by Martin Palicki, publisher
As we put together the final pieces of our ATMOSPHERE issue during the last days of Mardi Gras, I can’t think of any other city or town in the United States that has a more unique and distinctive atmosphere than New Orleans. Certainly some people love the city, while others find it dirty and disrespectful. But everyone agrees that it is certainly unique and enjoys a status no other city in America has.
It is routinely recreated in our beloved amusement parks across the country, even at the first modern theme park, Disneyland.
The city is overflowing with atmosphere. Distinctive foods, the smells that accompany them, certainly the music…even the people that populate New Orleans are a unique group, a study in contrasts: Cajun, Creole; European, American; rural, urban.
Amusement facilities long ago learned to capitalize on the energy and excitement a place with great atmosphere generates. Starting with Disneyland (often referred to as a cleaned-up version of the French Quarter itself ) we look at how a Guest makes the most of a rainy day inside the park, and how parks can make small changes to negate the effects of a dreary day. Also in this issue, we look at Sea World’s Discovery Cove. Though different than your average park, they seem to have learned how to put their guests at ease from the moment they cross over onto their property and carry that feeling of relaxation throughout the day. Addressing the F.E.C. market, we look at one facility that has learned from their mistakes to offer a truly family-oriented atmosphere. Finally, we look at how lighting can affect atmosphere outside the theater walls.
My favorite piece, however, is a travelouge on Mongolia, which includes a visit to the rarely discussed Nairamdal Park in Ulaan Baatar. There, atmosphere takes on a minimalistic approach, reducing the elements of a park to its core pieces.
Of course, there’s other fun stuff in this issue too, including profiles of some companies in our industry that are helping to make our atmosphere more exciting and profitable.
As they say down in the Big Easy, “laissez les bons temps rouler!”
