Theme Parks Face Tough Tech Investment Choices
Photo Credit: Since Walt Disney World Resort theme parks in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., began their phased reopening July 11, 2020, all guests 2 years of age and older have been required to wear an appropriate face covering at all times, except when eating and drinking while dining. Disney / Matt Stroshane
Skift Take
The pandemic is handing an edge only to those rare theme park operators with cash cushions to invest in new tech.
Disney's Epcot park and Hollywood Studios in Florida reopened their doors to visitors on Thursday, after the company's Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom opened on July 11 in Orlando. The moves symbolized a broader reopening by theme parks in countries worldwide.
The reopenings dovetail with hard decisions. Cash-strapped theme park owners must evaluate which technological investments they can afford and which will deliver the best long-term return.
"It's a tough time right now for any theme park to be thinking about capital investments," said Robert Niles, editor of Theme Park Insider.
"Many chains have had to rush forward development of new apps to support mobile ordering, advance reservations, and other customer service features that they needed to promote safe physical distancing in the parks," Niles said. "But the lack of income over the past several months, coupled with much lower than expected income over the year ahead, will keep most parks from committing to major capita
