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Integrating digital displays in a theme park involves using electronic screens to share information that enhances visitors' experiences and helps them enjoy the park’s attractions. To maximize the effectiveness of this technology, it’s important to understand the interests, best practices, and strategies before installation. So, let's begin by exploring the advantages of theme park digital signage.
Benefits of Digital Signage in Theme Parks
Here are the benefits of installing digital displays in theme parks.
1. Enhanced Visitor Experience
Amusement parks are large, and it’s easy for visitors to get lost or need clarification about the locations of attractions. Theme park digital signage system guides visitors through the park by displaying directions, event schedules, and wait times for attractions.
2. Operational Efficiency
Digital screens in theme parks boost operational efficiency by allowing you to update information instantly. You can direct visitor flow by showing information like where to find attractions, restrooms, or dining areas. This reduces congestion in busy areas and keeps traffic moving smoothly, freeing staff to focus on other tasks.
3. Increased Revenue Opportunities
Amusement park digital signage creates more revenue opportunities. For example, using digital screens for advertising, promoting merchandise, or offering special deals can boost sales and increase the park’s profitability. Partnering with local businesses or sponsors to display ads on digital screens generates additional income.
Key Areas to Implement Digital Signage in Theme Parks
Installing a theme park digital display system should be done with careful planning and consideration. The purpose of integrating digital signage in an amusement park is to enhance the visitor experience. Here are the primary locations for digital signage in theme parks:
Entrance and Ticketing Areas
The entrance and the ticketing area are among the top places you may have to install a theme park digital screen. Installing digital signage in this position will assist in displaying ticket prices, park hours, and promotional offers, which will help visitors plan their day right from the start.
Rides and Attractions
Another key place to install theme park digital displays is near rides. Digital screens at this point will show wait times, safety instructions, and ride details, keeping guests informed and reducing confusion.
Food and Beverage Outlets
Installing digital menu boards in food and beverage outlets makes it easier for visitors to view their options and make quicker decisions. Digital screens display high-quality images and videos of menu items, making the food more appealing and increasing the likelihood of impulse purchases.
Gift Shops and Retail Stores
Placing digital signs in gift shops and retail stores helps highlight new merchandise, sales, and limited-edition items. Parks can update and display flash sales or limited-time deals on digital screens. This encourages impulse purchases and increases sales, improving their shopping experience.
Event and Show Venues
Introducing theme park digital signage in the event and show venues updates showtimes, event schedules, and other important information in real-time. Theme park digital screens in this venue help manage crowds by directing people to entrances, exits, and seating areas.
Wayfinding and Information Kiosks
Installing theme park digital signage in wayfinding and information kiosks provides interactive maps and clear directions to visitors. They easily find attractions, restrooms, dining areas, and other key locations. With clear and accessible information on kiosks, staff spend less time answering basic questions and focus on more complex visitor needs.
Parking and Transportation Areas
Having theme park digital displays in transportation areas helps to direct traffic, show parking availability, and provide transportation schedules, improving the overall flow and reducing congestion.
Best Content Strategies for Theme Park Digital Signage
Here are the best content strategies for theme park digital signage:
1. Personalized Content for Visitors
Personalizing content for visitors is one of the best content strategies for theme park digital displays. It requires you to tailor the theme park display system to show content that resonates with different age groups, interests, or even languages. For example, display ride suggestions for families with young kids or promote thrill rides to teenagers.
2. Dynamic Scheduling and Real-Time Updates
Another strategy is to keep your content fresh by automatically updating it at specific intervals. Show morning greetings, midday show reminders, and evening special offers, all scheduled to match the park’s daily flow.
3. Interactive and Gamified Content
An interactive and competitive theme park digital display system is a great way to attract visitors. Offer games, quizzes, or scavenger hunts that visitors can participate in, creating a fun and memorable experience.
4. Seasonal and Thematic Content
Align your content with seasonal events, holidays, or special park themes. Promote holiday-themed attractions or seasonal discounts to keep visitors excited and involved.
5. Multimedia Content
Use a mix of videos, animations, and images to capture attention and convey information effectively. For instance, showcase ride previews, behind-the-scenes clips, or visitor testimonials enhance the park's atmosphere.
Hardware Considerations for Theme Park Digital Signage
Digital Signage hardware includes displays or screens, protective cases that encase the displays, media players, interactive touchscreens, mounts and stands, etc.
Researching leading hardware manufacturers is beneficial, even though some digital display software providers offer hardware.
Note: Selecting the appropriate hardware for digital screens in theme parks is essential to guaranteeing its longevity, visibility, and interaction. Below are some factors to consider before you purchase digital display hardware.
1. Weatherproof and Durable Displays
A durable display with a waterproof enclosure is a great option for theme park digital signage. Because theme parks are outdoor environments, your display must be able to withstand a variety of weather conditions. A weatherproof and durable display should resist rain, wind, dust, cracks, scratches, and other damage.
2. High-brightness and Sunlight-readable Screens
Since theme parks are bustling with activity during the day, guests seeing the information on their screens in direct sunlight will be helpful. Hence, high brightness and sunlight-readable screens are necessary to maintain clear visibility. This will help ensure guests read maps, schedules, or promotional content without issues.
3. Interactive Touchscreens
To engage visitors, consider using interactive touchscreens. Whether finding their way around the park, checking wait times, or discovering more about attractions, interactive displays make information accessible and engaging. This level of interaction adds value to the visitor’s experience, making it more enjoyable and efficient.
4. Network Connectivity and Scalability
If you can work with components that enable reliable network connectivity and are scalable, managing and updating content will be seamless across all displays. Good network connectivity allows you to update content across all displays simultaneously.
Read our Buyer's Guide on selecting Digital Signage Hardware
Integration with Park Management Systems
Integrating theme park digital displays with park management systems allows you to sync real-time data, such as ride wait times, to your digital screens. However, you need to understand how to optimize the process. Below are the top ways to integrate with the park management system.
Centralized Content Management
Use digital signage software to control all theme park display system content. With centralized content management, you can update displays instantly from one location, ensuring consistency and accuracy. This configuration saves time and simplifies content format for promotions, special events, and emergency alerts by eliminating the need for manual screen updates.
Integration with Visitor Apps
Sync theme park digital signage with visitor apps to create a seamless and interactive experience. When your digital screens communicate with mobile apps, visitors receive real-time updates and personalized content directly on their phones. This integration helps visitors navigate the park, find attractions, and access special offers, enhancing their overall experience.
Data Analytics and Insights
Data from a theme park digital display system helps you monitor visitor behavior and enhance content. By analyzing how visitors interact with your screens, you can tailor content to improve engagement and make data-driven decisions that enhance park operations.
Ensuring Accessibility and Inclusivity
Digital displays in theme parks should be accessible to all visitors, regardless of language or ability.
Multilingual Content
Offer content in multiple languages to accommodate all visitors. This guarantees that everyone comprehends crucial information and has a great experience, regardless of language.
Accessibility Features
Incorporate text-to-speech functions to assist visitors with visual impairments. To improve readability for visitors who have vision problems, use high contrast, readable fonts, and visual cues. Ascertain that all interactive components, such as wheelchair-accessible touchscreens, are simple to use.
Case Studies: Successful Digital Signage Implementations in Theme Parks
Disney Parks
Disney Parks’ digital displays enhance visitor experiences through cutting-edge technology. For example, MagicBands and RFID wristbands interact with digital displays to offer recommendations and personalized greetings based on visitor preferences.
At attractions like "Avatar Flight of Passage" at Disney's Animal Kingdom, digital screens entertain guests with themed content and videos while they wait. LED displays on ride signs show wait times in minutes, helping guests plan their day and decide whether to wait in line or explore other attractions.
Universal Studios
Universal Studios integrates a large-format theme park digital signage system to inform guests about showtimes, attraction details, and dining options. The signage includes custom single and double enclosures with pedestals, mobile battery-operated kiosks with 42″ portrait-mode displays, and commercial-grade monitors designed to run 24/7 outdoors.
These high-bright, weatherproof, and durable theme park digital systems ensure visibility and reliability in all conditions. The custom powder coat color on the media players ensures that the displays fit perfectly into the park’s scenery.
Conclusion
A theme park digital signage system enhances the visitor experience. With the right hardware, content strategies, and integration with park systems, digital signs become a powerful tool to engage guests, streamline park operations, and support long-term growth in the entertainment industry.
Ready to enhance your park with digital signage? Book a demo with Look DS today!
