Park Advertising

[Thekingin64]

A question I've been thinking about for ages now this and may seem stupid.

How do parks/companies know fully if advertising/new rides work to bring new customers?
For an example, I'm thinking of going to Portaventura at some point this year but not particulary for Shambala. I just want to go. Same goes with Flamingoland.

 

[rollermonkey]

In park surveys help, plus they track all kinds of statistics throughout the property: Gate, turnstiles, cars into the lot, slices of pizza sold, souvenir cups, complaints and compliments, and about a million more.

It paints a picture for the management what is working, what isn't, etc.

 

[Colossus]

For an example, I'm thinking of going to Portaventura at some point this year but not particulary for Shambala. I just want to go. Same goes with Flamingoland.

That`s probably because you`re part the Theme Park enthusiast community, you therefore know whats there and roughly what to expect, you don`t need advertising to learn about a new ride and you also know that a new attraction isn't necessarily the best ride at the park.

For those that are not enthusiasts and might not know much about one park to the next, and say Portaventura or Thorpe Park advertise their shiny new rides, I think that would persuade a lot of punters for sure.
You always market your newest product.

Edit. Its surely not the same with Flamingoland as they have nothing new to advertise.

 

[Mushroom]

Edit. Its surely not the same with Flamingoland as they have nothing new to advertise.

The had been running a really old advert for a number of years which had Bullet and Magnum. But they put out a new one last year advertising the whole park =]

 

[Lofty]

The answer is simply this;

They don't.

They don't know that the advert for the new ride is simply going to bring people in, but, it will, without fail. It's all determined on the type of Ad they go for, an example being;

Th13teen's Advert. You simply saw the advert, that only promoted the new ride and the park where it's at. So therefore, the ride is promoting the park, the park is bringing the guests in. No guest just goes to a park for one of it's rides. They simply go for the rest of the attractions that's there. So I hope you see what I mean?

 

[rollermonkey]

Am I the only one who says 'yes' to in park surveys?

 

[Hixee]

Am I the only one who says 'yes' to in park surveys?

Yes.

 

[Thekingin64]

I see what you all mean. I thought it might be something to do with surveys and how many people riding them.

CP10, I was thinking to do with their newish coaster I haven't been on yet. Can't remember the name at the moment.

 

[mouse]

Zoooooooooom

 

[rollermonkey]

Yeah, if you take part in those surveys either as you enter or as you're leaving, you can learn a lot about what the park has in mind for the future, as well as what they are interested in at that time.

 

[reddude333]

I imagine advertising in the amusement park industry is much like advertising elsewhere in terms of the main concept. No one ever knows that advertising did anything unless they have surveys as were mentioned earlier. The fact of the matter is that parks pay advertising companies/consultants that know what they are doing when it comes to hyping up a new attraction or just selling the park as a whole. I believe that the main point of advertising rides etc. is to get the word out and start a buzz. Time-tried advertising methods have been reliable enough to pull in the crowds (to whatever it is) for years and I assume they will continue to do so with the addition of newer mediums such as social networking.