Creating a sense of discovery

There are lots of wonderful things to say about Phantasialand. The park, not far from the heart of Cologne, is well known for the exquisite scenic detailing of its lands. It is a rare breed among theme parks, one where even the big thrill rides are decorated fancifully. But one of the most wonderful things about that park is how it creates a sense of genuine discovery as you explore.

Exploration

Each of Phantasia’s lands redefine the meaning of immersive environments, by being so ...Awesome. Phantasialand is not a geographically large park, but it sure feels it, with winding pathways that seem forged through the ages and just… Overwhelming scenery, with tall structures detailed from floor to roof. Uncovering attractions you never knew existed along the way, Phantasialand rewards exploration. So much so, that simply crossing the boundary into a new land can be emotive, like a very personal achievement unique to you. Built into the park’s design are cleverly confined viewpoints giving explorers a glimpse into the next world, but with no obvious path to get there. This should be frustrating, but somehow this game the park teaches us from the start, easing us in with the open Berlin themed main street, makes every new journey and accomplishment all the more pleasing.

One particularly brilliant example are a row of small square windows. When you peer through the windows, the dramatic ride Talocan (a Huss Topspin with a row of seats facing forwards and back) flips and spins, confined in a box, fire exploding behind it. You're actually looking in through the ride's backdrop. But how do you get into this room?

Onlookers peer through windows on Talocan's backdrop to watch the spectacular show. Photo by author, 2008.

And from Mexico, as you watch the spectator friendly flume ride Chiapas - whose facade is alive with music (by IMAscore) and rushing water - your eyes are drawn up the shoot to admire the steep finale drop sat amongst rockwork and waterfalls… And past that, you can just about catch a glimpse of the park’s signature roller coaster, Black Mamba. But how do you get there? Your journey leads you over the Mexico bridge, through the huge gateway and it’s as if you stepped into the next level of the game.

Black Mamba is just visible over Mexico's backdrop. Instead of navigating around Chiapas, guests are encouraged through the facade itself. Photo by author, 2014.

 Experiential enhancements

What Phantasialand’s design demonstrates is that alongside the main attractions - the marketable stuff that gets people through the gates - enriching the overall guest experience pays off. It connects the guest to the space by giving them a personal sense of discovery - a meaningful, memorable experience. More than they came for. More than they expected. Value. There are hundreds of ways in which a guest's day can be supplemented. Highly detailed theming and meandering pathways are not the only way, nor are they the answer for every visitor attraction. Animal exhibits, play areas, walkthrough exhibits, interesting shops, restaurants, arcades, gardens, mazes, model villages, shows, animatronics, entertainers… All of these can be used as rewards for discovery, as little extras. Phantasialand just goes the extra mile by including its main attractions in the discovery game.

Whilst we're on the subject of Phantasialand, would you take a look at this...

Photo by Phantasialand.

Their new for 2016 attraction Taron is looking pretty spectacular. The ride hardware, produced by Intamin, is a multi-launching knot of a coaster, dynamically interacting with both itself and the scenery around it. (Rockwork artistry by Universal Rocks.) The park's official blog about the attraction's design is a great read. It is in German, but Google Translate can help you out if you don't speak the language. The thing that really stood out to me is how the coaster itself was designed to operate in temperatures as low as -10°C (that's 14°F), enabling the park to make full use of the ride throughout their winter opening schedule.