign up for their premium membership. An amusement park is generally run out of a large outdoor space though they can be indoors. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy CO.
A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met. Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks.
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A large-scale, sit-down, indoor show On a hot summer vacation day, sometimes you just want to sit in a dark, air-conditioned theater for a while. Great theme parks know this and make plenty of these shows available. A playground And at other times, the kids are sick of standing and sitting and just need to run around for a while.
Great theme parks create unique, engaging environments for kids to do it. Sunburns and other heat-related maladies. Let us wait in the shade, for goodness' sake. Shortcuts across the park Whether it's via a well-landscaped path or a scenic train, boat, or skyway ride, great parks let us get from Point A to Point D without having to walk around the perimeter of the park.
Table-service restaurants Again, sitting and chilling is the key to keeping visitors from getting tired, overheated, and cranky during their let's face it expensive day in the parks. Not everyone wants a sit-down lunch or dinner, but great parks give us those options. Easy-to-order allergen-free food options We love the way that Disney and other top parks bring out chefs to consult with people about food allergies when they order their meals.
But great parks also make a wide variety allergen-free food available on a grab-and-go basis, too. Non-fried, low-carb, vegetable-containing food options Yes, a day in the park is a special indulgence. But not everyone equates having a good time with fatty, sugar-laden food. Great parks allow us a wide variety of taste options - beyond fried, fatty and sweet.
A unique, signature food item From Disney's Mickey ice cream bars to Universal's Butterbeer, great theme parks offer your palate something it can't find anywhere else. Family bathrooms, plus changing tables in ALL bathrooms When it's that time, parents don't want the hassle of navigating a restroom that makes it difficult for their children to, well, do their business.
Kiddie toilets And for kids who are toilet training, automatic "grown-up" toilets are a horror. But kid-sized toilets are a dream. Free, accurate wait-time app or webpage Everyone understands that popular attractions are going to have a wait. But great parks communicate well with their visitors, allowing fans to know what's happening throughout the park, so we can plan accordingly.
Free, usable Wifi in the park A wait time app or website is of no use if we can't access it. We've paid enough to get into the park - we shouldn't have to pay for data on a swamped mobile network to get that information, either. Great parks have great wifi. Free, accessible electrical sockets And great parks give us places to recharge our mobile phones - for free - so that we can get our money's worth and spend the whole day in the parks, without having to go outside to recharge.
Park-branded and attraction-branded merchandise Fans can be a park's best marketing force. So why not give us a slew of park- and attraction-branded shirts and souvenirs for us to take home and promote the park to others?
And, yes, we're talking to you here, Islands of Adventure! Well-trained, experienced, and empowered employees If there's a common theme here, it's that great theme parks provide great service that accommodates the needs of their visitors. Doing that ultimately requires a great team. But companies need to pay, train, and support their employees to the point where they can stick around and develop the experience necessary to provide world-class service.
Minimum wage jobs with high-turnover, and bosses who treat employees as a commodity, don't make a theme park great.
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