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This week, ten at an Orlando-area university will graduate with a Master’s Degree in designing the queues for attractions like those at and . Eight of the graduates have already been hired at theme parks in the Orlando area.
Credit: UCF
(Well, actually, the degree has a slightly more formal name than that.)
The University of has a new designed for designers. But the new Master’s Degree track at the University of isn’t for just any type of designer. It’s designed specifically for those who love attractions–and more importantly, the story behind the attractions.
The Orlando, Florida area is home to a myriad of amusement parks, theme parks, resorts, like , , and Sea World, as well as smaller family entertainment venues that draw tourists from all over the country.
Credit: Universal Studios
The Resort hosts tourists from every part of the United States and from around the globe. ‘s many offerings make the area one of the most popular vacation destinations in the country, and the Resort is one of the most popular family vacation destinations on earth.
After all, it is the Most Magical Place on Earth.
The University of offers more than 220 degree programs, and the newest is perfect for those who love the excitement of theme parks like , EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom and credit the ability to be fully immersed in the story behind the with a big part of that excitement.
The Shaman of Songs at the Na’vi River Journey attraction/Credit: Disney
The University of has begun a new degree track aimed at training “the next generation of designers.” The track is called the Master’s of in Theatre, .
Rather than designing the rides, in the new program learn to design the areas of the before the ride . For example, the program might prepare for work designing an area like the hotel lobby at the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at ‘s Hollywood Studios.
Credit: Disney Parks
Per the University of website:
The Master of in Theatre, track prepares to be the next generation of creative leaders in the . The program teaches the unique creative and production skills, process and concepts utilized to design and produce themed environments such as theme parks, zoos, aquariums, , dining, museums, and exhibitions.
Pulling from the strength and diversity of UCF’s School of and from the direct connection to leaders in the field, this unique program takes advantage of the university’s ideal location in Orlando, the international hub of the .
track graduates will be qualified to work as an art director, show producer, designer, production artist, or creative executive for the production of themed experiences. Many graduates may work directly for theme parks, but others will find employment in exciting and innovative specialty firms producing industry-related items like custom rides, exhibitions, retail, theatrical experiences, effects, events, and museum exhibits, as well as for companies that provide support and services for the .
Credit: UCF.edu
Disney does many things well, but perhaps the thing they do best is telling stories. Storytelling is at the heart of everything Disney does, and nowhere is that more obvious and tangible than in attractions at Disney Parks.
Pre- Guest areas, often called queues at , are important in themed attractions and . Not only do they usually house the queue or the line of Guests waiting to the respective attractions, but they also begin to tell the story of the or ride, setting the story into motion.
“Orlando is the international hub of the . Disney’s Imagineering is coming here. Smaller firms are opening offices. Universal Creative is already here, so thousands of jobs are opening up,” said UCF Professor . “This is where you go. This is why we started the program here at UCF.”
The University of ‘s program is three years in duration.
Student first became fond of as a child when he visited for the very first time. When he enrolled in the program, he had already earned his Bachelor of degree.
“The pandemic impacted the live event industry [at] theme parks,” Zauha said. “We are ready for themed experiences to be the heart of everything we do. Even [in] retail, people want a shopping now. I’m excited to be at the ground floor at UCF of something that I think [will be] common place in the future.”
UCF looks to grow the program to as many as 90 between the two degree tracks offered at the university over the next few years.
Credit: TemporaryTourist
From the University of website:
Founded in 1963 to fuel the region’s talent pipeline and support the growing U.S. space program, UCF is built to make a better future for our and society. It’s one of the reasons U.S. News & World Report ranks UCF among the nation’s top 20 most innovative colleges, while Forbes, Kiplinger and The Princeton Review rank us a best-value university.
As a leading metropolitan research university in Florida, we are driven to do more and be more. We believe success can only happen when we expand opportunity and demand excellence. We believe if there’s a better way, we should do it. We believe innovation comes from the meeting of diverse viewpoints. And when more people unleash their full potential, anything is possible.
