Theme park designers constantly look for new ways to enhance the stories that they tell through their rides and attractions. The layout of the attractions, structures, and activities surrounding them all have a significant impact on the guest experience. This is why it cannot be easy to create a great layout. This guide will provide a detailed look at the best practices and steps to make a theme park layout design a success. Continue reading to learn more about the tools, tips, and examples that you can use to create a theme park layout that will delight your guests like nothing before.
How do you create a theme park layout design?
These attractions are among the most visited in the world. There are many reasons to visit a theme park. But for many, it’s more than the rides. Theme parks are places where you can have an unforgettable experience. The layout of a theme park is just as important as the rides it offers.
These are the steps that teams need to take for their theme park designs to succeed.
Step 1: Host an open meeting
The first step in any development process is usually the initial meeting. After identifying the client’s vision and goals, the plan is then drafted. The specific objectives will vary depending on what attraction is being built. You can then design the park’s appearance and feel for your guests.
Step 2: Perform a feasibility study
Investors review the findings of the first meeting. They assess whether the elements are aligned with the objectives and goals. They determine if the park will be financially viable. They are responsible for approving the next steps. The feasibility study team can be assisted with visual tools like digital design mock-ups, alternate layout drafts, and 3D models to speed up decision-making. These tools are often found in your theme park’s layout design software.
Step 3: Drawing the design
At the design meeting, master planning begins. This stage includes the development of a draft Land-Use Plan, which takes into consideration the recommendations from the feasibility study. You can then create a master plan.
A master plan is an illustration of the functional requirements of a project. You can be sure your theme park will have multiple themed areas, no matter who you are designing for. Each room is unique and has its architecture.
The main attractions and shops are often located at the parks’ edges to attract visitors. This helps increase the park’s capacity and improve crowd flow. A well-designed circulation plan can reduce pedestrian movement and increase guest comfort.
When choosing a ride setup, one of the most important questions you should answer is whether you want to tell a linear or immersive story without being restricted by time or flow.
An event in a linear story is often triggered when the vehicle enters a scene. Many events in an environmental account are triggered when the audience leaves an environment.
A linear story, like Universal’s Spider-Man attraction and Disney’s Haunted Mansion at Disney World, uses scenes that show a moment in the rider’s life.
Specific ride systems work better for telling an environmental or linear story than others. Because they can’t guarantee that a vehicle will arrive or depart at a particular time, attractions that can be better for environmental reports are not as important.
Perspective
When designing a theme park layout, there are two perspectives: first-person and birds-eye perspectives.
The scenes you create in first-person build as guests move through the space. Each storytelling moment can be viewed as a place that guests will visit. This will allow you to build upon your previous experience.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be built around a ride structure. You can create these by altering the temperature or turning a corner to obscure one scene. These transitions and attractions will help you build your story.
It would help if you used 3D modeling and theme park layout design software to get a birds-eye view. It can communicate intent, experiment with different design options, and add or subtract attractions as the park develops.
Social tables are a tool that allows you to create custom spacing for attractions. This includes buffers around waiting for areas and rides, as well as building pads around kiosks. It’s possible to include precise measurements to ensure you don’t have to guess whether your design will work in reality. Safety is paramount in theme park layouts.