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Park Hoppin’ In association with Park Hoppin’with Susan Storey T
he New Year is almost here,
and December is always filled with decorations, gatherings, food and more. Our calendar is filling up with social, work and family obligations
along with our mini “holiday bucket list” which includes holiday-themed places and special events we want to visit. December also inspires a look back of sorts: where did we go, what did we do? My social channels and LinkedIn feed are filled
with descriptions from friends and colleagues who share their lists of miles travelled, parks visited, rides taken and so much more. Each post shows the innovation, passion and global optimism shared by those who work in an industry that exists to make others happy. While this year my travel numbers aren’t as far and broad as many others, I thought it would be fun to use numbers as the inspiration for this month’s column. I am highlighting three individual numbers that impacted my year. As Maria sang in “The Sound of Music” we’ll start with one. This year I had the chance to visit one new
theme park. And it wasn’t just new to me – it was new to all of us. The best way to describe Universal’s Epic Universe is in the name, and I’m not referring to the word epic. It is a universe of fun. Each land transports guests to an entirely new park experience. Storytelling, design, technology – all of it is alive and breathing in each world. Congratulations to everyone at Universal and to the countless industry suppliers and vendors who played a role in bringing the vision to life. Visiting this one park as part of my work will remain a career highlight for many years to come. Next, I’m going to leap to the number 300, and
I don’t mean the Gerard Butler film. For several years Una DeBoer, Marah Rodriguez, Emily Popovich, and I have coordinated networking mixers for women during industry events. Our premise is simple: come as you are. These events are free to attendees. We do not seek or have sponsors. We invite women to attend, bring a friend or two, and spend some time surrounded by goodwill and fun. Last month’s event took place on the Monday night of IAAPA Expo and began at 10 p.m. Caitlin Maloney, a first-time attendee, joked that hosting an event that started so late on the first night of the busy Expo week was a big, “flex.” Well, flex we did; 300 women from every corner of the industry attended. It was amazing. From intern to seasoned executive and every other role in between, women gathered under the fluorescent glow of Pointe Orlando’s Shark Bar for
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more than three hours. Conversations seamlessly shifted between professional moves, personal updates, career advice, introductions and most importantly, connection. It was my favourite night of the week, and happily I heard this sentiment echoed by others. Each time we plan one of these events, we worry a little about attendance. When an event is free, it makes it easier for someone to make a last-minute decision not to attend, and sometimes it’s hard to get a host venue to understand they’ll make money that night even without a guarantee or monetary deposit. “Trust us,” we tell them. Then, as the event looms closer we begin to overthink too, sometimes forgetting to trust in ourselves. However, like Shoeless Joe once told Kevin Costner, “If you build it, they will come.” And, wow, come they did. Thank you, Una, Emily and Marah, for building camaraderie and celebrating the women who make up this industry. You champion them, and each other every day of the year. Numbers don’t lie, and when 300 women come together for a little fun, it provides a glimpse into what they can do and accomplish for this industry and the world, together. Ten is my final year-end highlight number and
it too comes from IAAPA Expo. This was my son’s 10th year attending. It is a day he looks forward to all year. He starts to plan what he wants to see and who he hopes to meet months in advance. As he has grown, so has his understanding of the people and the business. He is also becoming his own person, recognized not just as my son but as an enthusiastic young man who loves the industry. While he still allows me to take him around to say hello to a few close friends and colleagues, his favourite time begins when he
takes off on his own, to explore the tradeshow floor and take it all in. This year was particularly special, as he shared some of his floor time with four-year-old Reese Weaver. Reese is industry royalty and legacy rolled up into an adorable mop headed child. His parents are Chris and Lauren (Wood) Weaver of Sally Darks Rides. As the third generation of Sally, he will hopefully one day be part of his family’s company. This year though, he was a sweet little boy who turned to my tall teen to help him capture floating balls in a wild ball tube and to ride amusement rides with. Magic happened there. Both kids are growing up in this industry, and they are having a ton of fun as they do it. Aiden was Reese’s age when I first began to bring him to IAAPA Expo. It left a lasting impact. Months after his first experience, one day as we drove past the Orange County Convention Center, he asked me why we never went back to, “The big arcade.” At first, I didn’t know what he meant, until I realized he thought IAAPA Expo was a daily thing. (Imagine!) Now, with ten years of attending under his belt, he gets his own registration badge – thank you, Skyline Attractions – and sets his own agenda as he explores his potential place in this amazing industry. So, there we have it: one, ten, 300. Maybe I should try those numbers with the lottery. Happy New Year!
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