About the Book

Anyone working in a theme park, museum, zoo or any other leisure environment is involved daily in creating
experiences. Yet now that everyone uses the term, clarity is needed. This book provides precisely that: a concrete,
applicable framework that unravels the concept of experience and distils it to its essence.

You’ll learn:

  • the different forms and levels of experience
  • the ingredients of a theme park experience
  • insights helping you create layered, meaningful experiences

It includes:

  • a practical checklist
  • numerous international theme park examples
  • two bonus chapters on strengthening experiences through effective marketing

Not working in the leisure sector? You will still find plenty of inspiration. After all, any organisation that interacts
with customers can benefit from a well‑designed experience — one that evokes emotion, creates lasting memories,
and encourages people to return.

- Hard cover 
- 360 pages 
- Foreword by Roland Mack (Europa-Park)
- Release: November 2026

Table of contents

  • About the Author
  • Introduction
  • Foreword by Roland Mack

1. A Journey Through the History of Theme Parks
2. Experience Explained
3. The Visitor Experience Checklist
4. Towards a Lived Experience (and Back Again)
5. The Theme Park Experience Model (TPEX)
6. Pre-experience
7. Travelling to and Entering an Extraordinary World
   Design Technique: Pastness
8. Landscaping
   Design Technique: Scale Manipulation
9. Attractions and Rides
   Design Technique: Directed Viewing
10. Music and Sound
   Design Technique: Disorientation
11. Entertainment
   Design Technique: Contrast
12. Merchandise and Retail
13. Food and Beverages
   Design Technique: Colours
14. Employees
15. Departure and Return Journey
16. Post-Experience
17. Marketing Communication Tactics
18. Other Marketing Tools

  • Afterword
  • Bibliography