A date with Mickey Mouse - Orlando Study Trip 2013
Just imagine – a trip to central Florida, visiting all the major theme parks – as part of your university education! Eleven MU students had the opportunity to visit the Sunshine State from the 14th-20th of February.
The enrichment course Study Tour – Theme Park and Attraction Managementled by Prof. Dagmar Lund-Durlacher, gave the students first-hand experience of the theme park and attraction industry through site visits to Orlando’s famed tourist destinations.
Their busy schedule included two Disney theme parks, Magic Kingdom and Epcot Centre, as well as the Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral, Universal Studios, SeaWorld (where they were privy to a behind the scenes tour), and even had a bit of free time to frolic in the Florida surf.
It wasn’t all just fun and games – they also received theoretical background information on the concepts behind theme parks as well as architecture and design of theme parks and attractions. Before boarding the plane westward, students were prepped at the Latest Trends series in December by Dr. Ady Milman of MU partner the University of Central Florida in Orlando who discussed “Trends in the Theme Park and Attraction Industry”.
Leaving behind sno
wy Austria, their study trip began at with a tour of the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida, where Dr. Milman was once again on hand to show them around and lecture on ‘‘ The Concept of Theming, Architecture and Design’’.
Learning the 'rocket science' of tourism at Cape Canaveral
For the mixed group of international students, it was also a chance to explore the customs and cultural differences of Florida and the US during an experiential learning experience of a major foreign tourism destination. They learned what attractions define a major tourism destination, why tourist attractions make a destination unique, and to identify the characteristics of the international theme park industry.
3rd semester BBA student Gloria Wiederin was positively dazzled by the trip, "I had a magical time in Orlando, wonderful memories and I learned a lot! The rides were awesoooome!!!”
Megan Walendy, a Fall Semester 2012 Irish/Australian exchange student from the University of Victoria, Melbourne joined the study trip before heading back down under, "I had a memorable experience that enabled me to really analyze and appreciate the industry of theme park attractions. The rides were also great fun!"
All smiles at the Magic Kingdom
Photos courtesty of Megan Walendy and Alif Siddique
