Amusement Going Digital: Top 7 Theme Park Tech Secrets Luring Fun Lovers Off the Couch

Going to theme parks is no more what it used to be. To go wild in providing entertainment and get the most expected results, theme park executives are increasingly embracing the latest theme park techs.

FREMONT, CA: Gone are the days when the purpose of entering a theme park was confined to see animatronics moving and speaking. Today, from virtual Harry Potter to magic wrist bands, theme parks shall no longer carry analog experiences; thanks to technology innovations that are changing the entertainment industry drastically over the past few years. Many theme parks now understand the importance of incorporating technology in improving the guest experience. Interactivity is a huge part of what the themed entertainment industry is pursuing quite aggressively. As the demand for the technology-rich interactive environment is increasing day by day, tech giants and startups alike are making significant efforts to meet these demands in real-time. They are incorporating all the best technologies to the theme park environment so that visitors can bag incredible experiences. Here is more to it! 

• VR-AR Infusion 

Today's consumer expects quality, immersive experience when they come to theme parks—whether it is international giants or a smaller regional park. The smartest players are responding to tech innovations offered to them. Reality technologies have a significant role to play here. Theme parks can use Virtual Reality (VR) to overlay on existing rides. The result is a seamless and heightened experience. An ordinary roller coaster with the option to wear a VR headset can enhance the experience. Undoubtedly, it can be argued that VR can create rides that surpass anything offered in the real world.

• Wearable Technology

Theme parks around the world are in dire need to collect and evaluate visitor data and feedbacks. These guest metrics can provide useful insights for making improvements in the park environment. Tech providers have already developed wearable like RFID bracelets that allow guest pay for food business and merchandise, and help park staff even to locate the parents of lost children. This is a real game-changer that can help theme parks a lot in their efforts. If a theme park deploys tags and gateways, lost children could be easily located. This alleviates a massive fear for parents, guardians, and tour leaders.

• Mobile App

Visitors need some sort of strategy to make sure that they are making use of their time effectively. Reducing the time spent waiting in long queues and planning the quickest ways to get between rides are considered vital strategies in getting most values. Printed maps or leaflets provided by the majority of amusement parks which may lose or fail to use effectively. Mobile applications are a perfect solution for this. Mobile apps can also eliminate the long lines and make sure that people are equally distributed by showing the average wait time for each ride and displaying places where there are fewest people. The mobile app makes service deliver optimized and fast by predicting demand more accurately and relocating supply where it is needed. Individual rewards can also be offered for visitors to encourage visiting through the application.

• Location Solutions

From advertising to avalanche detection, tech providers are now offering location solutions for theme parks. The primary advantage of these solutions in theme parks is queue management. Long lines are often the deterring factor that stops visitors paying frequent visits to the park. Location solutions offer more realistic wait times, real-time alerts, and alternate ride suggestions with which theme park management teams can mitigate overcrowding and hence enhance the customer experience. The same navigational advantage could be applied to parking lots to find parking space easily.

• Facial Recognition

Biometric technology is pioneering in the leisure business innovation. Facial recognition enables content created at the theme park to be identified and organized by presenting visitors with their personalized album. If a visitor opts to facial recognition for their visit, they can be identified at multiple content creation points with no physical touchpoints or additional staffing. Consumers are then presented with the opportunity to immediately purchase images and videos along with the option of sharing it instantly on social media platforms in sharing the post-visit experience.

• Theme Park Robots

Despite them having been around for a while, robots are continuing to fascinate people leading to increasingly numerous applications of robotic entertainment in theme parks. From catching the attention of visitors to performing precision and high-risk tasks, they are becoming increasingly crucial for parks. They are an excellent way to keep visitors engaged during the transition between park attractions. Robotic rides are being programmed to provide riders with exhilarating experiences and maintaining high-risk standards. Robotic arms can even sense the movement and reaction of the rider for doing more of what they like. Robotic pets and toys are hitting the market, which can provide a new form of entertainment for kids.

• Self-Service Kiosks

The popularity of self-service technology has increased over the past few years, with industries jumping on board the bandwagon. Wave goodbye to lengthy queues at the park ticket counter or shops with self-service kiosks. Integrating self-service kiosks can give theme parks insights on customer spending on food and other merchandises. Ticketing kiosks make it easy for the visitors to select, purchase, and print tickets for quick entry.

Parks working with a reasonable amount of effort, capital, and the right technology partners are seeing expected results that couple with the budget for cohesive themes, interactive experiences, and return on investment.