Spotlights
Amusement Park Director, Theme Park General Manager, Park Operations Manager, Guest Experience Manager, Entertainment Director, Sales and Marketing Director, Park Events Manager
Theme Parks are a favorite destination for vacationing families, tourists – and anyone who just wants a break from their daily routine!
Guests expect these sprawling parks to be safe, fun, family-friendly, and well-organized. That’s why parks need experienced Theme Park Directors to oversee everything.
Safety is paramount, so directors must verify that attractions and facilities meet strict safety standards. Staying on top of trends is another key duty, which requires researching and incorporating new technologies and entertainment options. Directors also handle budgets and ensure their parks are profitable enough to stay in business.
Theme Park Directors don’t do it all alone, though. They work with teams including marketing, maintenance, and guest services to keep things on track.
The role demands meticulous planning and coordination skills along with strong leadership and management capabilities. It’s a demanding job – and very few park visitors ever realize the hard work that goes on behind the scenes!
- Helping create fun memories for guests
- Leading teams to deliver outstanding park experiences
- Making a positive impact in the entertainment and tourism industry
- Potential for international job opportunities
Working Schedule
Theme Park Directors work full-time and should be available on weekends, holidays, and during peak seasons. They may spend a lot of time walking around to physically monitor park conditions.
Typical Duties
- Oversee daily park operations
- Develop and enforce safety and efficiency policies
- Ensure compliance with applicable health, food, and safety regulations
- Coordinate special events, activities, and programs
- Supervisor staff recruitment, training, and management
- Oversee budgets, track expenditures, report earnings and losses, and maintain financial records
- Ensure all attractions meet health and safety regulations
- Liaison with affiliated restaurants and lodging facilities to develop cohesive marketing strategies
- Address and resolve guest complaints promptly and professionally. Review feedback and consider areas for improvement
- Oversee cleaning and maintenance schedules for rides, facilities, dining areas, and other guest and employee areas
- Evaluate programs and services to improve performance and guest satisfaction
- Work with marketing teams on campaigns to attract customers.
Consider special discounts, package deals, or other promotional offers - Research entertainment trends and technologies like virtual reality. Solicit and develop ideas for new attractions and events
- Collaborate with data analytics and user experience teams to come up with more personalized visitor experiences
- Ensure mobile app and technology features work seamlessly as guests navigate through the park or make purchases
- Partner with intellectual property (IP) rights holders to launch attractions based on popular fictional characters or environments
- Collaborate with artists, writers, designers, and engineers to create immersive experiences
- Hire musicians, actors, and other entertainers to attend or perform at special events
Additional Responsibilities
- Meet with stakeholders to review financial objectives and targets
- Build relationships with vendors and sponsors
- Work closely with public relations teams to ensure a positive image for the park
- Participate in community events and outreach programs
- Ensure the park complies with local, state, and federal laws and regulations
- Incorporate sustainable practices and improve conservation efforts
- Use crowd management programs to improve efficiency and reduce wait times
- Explore competitor offerings to see what is popular
- Propose new ideas for products or services that could boost revenue, including dining menu options or merchandising lines
Soft Skills
- Active listening
- Adaptability
- Attention to detail
- Budget-conscious
- Business acumen
- Calm under pressure
- Compliance mindset
- Conflict resolution
- Customer service orientation
- Excellent communication skills
- Integrity
- Interpersonal skills
- Leadership and management
- Motivated
- Multitasking
- Organizational skills
- Patience
- Problem-solving
- Project management
- Strategic thinking
- Teamwork
- Time management
Technical Skills
- Asset management
- Bookings and reservations systems
- Budgeting and financial management (including software such as Oracle NetSuite or SAP Financial Management)
- Contract negotiation and vendor management
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software
- Data analysis and performance metrics (IBM Cognos Analytics, SAS Business Intelligence)
- Energy management and sustainability
- Event planning
- Facility management
- Health and safety regulations
- Human resources management, including training and development
- Knowledge of local, state, and federal building codes and regulations (ADA compliance, fire safety standards,
environmental regulations, etc.) - Marketing and promotion strategies
- Negotiation skills
- Operational management (and programs like IBM Maximo or Workday)
- Performance analysis
- Project management (Asana, Smartsheet)
- Risk assessment and emergency preparedness
- Scheduling and coordinating logistics and deliveries
- Smart building operations
- Amusement parks
- Entertainment complexes
- Recreation centers
- Resort-based parks
- Theme parks
- Water parks
Theme Park Directors are responsible for ensuring safe, enjoyable experiences for visitors…and profitability for stakeholders. The role requires multitasking, attention to detail, and the ability to work under pressure.
Work hours can often run long, especially during peak seasons or when there’s a complex problem to fix. Directors should be ready to address critical issues at any time, especially when safety is concerned.
Theme parks are a multimillion-dollar business (with top parks like Disney and Universal bringing in over a billion dollars a year). But parks, and their directors, must adapt to changing economic conditions, adjusting strategies when visitor numbers are down. This involves keeping up with industry trends and technological changes to maintain the park’s competitive edge.
Though they must juggle a thousand duties each day, Theme Park Directors enjoy the satisfaction of keeping so many visitors engaged and entertained. In addition, they may receive very good salaries, bonuses, and other benefits.
Theme parks are big business, “valued at $74.2 billion in 2023,” according to Global Market Insights. That amount will likely grow in the coming years, as parks continue to find new ways to attract visitors. That’s why companies like Disney invest millions of dollars to constantly engineer (or in Disney’s case, to “imagineer”) bigger, better attractions.
Film-related attractions continue to draw massive crowds, such as Avatar: Flights of Passage, Jurassic World: The Ride, Star Tours, and Transformers: The Ride 3D, just to name a few! Technologies like virtual reality, augmented reality, and AI are also helping theme parks evolve to offer more engaging experiences than ever before.
Other popular tech features include touchless payment options, digital queuing, navigation apps, and more. Additionally, parks are incorporating more unique dining experiences and special events to appeal to a broader range of guests. Sustainability also continues to be a hot trend, with many parks adopting eco-friendly practices to reduce their environmental impact.
Growing up, future Theme Park Directors were probably very organized and good at leading teams or managing projects. They might have loved theme parks themselves or been otherwise interested in the hospitality and tourism industries.
- Theme Park Directors usually need years of relevant work experience within the entertainment or hospitality industry
- They may start in entry-level positions in marketing or guest relations, and work their way up over time (similar to the career path of Ken Potrock, current President of Disneyland Resort which includes Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park)
- In addition to significant work experience, Theme Park Directors typically need at least a bachelor's degree in business administration, hospitality management, recreation and park administration, or a related field – ideally with a Theme Park and Attraction Management Track
- Many programs are approved by the Council On Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT)
- Relevant college courses might include:
- Business management
- Event management
- Financial management
- Food and beverage management
- Hospitality and tourism management
- Human resources management
- Marketing and promotion
- Safety and risk management
- Sustainable hospitality
- A Master of Business Administration or other advanced degree may be needed for some positions
- Certifications may be helpful, as well, such as the National Recreation and Park Association’s Certified Park and Recreation
Professional or the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions’ Certified Attractions Professional - Learning a second language could also be very beneficial
- If you major in hospitality management, look for programs with some type of Theme Park and Attraction Management track or specialized theme park-related courses.
- Also look for programs offering practical experiences, like internships with theme parks or resorts.
- Consider program costs, financial aid availability, and any connections with industry partners that could lead to employment opportunities.
- Think about your schedule and flexibility when deciding whether to enroll in an on-campus, online, or hybrid program. Ideally, you’ll want as much hands-on experience as you can get.
- Check out the program’s faculty accomplishments to see what experience they have in the field.
- Examine the school’s facilities and the equipment and software students train on.
- Review job placement stats and details about the program’s alumni network.
- Look for schools with a chapter of the Eta Sigma Delta Honor Society for hospitality students.
- Take high school courses in business, marketing, hospitality management, and event planning
- Enroll in advanced placement (AP) or dual enrollment courses for business and management
- Develop communication skills by joining a speech or debate team
- Volunteer for events (like fundraisers or festivals) to get experience in event coordination, crowd management, and logistics
- Join student organizations like Future Business Leaders of America
- Seek part-time jobs or internships in customer service or at local amusement parks
- Participate in hospitality or tourism workshops, webinars, or online courses through Coursera, Udemy, or other platforms
- Read books, articles, and blogs about theme parks and industry trends. Some good resources to review may include:
- Attractions Magazine
- Blooloop
- IAAPA Research
- Mordor Intelligence
- Peek Pro
- ROLLER Software
- Theme Park Insider
- Theme Park Magazine
- Themrise
- Shadow or interview professionals working in theme parks to gain insights
- Visit local amusement parks. Observe how different departments function
- Develop financial planning skills by managing budgets for school clubs
- Take leadership roles to build management experience and enhance organizational skills
- Start a blog, podcast, YouTube channel, or social media page focused on theme parks!
- Attend career fairs and industry events to grow your network and learn about career paths
- Explore entry-level positions, such as park operations associate or guest services representative, to build foundational experience
- You’ll want to live close enough to a theme park that you can easily commute to work. Check out the National Amusement Park Historical Association’s list of parks for website links and information
- Expect to start out in a junior role and work your way up through a combination of relevant job experience and academic qualifications
- Review job postings on portals like Indeed and Glassdoor. Upload your resume and sign up for new job alerts
- Keep an eye out for internship opportunities or even apprenticeships
- Ask your school’s career counselor or service center for help preparing resumes
- Write your resume to highlight relevant education, certifications, internships, and skills. Make sure to avoid any spelling or grammar mistakes
- Notice the keywords in job postings, and try to work them into your resume. Keywords might include:
- Budgeting and Financial Management
- Customer Service
- Emergency Preparedness
- Event Management
- Facility Operations
- Food and Beverage Management
- Health and Safety Compliance
- Hospitality Management
- Human Resource Management
- Vendor Management
- Review common interview questions related to the job you are applying for, and practice your replies in mock interviews
- Before going to interviews, catch up on theme park trends and be familiar with industry terminology
- Research the hiring organization to learn about their attractions, typical guests, and current challenges they may face
- Dress professionally for interview success!
- Theme Park Directors are already in pretty high positions, but there could still be higher roles within the company or corporation
- Express your interest in career advancement to your supervisor. Ask if there are specific professional development classes, certifications, or degrees they’d like you to complete
- Consider earning a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). It could qualify you for higher management positions
- Do your best to ensure the park under your management is safe, profitable, and keeps guests happy
- Offer exciting and feasible ideas for new attractions, services, and merchandise
- Research competitors and new technologies to stay ahead of the curve
- Provide outstanding customer service. Treat all guests and visitors with dignity and respect, and pay attention to customer reviews and feedback
- Seek feedback from supervisors and colleagues to identify areas for improvement
- Demonstrate reliability and establish a reputation as a competent, innovative manager
- Take care of staff and inspire them to do their best
- Read industry news in publications like Attractions Magazine
- Be active within professional organizations like the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions
- If necessary, consider relocating or applying to a larger establishment
- Talk with peers within the same company or corporation, who might be managing affiliated parks in other geographic areas
Websites
- American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration
- American Amusement Park Museum
- American Coaster Enthusiasts
- Amusement Industry Manufacturers and Suppliers
- Amusement Today
- Association for Challenge Course Technology
- Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education
- Attractions Magazine
- Blooloop
- Event Service Professionals Association
- Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International
- IAAPA Research
- International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions
- International Association of Fairs & Expos
- International Association of Venue Managers
- International Entertainment Buyers Association
- International Festivals and Events Association
- International Live Events Association
- Mordor Intelligence
- National Amusement Park Historical Association
- National Association of Activity Professionals
- National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials
- National Carousel Association
- National Recreation and Park Association
- National Tour Association
- Outdoor Amusement Business Association
- Outdoor Industry Association
- Peek Pro
- Professional Convention Management Association
- ROLLER Software
- Themed Entertainment Association
- Theme Park Insider
- Theme Park Magazine
- Themrise
Theme Parks
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
- Carowinds
- Cedar Point
- Disneyland Park
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park
- Dollywood
- EPCOT Theme Park
- Hersheypark
- Kings Island
- Knott’s Berry Farm
- Knott’s Soak City Water Park
- LEGOLAND Florida Resort
- SeaWorld Orlando
- Silver Dollar City
- Six Flags Great Adventure
- Six Flags Magic Mountain
- Universal Studios Florida
- Universal’s Islands of Adventure
Books
- Be Our Guest-Revised and Updated Edition: Perfecting the Art of Customer Service, by The Disney Institute
- Theme Park Project Management, by Val Usle
- Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making More Magic Real, by The Imagineers
There are a limited number of theme parks in the United States, and thus a limited number of Theme Park Director job openings.
Many parks only have one primary director – who may keep the job for years – along with associate or assistant directors to help. The competition for these positions can be fierce, making it tough to ultimately land a job at the top.
If you’re curious about other careers that rely on similar skill sets, check out our list below!
- Entertainment Manager
- Event Planner
- Facilities Manager
- Fundraiser
- General and Operations Manager
- Hospitality Consultant
- Lodging Manager
- Marketing Manager
- Sales Manager
- Social and Community Service Manager
- Travel Agent
- Wedding Planner
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