The Magic of Theme Parks

Theme parks have always been more than just a fun escape for me, they're a complete sensory experience. From the tingle of anticipation before a roller coaster launch to the rush of wind on my face, even the long queues become part of the adventure. As a thrill-seeker, amusement parks have long been my favorite destinations for excitement and joy. This summer, I had an outstanding time visiting Universal’s Islands of Adventure, the newly opened Epic Universe, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida. It was the highlight of my summer, and I came away with no regrets. As a game developer, I appreciate the distinction between amusement parks and theme parks, and I deeply connect with the creativity and immersive design behind these attractions. They reflect the very vision I strive to bring into my own work.

If you want the adventure and electrifying sensation of rides, amusement parks are your thing, but, if you want to be transported into a different universe, you want to feel magical, along with enjoying rides, then I think theme parks are your vibe. I have realised I am a both types of person, the inner level designer in me is awed by the fact how amazingly the park layout guides the visitors and the adventurer in me pulls me towards the big, twist roller coasters. I remember our level design professor showing us an old GDC(game developer conference) video, wherein the speaker explains how well Disney has incorporated level design principals in their park layout to effortlessly guide the visitors without them needing a map or feeling lost. 

Visiting 3 theme parks over the span of 5 days is a daunting yet fun task. Our plan was park-rest-park-rest-park, sounds adventurous and yes it totally was! I am amazed with the sheer grandeur of these parks and am still awed by how effortlessly they demonstrate level design principles, it is simply just wow! Let me take you through my journey and what I have witnessed and learnt from them, through the eyes of a game designer. Everything down to even the dustbins are themed, you truly are transported into this new world, letting you relive the moment from your beloved movies and allowing you to meet with your favorite characters.

Starting with Universal’s Islands of Adventure, a dreamland for thrill-seekers and fans alike. Whether you're a Marvel enthusiast, a devoted Potterhead, or a Jurassic Park adventurer, this park is a realm of uncharted imagination, bursting with wonder, excitement, and memorable moments. Even before entering the park, the immersion begins right in the parking lots which are named after iconic Universal movies like Jaws, Kong, and Cat in the Hat. It builds anticipation, pumps up the excitement for what is to follow, like a loading screen before the game begins. The park's circular layout encourages continuous movement with minimal backtracking. Once inside, we arrived at

a central hub with two options: one path led to the Hulk Coaster, and the other toward a kid-friendly area. This gave us the autonomy to choose our own route, to choose how we wanted to experience the park, giving us freedom of movement without restriction. In level design, this kind of player agency is key, allowing exploration without confusion or feeling lost. Rather than forcing directions, the park uses visual cues and layout to guide players subtly. One moment perfectly captured this design philosophy. While walking from Jurassic Park to Hogsmeade, I saw the towering spires of Hogwarts Castle in the distance and shouted, “I want to go there! Come on, walk faster!”. No sign prompted me, it was the environment that pulled me in. That's the power of great level design: using sightlines and iconic landmarks to create curiosity and motivation from within the player. Players should feel like they're discovering the world on their own terms, and not because someone else is forcing you down a specific path. These also act as larger reference points attracting the player’s eyes and giving them a certain sense of direction, without them having to open the map frequently. Another highlight was the queue design. Despite long waits, I never felt bored. The Hulk Coaster queue immersed us in a lab full of gamma experiments. For The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, we waited inside the Daily Bugle, surrounded by newsroom props, curious about how the workers of the bugle spend their time at their desks. My favorite was the VelociCoaster queue. It transported us into the raptor holding pen. The entrance teased us with pictures of the 4 raptors and as we moved further in the queue we could finally see the raptors. The moment I saw those raptors, they looked so real I genuinely felt I was inside Jurassic Park. With Owen Grady’s videos playing and jungle sounds all around, the line blurred between fiction and reality. That’s the kind of immersion level designers strive for not just what players see, but how the world makes them feel. To end an already incredible day, the Hogwarts experience truly stole the show. Walking through the castle’s detailed halls, passing the phoenix statue and entering the headmaster’s office, it felt like a dream. My favorite ride of all was Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. Riding a rollercoaster on a motorbike, weaving through the forest with unexpected drops and sudden turns, it was total bliss. These moments reminded me how powerful spatial storytelling and ride design can be when they blend thrill, immersion, and emotion. As a designer, it’s inspiring to see how carefully crafted environments can leave such lasting impressions and to dream of creating my own someday.

The second park we visited was Disney’s Animal Kingdom, a zoological park with something for everyone. From thrilling rides to gentle attractions for kids, it caters to all age groups. Whether you're a child, teen, adult, or elder, there's an experience waiting for you. This inclusivity is a key takeaway for designers, when a game accommodates different player types, it becomes more inviting attracting a larger audience. This ensures that everyone finds something they can enjoy and connect with, ultimately creating a more welcoming and accessible world for all. This felt like a zoo, more lively and themed. It followed the similar circular layout with the central hub being the iconic “Tree of Life” from Pandora. I rarely used the signposts in Disney, the music guided me across the park. Imagineers don’t just design the rides, they craft the entire journey, including the spaces in between. Every path, bridge, and viewpoint is carefully considered to keep the magic alive even when we’re not on a ride. These transitional areas build atmosphere, anticipation, and immersion. It’s what makes the whole experience feel cohesive and alive. You’re not just waiting for the next thrill, you’re enjoying the walk there. That’s what makes the ticket feel worth it. The walk into the Asia section of this park instantly transported me to Nepal, it was the first kick of excitement that started the day with a pump. The attention to detail here was impeccable, each knock and cranny of this place impersonated the place they tried to replicate. Especially the wait for the Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, the aura they had created with old, used mountaineering gears, utensils and a carefully curated Yeti museum is beyond words. The Maharaja trek transported me back to India, walking through the ruins of an old castle, overtaken by nature allowing tigers to roam freely. Spotting the cute tiger cubs here was the highlight of my day! The Africa section was equally impressive with the lush African savanna where we enjoyed the open-air safari watching giraffes, zebras and cheetahs roaming carefree in their natural habitats. Pandora - The World of Avatar, was the icing on the cake. The sight of the hanging mountains was nothing short of breathtaking, a true marvel of design that instantly transported us straight into the world of the movie. Each sub-land was so vibrant and distinct that you could feel the exact moment you crossed the border, as if stepping from one magical adventure into another, each with its own unique charm and atmosphere. I am reiterating this quintessential aspect, attention to detail and intricate design leaves a lasting impact on players, it’s often these very elements that keep players coming back for more. It’s always the little things that add up to something unforgettable. My favorite ride here was Avatar: Flight of Passage. I've never experienced such a breathtaking and immersive motion simulation in my life. The adventure begins right from the queue, as we walk deep inside the base of the hanging mountain. We ascend through the bioluminescent wonders of Pandora, eventually entering the lab where we’re connected to our Avatars. Finally, we hop onto a Banshee (Ikran) and soar through the skies. I could even feel the Ikran breathing beneath me, thanks to subtle pressure shifts from the ride vehicle that mimicked its living, pulsing body.

We ended our trip with Epic Universe, Universal’s newly opened theme park featuring five distinct epic worlds. There were three I was most excited about: The Isle of Berk, Super Nintendo World, and The Ministry of Magic. All three hold a special place in my heart as I’m a huge fan. Every world in the new Epic Universe was exactly that, epic. It combined the thrill and energy of Universal with the immersive grandeur of Disney, creating something beyond magic: pure wonder. Each entrance felt like a portal, transporting us straight from reality into the world of movies. Starting with Berk, the moment you step in, you’re mesmerized, everything you’ve seen in the films comes to life before your eyes. Don’t even get me started on the rides, they were pure elation. This area was also designed using a circular layout with a giant water feature and Viking tower at the center, giving guests freedom to explore Berk with ease. The highlight here was the Great Viking Hall from the films, transformed into a restaurant, making us feel like true Vikings. The Dark Universe oozed similar immersion, with its gothic design and circular path centered around a spooky well, making it feel like you’re walking through a villain’s town. Moving to the Harry Potter section, I’m speechless. They recreated the streets of Paris from Fantastic Beasts and seamlessly blended in the entrance to the British Ministry of Magic. The way they use the Metrofloo to transport muggles is genius. The moment you step into the green powder tunnel, you’re instantly in the Ministry of Magic on the same day as Dolores Umbridge’s trial. The two-hour wait was bearable only because of the incredible ambience. This - the experience, the satisfaction, the ecstatic look on players’ faces is what we as game designers strive to achieve. Super Nintendo World was on a whole different level. As soon as you enter, you feel like you’ve stepped into an 8-bit game, with vibrant colors and music elevating the atmosphere. You instantly know when you’ve crossed from Mario Land to Donkey Kong Land, the audio placement is so precise that none of it bleeds across zones, but shifts clearly as you move between them. One of my favorite parts were the small interactive elements in the environment - like the POW blocks you could punch to trigger classic game sounds. These little details make the environment talk to you, instead of making it feel like dead space between attractions. Level designers can learn from this, how to make the world feel alive, rather than just filler between missions. One thing I especially appreciated was how meticulously every section was planned, particularly the restaurants. We stopped at a cafe in Super Nintendo World just to feel like mushrooms, and we were not disappointed. The vibe made it feel like we were truly inside a Mushroom Kingdom cafe. This kind of immersion is what games strive for - to pull the player so deep into the world that reality fades. They should eat, live, and sleep inside the game world.

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise — with the right plan and enough willpower, you can hit every major ride in these theme parks. It all comes down to how invested you are. So what are you waiting for? Go experience the enchantment for yourself!