How
to Build a Theme Park
(or Water Park or Themed Resort or . . . .)
Apogee
Attractions Breaks It Down to
15 Steps
1. Owners Vision and Concept
Meeting
Most projects are initiated by someone
who has
an inspired idea often driven by a creative concept, sometimes by
a development need, and other times by financial plans. This is the
starting point. We will meet with you, hopefully near your site,
to understand and discuss your vision. In addition Apogee will help
you review your concept as well as discussing possible options for
enhancing your project plan. At this point it is not necessary to
have all your financing in place but some seed money will be needed
to take the necessary steps,
2. Market Study
and Recommendations
It is very important from the beginning
to understand
your market and the potential of your market in order to know the
proper size for your project as well as to prepare data for the attraction
program and your business plan. Apogee will, together with our economist,
quantitatively ascertain who your market is, how long they will stay,
how big your project should be and what is the competitive environment.
Together we will determine if the concept is marketable and if it
will best serve your objectives.
3. Concept Development and Attraction
Program
In order to be efficient in the use of
the owner's
financial resources Apogee will develop the attraction program, sometimes
called design criteria or the sizing plan. In addition Apogee will develop
the high concept and specific themes for key areas of your project. This
is the time to create and identify some of the key individual concepts
for your attractions and entertainment as well as for themed facilities.
Do you have intellectual property to include or that we need to secure
the rights for? The attraction program in conjunction with the key concepts
will supply the owner as well
as the entire future project team with the projects creative direction
and critical quantitative information such as: needed capacity for attractions,
merchandise, food and beverage, parking, size of support facilities,
staffing levels etc.
4. Master Planning
Now that we have determined
the parameters of
what you will build it needs to be master planned. The master plan
will provide you with the layout and configuration of your project.
You will see how your project and its themes fit together and how
it all works on your site.
5. Business Plan and Financing
Based
on the concepts, the market study, the
attraction program and the master plan you are now in position for
your financial advisor to put together your business plan. Of course,
not all projects will require a formal business plan. Ultimately,
this will depend on how you plan to finance your project and the
requirements of your investors. Now is the time to; get all your
financing in place, complete securing the site, gain planning permission
and any other required governmental approvals.
6. Schematic
Design
This is the stage of design when Apogee
will
create, plan and draw the design skeleton for your project. How
all
the physical elements of your project work physically together
will
be established, in addition all key systems, entertainment, ride
and show will be determined. The facility architect can now, with
confidence, design the buildings for attractions, entertainment,
merchandise, food and beverage. The schematic design phase is also
the time when all of the basic engineering, civil, electrical and
mechanical, for utility service is quantified and prepared. Cost
projections will be further refined in this stage and project adjustments
made accordingly. This is also a good time to build your full marketing
plan.
7.Design Development
After you have approved
the schematic design
Apogee will continue on to detailed design development. All the schematic
designs will now be specifically detailed out. Engineering studies
and design will be complete in this stage. Additional value engineering
is done if needed, subsequently all project elements will be
fixed.
8. Construction Preparation
and Documents
Now that design is complete, approved
and fixed
the actual final documentation for construction will be made. These
documents will specifically provide the detail on how all elements
of the project will be built and fabricated<strong>.
9.
Construction and Show Fabrication
It is now time to take the project
and its elements
out for competitive bid. After bidding, negotiating and contracting,
construction and fabrication will take place.
10. Installation of
Rides and Shows
Once construction is complete
and any
indoor facilities are “dust free” all ride
systems,
show and stage components are installed.
12. Testing and Training
All attractions
now will be tested, cycled and
retested. Training of your projects staff will take place as
well
as rehearsals for entertainment elements and any other show needs.
This is also the time when your interior fixtures, kitchen equipment,
merchandise inventory etc. will be introduced to your project.
When
your entire project is up and working and all elements are functioning
properly you will be asked to give your approval.
13. Soft Opening
Before your new project
is opened to
the media, key government officials and the regular paying
public
we have a “soft opening.” Your entire team
now needs
some real world experience with your project. A special preview
audience will experience the operating project. This audience
is
usually composed of the public who are anxious to see it first
and willing to be patient for your important break in trial period.
This is the last time pre-opening to work out any remaining operating
kinks.
14. Grand Opening
The Grand Opening is
of course the time
for an official ribbon cutting, media coverage, and special
events.
You will want to invite not only the media but all your most
important
investors, government officials, and friends to attend this very
special day.
15. Wrapping Up
An enormous amount of
work has taken place, you
are now in your normal operating mode but there will
still be many
details to finalize. Tasks to complete will probably include
a construction
punch list, operating manuals, etc.
Additional Note: Future Planning
If
you haven’t already done
it now is
the time to plan out future phases, additional attractions
and major
entertainment elements. Long term you will want to keep your
project
just as fresh, exciting and compelling as it was for your
Grand Opening
(c) copyright
2006 Apogee Attractions, Inc.
