25 May 2016
One of the biggest logistical headaches for amusement park operators is how to deal with the long queues guests have to endure while they wait to get on popular rides and attractions.

Many operators, such as Six Flags and Universal Studios, have introduced premium or express passes for those willing to pay more, while Disney World in Florida positioned entertainers along queue lines to help make the wait experience seem less arduous.

With Dubai set to unveil a string of theme parks in coming months, the issue of reducing queuing times is one which was highlighted ahead of the second Annual Theme Parks and Entertainment Development Forum, which is being held in the emirate this week.

"Long queues for popular attractions are a problem in many parks. They're bad for the park because people could be passing that time spending money on other theme park products," event organisers said in a white paper issued ahead of the forum.

Some theme parks in the United Arab Emirates are already addressing this issue. Yas Waterworld in Abu Dhabi offers express or VIP passes, while IMG World of Adventures, which opens in Dubai in August this year, has said it had made concerted efforts to integrate the queuing element into the overall experience.

Dubai Parks and Resorts has partnered with telecoms giant Etisalat to create an integrated theme park, which is due to launch in October. The two firms said they planned to use technology such as mobile devices, web portals, radio-frequency identification wristbands, smart kiosks and digital signage to help improve the guest experience.

"From booking tickets, to finding parking spaces, to choosing rides with lower wait times or deciding on the right cuisine to eat, this collaboration will facilitate an unforgettable trip for visitors with few simple clicks on their smart devices," Raed Kajoor Al Nuaimi, CEO, Dubai Parks and Resorts, said in a statement.

While the exact details have not yet been revealed, the company statement billed the attraction as the first 'smart' theme park resort in the UAE.

Theme parks go virtual 

Companies around the world are already taking advantage of modern smartphone technology. Dreamworld in Australia allows guests to use an app to join a virtual queue and receive an alert when their turn is about to start. This allows them to enjoy other areas of the park and spend money.

Peter Rodbro, co-chief executive officer of Entertainment Booking Concepts in Denmark, compared the problem of queues to the airline reservation model, saying that by the end of the decade technology may be able to do away with queues altogether at them parks.

By 2020, guests will be able to book a specific seat on a specific ride at a specific time and it is up to them to make sure they arrive in a timely manner, he told Funworld, the official magazine of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), in late 2015.

© Zawya 2016