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Santa Susana High School

The Magic Behind Theme Park Design

Senior Project Research Paper

Katie Dizon

AP English 12 - Period 2

Mrs. Pamela Bradley

28 October 2016
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Walt Disney Imagineering is responsible for the creation, design, and

construction of Disney theme parks and attractions worldwide. Each year, it hosts the

Imaginations competition, where college students from around the country complete a

project challenge and compete for money, as well as internships with Imagineering. The

contest consists of a challenge in which students must brainstorm an attraction, create

the visuals for it, and if selected as a finalist, present their idea to current Imagineers.

For my Senior Project, I plan on creating my own mockup entry for the competition.

The idea for my Senior Project came from a book I had read last year called

Dream It! Do It!: My Half-Century Creating Disneys Magic Kingdoms by Marty Sklar,

who created the competition to find the next generation of Imagineers. I wanted to do

this specific project for many reasons. I am passionate about the arts and interested in a

career in entertainment design, so I wanted to see if theme park design was something I

wanted to pursue. I also thought that completing this project would make me stand out

when I apply for college and a job. Because theme park design utilizes all of the

following subjects, I can even use this project to certify in my three emphases at school:

Graphics and Publications, World Languages and Cultures, and Vocal Music.

During my time in high school, I have gained and developed different skills that

have prepared me for my Senior Project. For starters, I am strong with visual arts,

having made many school art projects which students, teachers, and parents have

called overachieving, outstanding, and that go above and beyond. This is because I

have a natural talent for brainstorming ideas and having a vision of what projects should

look like, including how to make them better.

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My Senior Project is a learning stretch compared to projects I have completed in

the past because I have never done nor had the opportunity to do anything like this.

Creating and designing a theme park attraction requires a great deal of planning,

creativity, technical skill, and knowledge of theme parks and attractions, as well as

entertainment design. While my project focuses solely on the design aspect of creating

a theme park attraction, there are still lots of things to think about in the process such as

the type of the ride, the storyline, and the look of the queue. To assist my Senior

Project, I plan on becoming an expert on theme parks by researching the importance of

them and their history, how to design them and their attractions, and who creates them.

Theme parks are three-dimensional fantasy environments inspired by literature,

film, and television. Their purpose is to entertain people, and they come with many

benefits. Theme parks can lower stress since they are a place where people can

escape their worries for the day and have fun, even if it is just for a couple of hours.

They can boost creativity by exposing visitors to new and imaginative worlds. Theme

parks can even give visitors an opportunity to socialize and bond with the people they

came with. Not only that, attendees can burn calories while walking around the park

(Top 10 Health Benefits).

Successful theme parks and attractions are able to immerse their audiences into

worlds of fantasy. The most iconic example of this is Walt Disneys Disneyland, which

pioneered and made significant contributions to the theme park industry. When

designing his theme park, Disney looked for ways to translate two-dimensional

entertainment, such as movies and television, into a three-dimensional and physical

setting that people could experience. As a result of its popularity and success, many
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other movie studios created theme parks that modeled themselves after Disneyland

(Theme Parks).

The masterminds behind this form of entertainment are theme park designers,

whose goal is to create a theme park or an attraction that makes people come back

again and again. There are a multitude of careers within theme park design range from

the creative to the technical. In fact, Walt Disney Imagineering boasts that it has over a

hundred-fifty disciplines that produce its worldwide attractions! Examples of careers

include concept artists who illustrate the look of the attraction, as well as the engineers

and architects who actually build it (Theme Park Design).

Many theme park designers find their calling in this field at an early age. In a

discussion between designers from both Disney and Universal Studios, many of them

recalled that while watching a television show or movie as a child, they had found their

passion. When they became adults, these designers started working themselves up the

ranks. Many were originally theme park employees doing jobs such as operating

attractions, selling tickets, or doing custodial work. This showed companies their

commitment to being a part of the industry and they eventually got hired into the careers

they wanted. One piece of advice that they give to people interested in pursuing a

career in theme park design is to be exposed and skilled in many creative mediums

rather than specialize in only one. Another is to socialize and make connections with

people who are currently in the industry (Brigante, 2010).

The first step in creating a theme park attraction is deciding the type of ride

based on what the park needs or is currently missing, and choosing the theme for it.

This includes coming up with ideas for the rides name, story, color scheme, and
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decorations and props. A budget must then be set that includes the attractions design,

construction, and operational costs. A space must also be located for it, and there is

much to consider when doing so. Not only must one think about the actual space of the

ride, but the surrounding landscaping, crowd flow, and facilities such as restrooms.

Next, the overall layout for the attraction has to be made, which details the rides

duration, safety mechanisms, and engineering needs. After all of this has been planned,

the attraction can finally be built (Mayntz).

One of the most influential theme park designers is Marty Sklar, an Imagineering

Ambassador and Disney Legend, who spent fifty years creating Disneys theme parks.

He was a ghost writer for Walt Disney himself and is the only Imagineer to be present at

the opening of all eleven parks. Having gained insight from his experiences as a theme

park designer, Sklar created a set of rules to follow when designing an attraction, which

he dubbed Mickeys Ten Commandments (Sklar, 2015).

The first commandment is to know who the audience of your attraction will be.

This is important to keep in mind throughout the entire design process because your

audience will determine what the ride will be like.

The second commandment is to wear your guests shoes. In order to see from

the guests perspective, Sklar encourages his fellow theme park designers to

experience their creation the way guests do.

The third commandment is to organize the flow of people and ideas. In other

words, make sure there is a logical sequence in the your stories and the way guests

experience them. The queue plays an important part in this commandment because

they should connect with the storyline and aid the overall experience.
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The fourth commandment is to create a wienie, or a visual magnet that draws

people towards the attraction. For instance, the Sleeping Beauty castle attracts people

into the park.

The fifth commandment states to communicate with visual literacy which includes

color, shape, form, and texture. A successful attraction or theme park must be

extremely detailed to aid the story!

The sixth commandment says to avoid overloads. You do not want to draw your

audiences attention to too many things since they will not know where to look.

The seventh commandment is tell one story at a time. Good stories are clear,

logical, and consistent in the way they are presented. Theme park designers are able to

tell a full-length movie into a three or five minute ride.

The eighth commandment says to avoid contradictions in the story or its details.

It should maintain identity throughout the attraction.

The ninth commandment says that if attractions educate people, it must be done

in a fun way.

The tenth and final commandment states to maintain your attraction so that it can

keep running for a long time (Sklar, 2015).

To summarize the ten commandments, the audience must always be kept in

mind throughout the creating process, as they determine what the ride will be like. In

order to see from the audiences perspective, theme park designers are encouraged to

experience their creation the same way guests do. Successful attractions tell a single

story with a logical sequence and stay consistent throughout. Also, if the attraction

educates people, it should do so in a fun way. Avoid overloading because it draws the
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audiences attention to too many things at once. Lastly, theme park attractions have to

be regularly checked and maintained to keep them running for a long time (Sklar 2015).

I became knowledgeable on theme parks so I could be successful in my Senior

Project. Since I am creating an attraction, I first read the basics of the subject, such as

what theme parks are and what their purpose is. To many around the world, it is more

than simply another form of entertainment. It is a place where imagination, as well as

the hopes and dreams of people, are brought to life. I will use this information in my

project by to remember what my attractions goal is and then design it accordingly

(Theme Parks).

I also had to learn about individuals who design theme parks and attractions

because that is what I will be doing for my project. I found out that there are numerous

careers within theme park design and if I were to actually become one, I would simply

have to find something that I am passionate about to pursue it. I will use this information

in my project because by knowing the many careers in this field, I am able to know what

different jobs are needed and have to be completed in order to produce the attraction

(Brigante, 2010).

Finally, I studied how to design and create a theme park attraction, as well as

how to make it great. There is more to theme park design than simply brainstorming an

idea for an attraction. There are many areas within the creating process that have to be

addressed such as the background story, the visuals, and even the space in which the

attraction will be built and located at. Because I now have a greater understanding of

the magic behind theme park design, I can create my theme park attraction and

complete my Senior Project successfully.

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Works Cited

Brigante, Ricky. Want to be a theme park designer? Disney Imagineer and Universal

creative experts offer advice. Inside the Magic, http://www.insidethemagic.net/

2010/04/want-to-be-a-theme-park-designer-disney-imagineer-and-

universal-creative-experts-offer-advice/. Accessed 13 October 2016.

Mayntz, Melissa. How to Design Amusement Park Rides. lovetoknow,

http://themeparks.lovetoknow.com/How_to_Design_Amusement_Park_Rides.

Accessed 13 October 2016.

Sklar, Marty. One Little Spark!: Mickeys Ten Commandments and the Road to

Imagineering. Disney Editions, 2015.

Theme Parks. FAQs, http://www.faqs.org/childhood/So-Th/Theme-Parks.html.

Accessed 13 October 2016.

Theme Park Design. Design Schools,

http://designschools.com/resources/theme-park-design/. Accessed 13 October

2016.

Top 10 Health Benefits of Visiting Theme Parks. Health Fitness Revolution,

http://www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/top-10-health-benefits-visiting-

theme-parks/. Accessed 13 October 2016.

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Annotated Bibliography

Alton, Elizabeth. Designing Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party. Entertainment

Designer, http://entertainmentdesigner.com/news/theme-park-design-news/

designing-mickeys-very-merry-christmas-party/. Accessed 13 October 2016.

In this article, Elizabeth Alton describes how Imagineers (Disneys theme park

designers) design and create this Christmas event. She discusses the amount of

detail that goes into their work from a visual perspective. Alton also talks about

how every sense is engaged when attendees participate in this event, such as

how the air is filled with the smell of Christmas cookies.

This is a credible source because the organization is dedicated to providing

information regarding entertainment design. The author has written numerous

articles about theme park design. The information is also current as the website

is regularly updated.

Brigante, Ricky. Want to be a theme park designer? Disney Imagineer and Universal

creative experts offer advice. Inside the Magic, http://www.insidethemagic.net/

2010/04/want-to-be-a-theme-park-designer-disney-imagineer-and-

universal-creative-experts-offer-advice/. Accessed 13 October 2016.

In this article, Ricky Brigante recaps a discussion that took place between

designers about working in the theme park industry. He restates the advice given

from the designers on what it is like to work in this industry and how to get your

foot in the door. For instance, one suggestion when choosing a career in theme

park design is to major in or focus on the one thing you are most passionate

about.
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This is a credible source as the author, Ricky Brigante, is the founder of a

website that informs about the entertainment industry. To add to the credibility,

the author now creates themed entertainment. Also, the information comes from

numerous experts (theme park designers) in the field.

Gardner, Dakota. 5 Amazing Storytelling Techniques That Make Disneys Space

Mountain an Unforgettable Experience. Theme Park Tourist,

http://www.themeparktourist.com/features/20140711/19296/five-

amazing-storytelling-techniques-make-space-mountain-unforgettable-exper

This article lists and explains five storytelling techniques that makes this ride

successful. The author states his criteria for a successful attraction as engaging,

interactive, and unforgettable. One of his techniques that makes the Space

Mountain ride great is that its music is carefully and accurately chosen to aid the

riders experience.

This a credible source because the organization provides numerous resources

on information regarding theme parks. It is more opinionated as it is the authors

own perspective and thoughts that drive this article. It was published recently in

the year 2014.

Levine, Arthur. The line starts here: Designing theme park queues. USA Today,

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/theme-parks/2016/07/2

5/theme-park-queues-lines-design/87540278/. Accessed 13 October 2016.

In this article, Arthur Levine discusses the thought process behind designing

theme park queues. He argues that the importance of designing great and

engaging theme park queues is to keep visitors happy while getting them to the
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attraction as soon as possible. He uses two examples of good theme park

queues including Star Tours and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

This is a credible source because the author is a theme park expert who has

been writing for travel features for newspaper and magazines since 1992. The

article was published recently in 2016. The organization, USA Today, is also a

verified source because it is a national daily newspaper.

Mayntz, Melissa. How to Design Amusement Park Rides. lovetoknow,

http://themeparks.lovetoknow.com/How_to_Design_Amusement_Park_Rides.

Accessed 13 October 2016.

In this article, Melissa Mayntz gives step-by-step instructions on what it takes to

create amusement park rides. She also talks about who designs and creates

theme park attractions. For example, Mayntz states that a budget must be made

before starting designs for a new ride.

This is a credible source because author has been a writer and editor for several

years since 2003. She has written numerous topics on tourism and travel. The

organization is also dedicated to providing informational resources on a variety of

topics.

Mayntz, Melissa. Theme Park Rides. lovetoknow,

http://themeparks.lovetoknow.com/Theme_Park_Rides. Accessed 13 October

2016.

In this article, Melissa Mayntz talks about different types of rides found within

amusement parks. She says that there are at least nine types of rides and that

these vary from park to park. For instance, Mayntz describes family rides as
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suitable for all ages and lists examples of this type of ride, such as bumper cars

and Ferris wheels.

This is a credible source because author has been a writer and editor for several

years since 2003. She has written numerous topics on tourism and travel. The

organization is also dedicated to providing informational resources on a variety of

topics.

Naversen, Nate. Help! I want to be a Theme Park Designer. What Do I Do Now?

Themed Attraction, http://www.themedattraction.com/design.htm. Accessed 13

October 2016.

This article gives thirteen guidelines into becoming a theme park designer. It

discusses numerous careers within this industry. This article also lists some

schools that are good for people who are pursuing theme park design.

This is a credible source because author is an expert in the field. Naversen works

with various groups to create world attractions for companies such as Walt

Disney World and Universal Studios. The website has also been running since

1996 and is updated regularly.

Sklar, Marty. One Little Spark!: Mickeys Ten Commandments and the Road to

Imagineering. Disney Editions, 2015.

In his book, Marty Sklar examines the top ten commandments or rules in

creating a hit attraction. For instance, the first commandment says to know your

audience. To support his statements, Sklar uses real life attractions as examples

that successfully followed the rules or did not.

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This is a credible source because the author is a former Imagineering

Ambassador and Disney Legend. Having worked for over fifty years creating

Disneys parks and their attractions, he is an expert in the field of theme park

design. This book was also published recently in the year 2015.

Theme Parks. FAQs, http://www.faqs.org/childhood/So-Th/Theme-Parks.html.

Accessed 13 October 2016.

This article discusses the importance of theme parks as well as the history of

theme parks and how they were created. To support its ideas, the article uses

the example of an actual theme park (Disneyland) that pioneered and made

significant contributions to the industry. It also talks about the theme parks that

have opened since Disneyland left its impact on the world.

This is a credible source because author is part of an organization that answers

questions on a multitude of subjects. The author also gives a bibliography of

sources they used when creating this article. This article was published by The

Gale Group, an organization that publishes educational and reference materials

for schools, libraries, and businesses.

Theme Park Design. Design Schools,

http://designschools.com/resources/theme-park-design/. Accessed 13 October

2016.

This article discusses what theme park designers are and what they do. One of

the statements it makes is that a theme park designers main goal is to create an

attraction that entertains guests and makes them want to visit again and again. It
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also lists schools that are good for students pursuing a career in theme park

design.

This is a credible source because the organization that provides users a variety

of resources for designers or students pursuing design as a career. It includes

information about design programs and schools. The information is current as the

website was updated in 2016.

Top 10 Health Benefits of Visiting Theme Parks. Health Fitness Revolution,

http://www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/top-10-health-benefits-visiting-

theme-parks/. Accessed 13 October 2016.

This article gives and explains the top ten health benefits people get when they

visit theme parks. An obvious benefit is that attendees walk miles around the

park to get to attractions without even realizing it! Another benefit is that visiting

theme parks improves attendees mood by having them escape their worries,

even for a few hours.

This is a credible source because the organization, Health Fitness Revolution,

provides information on a variety of topics pertaining to good health and lifestyle.

The article was published recently in the year 2015. Also, the information

presented is still relevant today.

15 Steps to Build a Theme Park. Apogee Attractions,

http://www.apogeeattractions.com/articles/c_15steps.htm. Accessed 13 October

2016.
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This article lists and describes fifteen steps for building a theme park. It states

that are many areas to think about in the creating process. This includes

planning, business, financing, market studying, design, and construction.

This is a credible source because the author is part of a company specializes in

theme park design, amusement park design, and varieties of themed visitor

attractions. The article is factual as it simply explains the process of creating a

theme park. Even though it was published in 2006, the information is still relevant

to todays standards.