Built for Fun, Made for Meetings
Author: Chuck Kapelke
November 2009
Features
The West’s theme parks play a dual role
Stand inside the Cocoanut Grove, a conference and event center at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk built in 1907, and it’s hard not to sense the ghosts of groups that have danced across the wooden floors through decades past. With its retractable roof, old brass-rimmed bar, balconies overlooking the stage and sweeping beach views, the hall used to draw the likes of big band-era performers like Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey. Today, the space is used for corporate and social functions of all kinds.A sense of nostalgia is just one reason why dozens of corporate groups come to the Boardwalk each year, from Silicon Valley and beyond. More often they come for beachfront company picnics, with sandcastle contests and volleyball tournaments; team scavenger hunts and carny-game competitions; and, of course, the roller coasters and other thrill rides, as well as classics like mini-golf, ping-pong and laser tag.
“It’s definitely a break from being in your cubicle from day to day,” says Mike Murray, Boardwalk group sales manager for the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. “We get groups of all sizes who come to get away and just play for the day.”
The Santa Cruz Boardwalk is just one of hundreds of theme parks and fun attractions scattered around the American West, all of which provide built-in entertainment for groups. From amusement parks to aquariums, from movie studios to wax museums, the Western states’ theme parks and attractions are a natural fit for business groups who want to hold an out-of-the-box meeting, launch a product, boost morale or just give everyone a day of fun and appreciation.
Best of all for planners, coordinating events at these locations tends to be exceptionally easy. There’s no need to line up themed decorations or activities or hire entertainers, as attendees are happy to run off to the rides as soon as the day is done. All but the smallest destinations have their own on-site food services and, in many cases, live entertainment.
“Nothing generates a crowd and creates excitement for a meeting like a theme park,” says John Robinson, CEO of the California Attractions and Parks Association. “Being at a theme park adds energy to a meeting, and it’s an easy way to keep a family engaged in a safe environment when business is being done.”
Smart Tips
Before diving headlong into your tilt-a-whirled adventure, there are a few important tips to keep in mind. First, reach out to the attraction’s sales team if they have one, someone who can walk you through the venue options, provide promotional materials and, if necessary, set you up on consignment with bundles of tickets to sell to your would-be attendees (and return what you don’t unload). They can also help you set up discounted rooms through their partnerships with area hotels.“Every park has at least some of its business dedicated to events and meetings,” Robinson says. “You’re dealing with professional staffs that entertain people. All the parks can give you a contained environment for your group, so you’re not mingling with the crowds. And the level of sophistication in most cases can be
any level you want.”
If anyone balks that they’ve already been to the attraction that year, tell them how it’s more fun to go with a group, especially when you set them up with various perks. For example, at Silverwood Theme Park, in northern Idaho—the single most visited attraction in the state of Idaho, according to Nancy DiGiammarco, its director of marketing, sales and public relations—groups can pay a little extra for exclusive access to the roller coasters before and after hours. And as more and more attendees are bringing their families along for a mini-vacation these days, you can hire the Garfield character to come around and say “hi” to the kids for as long as you want. Plus, everyone loves “unlimited” when it comes to rides, arcade games and mini-golf.
While theme parks may not always serve up world-class cuisine, no one has high expectations, and the price is usually right. At Castles N’ Coasters, an amusement park in Phoenix, Ariz., groups can get catered meals like a Tex Mex taco bar, grilled chicken or hot dogs and potato salad starting at just $5.40 per person. And some attractions have better food than others: for example, the new Walt Disney Family Museum, opened October 1 in San Francisco’s Presidio, has catering by Wolfgang Puck.
Another tip: if there is a meeting involved, plan it early in the day—and make the business happen quickly, if possible, so people can cut loose to have fun. No one wants to pore over accounting figures while roller coasters race by out the window. Also keep in mind the seasons when planning your meeting: other than southern California, outdoor attractions often are open only between May and October. If you’ve got a winter event, consider an indoor aquarium, museum or other attraction; then again, if you really want the place to yourself (without a buyout), consider the off-season, when most kids are in school. You can also piggyback your event on attractions’ seasonal themes like Holiday Lights or fright-themed activities in October.
Finally, research your attraction online for various insider tips. At websites like Theme Park Insider, readers rate and review theme parks, as well as nearby hotels and restaurants. There are also myriad online communities focused on strategies for getting the most out of the larger parks. For a full list of theme parks, state-by-state, visit themeparkcity.com.
Here’s an overview of some possibilities for your next group event.
Arizona
Tired of swimming pools and golf? Attractions in Arizona are more likely to be open during the winter months than in other regions. But be careful planning an outdoor event during the summer months, when temperatures rise, unless it’s some sort of water park.Enchanted Island: An oasis-themed park in Phoenix, with 7.5 acres of scenic waterways, for up to 10,000 people. Groups can be set up with pedal boats, all-day rides on the historic Encanto Carousel, various thrill rides, a rock climbing wall, face painting and more (enchantedisland.com).
Old Tucson Studios: This 1800s western-themed town has been (and continues to be) used for filming movies. Guests can face off in showdown-style gun fights or venture out on trail rides, chuck-wagon meals or rodeos. There are also amusement park-type rides, gold panning and more. Event venues include an old ranch house, a town square and a hotel and saloon, with enough total space for up to 50,000 guests (oldtuscon.com).
Phoenix Zoo: A nonprofit zoo voted one of the five best for kids, the Phoenix Zoo can host both daytime and evening events in more than 16 unique venues, with names like Forest of Uco and Harmony Farm. Zoos can be made fun with scavenger hunts, behind-the-scene tours, and other fun group options (phoenixzoo.org).
CrackerJax: Located in Scottsdale, this attraction features bumper boats, mini-golf, go-karts, a driving range, batting cages and a new Xtreme Power Jumper, a bungee trampoline on which four people can jump as high as 25 feet (crackerjax.com).
California
California, along with Florida, is the state best known for its theme parks. In addition to the most famous of all, Disneyland (see sidebar), the state is home to countless attractions. Visit the website of CAPA (capalink.org) for a full list of member organizations.Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach: An aqua-themed educational venue focused on the Pacific Ocean, with 32 exhibits such as Shark Lagoon and the Lorikeet Forest aviary. There is a free audio tour for guests and a speakers’ bureau to facilitate group presentations (aquariumofpacific.org).
Belmont Park: A San Diego beachside amusement park with new attractions like the Magical Mystery Mirror Maze and The Vault Laser Maze Challenge. Ride packages can include arcade tokens, pizza, mini-golf, etc. The Wave House venue has multiple restaurants and bars, outdoor kava bars, fire rings, hammocks, “interactive wave-riding” and more (belmontpark.com).
California’s Great America: Located in Santa Clara, a modern amusement park in the heart of Silicon Valley, with countless roller coasters and new attractions like All Wheels Extreme, a high-flying sports stunt show with BMX riders, skaters, gymnasts and other daredevils. Meet in the huge Picnic Pavilion, or in one of the on-site theaters (cagreatamerica.com).
Knotts Berry Farm: A major year-round theme park in Buena Park, not far from Anaheim, with a wide variety of shows and rides, an on-site resort hotel with 20,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, ballrooms and other venues in the park. The company also operates a chain of water parks across the region (knotts.com).
Legoland: While this Carlsbad attraction is focused on an audience between the ages of 2–12, groups with families can gather in a space adjacent to the Sea Life Aquarium. Lego-based team-building activities are an easy choice. New features include a Bob the Builder In 4-D attraction and Dune Raiders, a nearly 30-foot-tall slide. A proposal to build a 254-room Lego-themed hotel was approved by the city’s Planning Commission and heads to the City Council for a vote this month (legoland.com/California).
Monterey Bay Aquarium: A world-class aquarium with striking exhibits and numerous options for groups. Have a meal overlooking the ocean or peering inside a tank of jellyfish or other mysterious creatures. Rent all 200 galleries and exhibits for up to 3,000 people (montereybayaquarium.org).
San Diego Zoo: The world’s most famous zoo (and the more safari-like Wild Animal Park) has a wide range of activities for groups, with event opportunities like a treehouse deck and Zoofari Party Area. The new Harry and Grace Steele Elephant Odyssey will be fresh to those who’ve been there before. A variety of pre-pay ticket options are available (sandiegozoo.org).
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: A beach-front amusement park with historic touches like an old wooden roller coaster and a carousel where you throw a ring in the clown’s mouth, with lots of options for groups. (beachboardwalk.com).
SeaWorld: The famous aquatic wildlife park in San Diego receives thousands of groups each year, who come for Shamu shows, rides and other exhibits. SeaWorld’s national sales teams can set you up with a comprehensive 200-page guide to planning a meeting (seaworld.com).
Six Flags: With two Los Angeles locations and one north of San Francisco, this theme park chain offers modern amusements with private picnic areas outfitted with A/V for presentations, for groups of up to 20,000. A ticket consignment program and meal vouchers make it easy for planners to arrange (sixflags.com).
Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk: Groups can get a taste of the film industry while also racing around on rides like Shrek 4-D and the Simpsons Ride, as well as the famous tram tour. Events can be held on film sets and can include visits from characters, picnic games, private studio tours and more. The neon-lit CityWalk mall area is also open to groups (universalstudioshollywoodevents.com).
Colorado
Between the city of Denver and the many small, visitor-oriented towns around the state, Colorado has a wide range of attractions and theme park-type attractions, from Elitch’s and Lakeside in Denver, to themed restaurants like Casa Bonita and alpine slides in the mountains. Towns not far from Denver include Estes Park, which has mini-golf and a main street full of fun stores; Cripple Creek, which has gold panning and Old-West attractions (as well as modern casinos); and Colorado Springs, home to such attractions as Cave of the Winds, a network of caves with stunning stalactites and stalagmites.Denver Zoo: The Denver Zoo has expanded considerably in recent years and has many outstanding exhibits, as well as a range of venues for groups, including theaters, gardens and attractions like Primate Panorama, which can be rented after-hours. Fun options for groups include scavenger hunts, wildlife shows and train rides, among others (denverzoo.org).
Denver Museum of Nature and Science: Denver’s most famous museum can hold groups of up to 3,500; attendees can mingle among the dinosaur fossils or other exhibits, or can meet outside overlooking a city park. The IMAX and planetarium are always a hit (dmns.org).
Elitch Gardens: A 70-acre theme park adjacent to downtown, within easy striking distance of the convention center, Denver’s Elitch Gardens is a combination theme park/water park with many services for groups. They also have two new shows: “Bob the Builder, Live at Elitch Gardens!” and “Sea Lion Splash” (elitchgardens.com).
Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park: This Glenwood Springs attraction kicks off its 10th season with three new attractions. The additions include a laser tag arena; Speleobox, a spelunking simulator experience; and Colorado’s first 4-D movie theater, which combines a high-definition 3-D film experience with moving seats, bursts of wind and other sensory surprises for the audience (glenwoodcaverns.com).
Hyland Hills Water World: Marking its 30th anniversary this year, Water World, just 15 minutes north of Denver, has over 46 “water adventures,” more than any other park in America. Groups can take advantage of picnic areas, children’s play areas and more. Open May through Labor Day (waterworldcolorado.com).
Hawaii
While Hawaii, of course, has unique built-in fun, like beaches, swimming pools and luaus, a trip to an attraction can be a memorable group activity.Dolphin Quest Hawaii: Located in the Hilton Waikoloa Village, on the Big Island, with choreographed dolphin shows and audience participation. The group-exclusive, in-water encounter programs can accommodate up to 20 per wave; the organization offers multiple waves a day (dolphinquest.org).
Sea Life Park Hawaii: This Oahu attraction offers the chance to interact with sea life and animals, including swimming with dolphins and sea lions, penguin shows, feeding sea turtles, diving with rays and more. The various reefs, lagoons, pools and theaters all can be used for events (sealifeparkhawaii.com).
Wet’n’Wild: Located on the driest and warmest area of Oahu, Wet’n’Wild Hawaii has more than 25 water-themed rides and attractions, as well as mini-golf (hawaii.mywetnwild.com).
Idaho
The Idaho Division of Tourism website has a full list of theme parks and other attractions across the state, ranging from Idaho IceWorld (for ice skating) to Wild Waters, Roaring Springs and other water parks. It also includes a listing of a wide range of fun historic museums, dinner-wagon experiences and other pioneer-style fun spots.Silverwood Theme Park: Located in Athol, near Spokane, Wash. this park has four roller coasters, a 1940s-era carousel, a water park and other attractions. It also has a group pavilion area that can be used for up to 5,000 people. Open May through early October (silverwoodthemepark.com).
Raptor Reef Indoor Water Park: In Hayden, near Coeur d’Alene, this attraction has a wave pool, water slides, miniature golf, go-karts, a bowling alley, a climbing wall and more (3play.com).
Nevada
Of course, Las Vegas, particularly The Strip, could be argued to be the world’s most massive multithemed attraction. In addition to The Strip, the city is chock full of attractions, ranging from Star Trek: The Experience, to rotating exhibitions like “Bodies,” and permanent attractions like Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat.Adventuredome: This huge domed amusement area in Circus Circus has 25 rides and attractions and is connected to the hotel. It includes the Canyon Blaster roller coaster, a rock-climbing wall, an 18-hole miniature golf course, an arcade, clown shows, laser tag and other possibilities, for groups up to 5,000 (adventuredome.com).
Bonnie Springs: A replica of an 1880s mining town, 25 miles from Las Vegas, with attractions like a petting zoo, a miniature train ride and simulated gun fights, among other fun options. Plan an evening event, like a barbecue dinner with a country music band; also has saloons, shops and more (bonniesprings.com).
Stratosphere: The tippy-top of the towering hotel/casino has a little amusement park, with the world’s three highest thrill rides, for those who are bold enough. The Top of the World rotating restaurant has indoor and outdoor observation decks, meeting spaces and private dining rooms (stratospherehotel.com).
Texas
As you’d expect in a state as big as Texas, there’s a wide range of theme parks and attractions. Roller coasters loom large here, as do opportunities for water play.SeaWorld San Antonio: This popular attraction (sister to parks in Orlando and San Diego) features state-of-the-art coasters, marine animal shows—even its own waterpark, the Lost Lagoon. There are three indoor group locations for up to 750 people and, when the park is closed, its Shamu Theater can host up to 3,500 guests for private events. Among team-building opportunities is “11,000 Pounds of Leadership,” featuring, of course, its beluga whales (seaworld.com).
Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa and Convention Center: Set among 242 acres of gardens, this Galveston hotel serves up a unique combo of hotel (428 guest rooms), convention space (100,000 sq. ft.) and attractions such as the Aquarium Pyramid, where sharks, sea turtles and tropical fish swim overhead as you navigate through an underwater tunnel. There’s also an IMAX theater and a paddlewheel boat, among other fun options (moodygardenshotel.com).
Utah
In addition to boundless outdoor recreations within easy reach, Salt Lake City and environs are home to numerous attractions for groups, including Hogle Zoo, which has 42-acres for meetings and after-hours parties; Clark Planetarium, which can be rented for your group to attend IMAX movies; and the Utah Olympic Park, the 2002 Winter Olympics site that now offers bobsled rides, biathlon shoots and “extreme snow rafting.”Thanksgiving Point: A cluster of amusements located outside of Salt Lake City, including golf (the longest course in the state), a children’s discovery garden and the Museum of Ancient Life, which has displays of dinosaurs and thousands of ancient fossils. The area attracts more than 1.2 million visitors every year
(thanksgivingpoint.com).
Lagoon Park: Located in Farmington, this attraction has a fun mix of rides and activities, including roller coasters, a water luge and rides for smaller kids. They also have a “collect and bill” ticket program and all-you-can-eat options to make it easier for groups
(lagoonpark.com).
Disneyland
Of course, there is one theme park that reigns supreme in the American West, drawing nearly 15 million people each year—second only to its sister park in Florida—Disneyland.
The Disneyland Resort comprises two theme parks (the original Disneyland and the more recent California Adventure), three hotels, an “entertainment district” with shops and restaurants, as well as more than 186,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.
Disneyland has a specialized website for meetings (disneylandmeetings.com) that includes information about facilities in each of its themed towers. The meetings team will work with you to get just what you want, from a large, loose visit to the theme parks, to a full-blown conference, to a special trip for VIPs and their families. (VIP options include a stay in the Mickey Mouse Penthouse Suite or a trip to Club 33, a little-known private club above the Pirates of Caribbean ride and the only site in the park that sells alcohol.) California Adventure is also opening a new Vineyard Room for VIP meal functions for up to 125.
“It’s all completely customizable; just let us know what your group is envisioning,” says Paul M. Garcia, public relations manager for Disney Worldwide Sales & Travel Operations, for the Asia Pacific Region. “We recently had an organization that used an Indiana Jones theme for a sales seminar. For their finale, they hosted a private event in the Indiana Jones area of the park, and the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland was open exclusively for them.”
The resort is currently undergoing a “reimagination” across its 969 rooms to be completed by 2012, including expansion of the luxury-oriented Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, which will soon have 200 more rooms and a new pool, a rooftop deck for viewing fireworks and more. There will also be new event venues and activities such as the 12-acre Cars Land and, opening in 2010, a new World of Color show, a 25-minute “visual symphony” with images projected on a 40-foot curtain of water.
For something educational, the Disney Institute takes groups behind the scenes at Disneyland to learn about the practices and philosophies of Walt Disney and the company he spawned. “It allows businesses to learn about the business behind the magic,” Garcia says. “We share the Disney insights that organizations can use in their own practice, and learn about the systematic approach we take that showcases the efficiency of the attractions.”
Disneyland is accessible by four different airports: LAX, Long Beach, Ontario and John Wayne in Santa Ana. The Disneyland Resort Express can shuttle hotel guests from the airports for between $15-$30, depending on your airport. “There’s no need to rent a car once you’re in the heart of the magic,” Garcia says.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
ESPN Zone (Anaheim, Las Vegas)
espnzone.com
Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City
hilton.com
Strike Holdings (Orange County, Cupertino)
bowlmor.com
Chuck Kapelke is a freelancer writer based in Northern California and our View from Vegas columnist.
