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Park News
www.parkworld-online.com
Morey’s history
ParkBloggin’
is ‘A Wild Ride’
by Dennis Speigel
Forty years ago, a man walked on the moon for
the first time. Woodstock celebrated three days of
peace, love, and rock `n roll and small steps
Visibile Management
were taken to build an amusement empire in the
There are many things that contribute to the success of a leisure
Wildwoods, New Jersey. That was the year that
attraction – design, marketing, maintenance, safety, finance, food,
Wilbert and Bill Morey launched a giant slide
beverage and retail. However, the most important factor in making
on the boardwalk, initiating a family venture
sure all of these items function at peak is visible management.
that grew to include three piers and two waterparks with over 100
Management of a leisure attraction needs to be seen by both
rides and attractions.
guests and employees. Ask any major theme park manager worth
The rise of Morey’s Piers is chronicled in a new book, A Wild Ride, a ride
their salt and they will tell you they log many miles circulating
so wild it’s available with a choice of two covers! "The book celebrates our
through the park on a daily basis. If they don’t, they should.
past, present and future, and identifies the key planners, architects, associates
This visible presence is important because it reinforces an
and artists who have contributed to our last 40 years," says the Piers’
attitude of professionalism and oversight to both guests and
executive vice-president Jack Morey.
employees. Managing a major attraction, for a general manager,
Jack Morey is being modest. A Wild Ride is the best book about the
is comparable to being the mayor of a city. The guests are the
amusement industry to appear in more than a decade. It's a must-have
citizens and within the leisure attraction you have fire, safety,
addition to any park enthusiast's or industry observer's library.
security, restaurants and, in certain cases, lodging and all other
The book’s author, Jack Wright, is less modest. He describes the book as
ancillary supporting entities to make the function property.
“a thrilling story of high risks, big ideas, large monsters, and a HUGE
Not only is it important to see and be seen, but it is important to
amount of fun!” Notes Wright, “Running the business of an amusement park
know your employee base. When senior
is a lot like spending a day at an amusement park. Sometimes you’ll be
managers walk through a park and
breathless, other times you’ll feel like your stomach is in your throat and your
speak to their employees on a name by
heart is in your mouth. It won’t be boring, that’s for sure.”
name basis, it builds a stronger
A celebration of Morey’s Piers, the book
management-employee base which is
doubles as a research and development project,
“
Some
companies
translated directly to the guests, thus
would kill to
because it provides a full chapter of insight into
initiating better customer service.
the elements that will take the amusement park
When you boil it all down, the
come face to
into the future. Change, it is concluded, is the
attractions business is simply people
face with
only constant in this business – Paul Ruben.
serving people. Some companies would
kill to come face to face on a daily basis
consumers
A Wild Ride weighs in at 192 pages and is priced
at $19.95. Copies are available in person at the
with their consumer base! For a park
the way park
Morey's Store on Mariner's Landing Pier or from
manager to interact with their guests, all
they have to do is go out to the
managers
lindsey.young@moreyspiers.com
turnstiles in the morning and greet them.
interact with
When I was starting in this industry, it
was commonplace for all management,
their
Blackpool Horror Beach!
from supervisory level upwards, to dress
guests
in shirts, ties and nametags. I remember
Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach amusement park rounded off its season guests reacting positively. This dress
recently in gruesome style when it hosted the Circus of Horrors’ new helped identify management to both employees and the guests
show Last Days in the Asylum. when they needed assistance.
”
Continuing the park’s rich live entertainment tradition, the show Through the years, attractions have become more casual and,
introduced guests to sinister 19th Century sideshow owner Dr Haze quite frankly, it is difficult in a number of systems to differentiate
and his creepy cast of lunatics. The show senior management from seasonal employees. Again, this is
presented some of the world’s greatest, difficult for both the employees and guests.
most grotesque and daring circus acts, Casual dress for management breeds casual work for all
presented with a unique rock ‘n’ roll spirit. employees. I challenge you to consider escalating your
Last Days in the Asylum is an amazing management’s visibility through more professional attire – and let
amalgamation of some of the world’s me know the impact this has on your organisation. I can assure
most daredevil and bizarre circus acts, you that identifiable, visible management will improve the guest
witchdoctors, voodoo acrobats, a pickled experience and the employee’s performance.
person, bendy bodies, demon dwarfs and
Dennis Speigel is president of International Theme Park Services (ITPS),
blood curdling stunts.
based in Cincinnati, Ohio. ITPS is the industry’s leading, independent
Circus of Horrors – The Last Days in
management/consulting firm, offering services including feasibility analysis,
the Ayslum performed at The Globe
design/masterplanning, pre-opening operational planning, on-site
theatre from October 23 to 31, and is
management, sponsorship & marketing, executive search and business
now on tour across the UK. Tickets were audits.
priced £15 to £22 for Pleasure Beach
guests.
www.interthemepark.com
NOVEMBER 2009
13
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