They are the No.1 destination for families. Whether they are located in North America, South Korea or Dubai millions of visitors flock to amusement parks each year.
And what a difference a few years can make. Gone are the days when rickety wooden roller coasters took center stage. These days amusement parks are high-tech experiences and guests want to make sure they get their monies worth. (And with admission averaging about $45 per adult it’s not hard to see why.) Modern theme parks make the most of technological advances. For example, the Kingda Ka roller coaster at New Jersey’s Six Flags Great Adventure uses hydraulic launch technologies to reach speeds of 128 miles per hour. Meanwhile, Pooh’s Hunny Hunt ride at Tokyo Disneyland is able to run without tracks because it uses a highly sophisticated local positioning system that was patented especially for the ride.
In Florida, Disney’s Epcot Center has gone high tech by offering the park’s mega-popular two-hour “Around the World on a Segway tour.” The folks at Disney say what started as a novelty for Segway geeks has grown into one of Epcot’s most sought-after attractions. The park now offers four Segway tours each day—-the most popular being the morning excursion that takes place before the gates are opened to the general public.
Obviously, all the latest and greatest tech additions come at a price, which of course, is then passed on to theme park guests like you and me. According to amusement park execs, one of the ways they offset the exorbitant prices associated with rigging their rides with tech toys is to offer V.I.P passes. Disney’s FASTPASS system is legendary and now other theme parks are trying to cash in on the concept.
For instance at Dolly Parton’s Dollywood amusement park in Tennessee, guests who fork over $103 will get a “Gold SuperPass” that gives them unlimited access to rides for one year and a 20 percent discount on all in-park purchases. In Singapore, Escape Theme Park and Wild Wild Wet offers a $250 family package that includes unlimited visits to both parks and a free voucher for two adults and two children. In addition, Six Flags Magic Mountain, located outside of Los Angeles, offers unlimited admission and the privilege of heading straight to the front of the line for just $125 a year.
Most consider V.I.P. programs a win-win proposition. Impatient guests avoid long lines and get to board their favorite thrill ride as many times as they can stomach. Meanwhile, amusement parks make more money off a single guest and obtain a priceless gift as well—-customer loyalty.
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