www.parkworld-online.com
Park Hoppin’ In association with Park Hoppin’with Susan Storey W
orking in the
amusement park industry, you quickly learn we have our own lingo. It has some made up words, many acronyms, and some familiar words we
use differently from everyone else. For instance, for more people the word season refers to the four times of year when we go through a significant change in the weather: winter, spring, summer, and fall. In our industry, the word season is used differently. For instance, peak season refers to the time when a park is open for daily operation. Pre-season refers to those early in the year weekends that are reserved for park buy-outs, school field trips and other special events. Off-season means everything is closed! (No explanation needed there). Then we get to the shoulder season. When I first began to work at Six Flags Great America, I learned our shoulder season took place on weekends in September and October. The weather was chillier than summer, and some attractions and rides had already been closed for the year. Fall weekends were for die-hard park fans - those willing to come out to ride in sometimes 40-degree F (4 degree C) weather for shorter lines and multiple go-rounds. It was also my favourite time of the operating calendar. We converted the park to and family focused by day with costume contests and trick-or-treating, Fright Fest was terrifying by night Beyond theme parks, holiday celebrations have
morphed into seasons of their own. As our industry as embraced and mastered holiday events, so too
celebrations appeal to the tall and the small! As I prepared for this column, I looked to the
National Retail Federation (NRF) for current data. New this year, the NRF reported that 47% of those the survey included other facts such as most popular kid costume (Spider-Man), adult costume (witch) and pet costume (pumpkin), it did not provide insight into Scary Farm began to plant that seed. Initially a local-centric event, the terrifying event went the extra mile to complete convert the park into a zombie and monster filled fright zone. It quickly became a park tradition, as well as an inspiration for providing terror events in the country. The Frequent Fear pass, for many first timers. As guests emerge from cutesy kid-focused events ready to take on nighttime jump
mark up our calendar with terroriffic plans. We blend family-friendly with scary. Down the street with across is one annual tradition. While I have started to worry
have a ball. This year we built Lego pumpkins and before we left, we took our annual photo standing inside the massive Duplo brick pumpkin. In our first ever photo, Aiden could barely see over the top of it.
decided the perfect place to celebrate a candy- centric holiday was at a candy-focused park. And, because if horror movies taught us anything, we sweet scares trip with family and friends. Our group gathered from three different states and took and trick-or-treating opportunities, so they could zone and its eerie green fog, we closed out the fast. It was scary. It was perfect. Next, we trekked in scale than destination park events, Knoebels activities include pumpkin painting, treat bag decorating and cookie decorating. The team also converts park favourites into spooky shadows boo-tifully fun. We rode multiple times on each. Surrounded by the bright fall leaves and watching families enjoy everything while in costume was a special experience. It perfectly reminded me of amusement park magic.
means breaking down the park and rolling up the proverbial carpets until spring returns. For others, the next holiday season begins. Orange pumpkins will be replaced by fir trees. Skeletons replaced
OCTOBER 2024
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