Friday, November 23, 2018
Legends 2018: How can theme parks bridge cultural differences?
www.themeparkinsider.com: With rising nationalism dividing countries around the world, how can theme park designers and operators make everyone feel welcomed and understood, so that they keep coming to their parks?
Industry leader Bob Rogers posed that as the top question in this year's Legends panel at the IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando. Joining him on the panel were IAAPA Hall of Fame member Roland Mack, from Germany's Europa Park, and Universal Studios Beijing President Tom Mehrmann, who previously ran Ocean Park in Hong Kong.
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Robert Niles’ Article “Legends 2018: How can theme parks bridge cultural differences?” opened my eyes to what theme parks can do beyond entertainment. I loved how he brought up first, how relevant this is now, showing why this question is important enough to bring up anyway. He brings us the question “With rising nationalism dividing countries around the world, how can theme park designers and operators make everyone feel welcomed and understood, so that they keep coming to their parks?” When your a creator in any form of entertainment, it is important to keep in mind the power you have as someone who has the attention of a mass group of people. In the article he features how people in the Industry, namely Disney, from all over the globe want to satisfy fun-seekers without cultural differences getting in the way. I'm glad this is being discussed seriously. He brought up Epcot, which could be an example of trying to think about cultural differences, but has offended people by incorrect and offensive representations. I think epcot is a step in a direction, but im glad to here they plan to go farther.
I really do think that there is a interesting place for amusement and theme parks when it come to the notion of trying to provide a more united world. I say this because with the different themes attractions at various parks such as that which is at Disney Magic Kingdom with Epcot and the taste of the world set up. While these types of attractions can be very much playing into some stereotypes there is also a sense that sometimes see other countries or the atmosphere of a area if you can’t perfectly mimic everything is still kinda useful I think. It can kinda get you out of your own head and into a space that may be unfamiliar to you which can help you try and see the world through different eyes than you normally do. Besides these points I’d be hard pressed to find people who don’t like theme parks.
This is a interesting perspective that I had never though of before. But I actually agree with it. It's true that amusement and theme parks do draw such an eclectic group of people from across the world. Especially parks that celebrate and bring in various cultures such as Epcot and even universal. I think that as others have mentioned there is a delicate balance of representing nations without playing into stereotypes or racism. But there is such an opportunity here for those who run and build theme parks to create environments that appeal to people from all over the world. I hope that theme and amusement parks across the world can focus on creating diverse and inclusive experiences for all kinds of people.
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