Universal's Volcano Bay, a theme park set to open in Florida at the beginning of summer 2017, will integrate a new wearable gadget called the TapuTapu in order to make the guest experience as smooth as possible. Namely, the TapuTapu wearable will turn the entire park into a line-free experience, allowing guests to reserve places in a virtual queue and play in other areas of the park while they wait.
Guests will receive their TapuTapu wearables when they arrive at Universal's Volcano Bay. The wearables are an integral part of the park's infrastructure, and they are thus available at no extra charge. Beyond making reservations in line for rides, the TapuTapu lets guests access various "tap-to-play experiences," which are special effects throughout the park. These include things like controlling water spurting from whales' blowholes and shooting water cannons at other guests.
Line-Free Amusement Parks
The TapuTapu Wearable Will Make Universal's Volcano Bay More Efficient
Trend Themes
1. Line-free Parks - The TapuTapu wearable allows guests to reserve places in a virtual queue and play in other areas of the park while they wait, creating an opportunity to innovate queue management in amusement parks.
2. Integration of Wearable Gadgets - The integration of wearable technology such as TapuTapu could expand to other amusement parks and tourist attractions, providing opportunities for brands to tap into the growing market for wearable devices.
3. Interactive Experiences - The Tap-to-Play feature offers a range of interactive experiences that can be expanded to create new forms of entertainment and attractions in amusement parks and other public spaces.
Industry Implications
1. Amusement Parks - Amusement parks can integrate wearable technology and virtual queues to enhance overall customer experience and draw larger crowds by providing seamless entertainment.
2. Wearable Technology - Universal's integration of TapuTapu into the Volcano Bay park experience shows the growth opportunity for wearables, and the possibility for other industries to merge wearable technology with leisure and entertainment to increase engagement.
3. Tourism - Integrating technology into tourism and hospitality will continue to be a trend that is amplified Not only tapping into the use of wearables but also virtual reality, and other technologies to improve experiences and remove some of the physical aspects of waiting in line in public spaces.