1. What are the components of an entertainment and leisure venue’s welcoming experience?
A. Reception and customer service
A warm welcome, marked by a smile, politeness and a positive attitude from employees, can immediately put visitors at ease. In addition, an efficient information service is essential. Visitors must have access to clear, precise information on services, opening hours, prices and available activities. Last but not least, personalized assistance, through tailored answers to specific questions and help targeted to visitors’ individual needs, contributes greatly to their satisfaction.
B. Park infrastructure and cleanliness
Clean, well-maintained areas ensure a pleasant environment. Accessibility is also a priority: facilities must be adapted for people with reduced mobility and allow easy access to all areas. In addition, safety must not be neglected: adequate security measures and well-trained staff are essential to ensure visitors’ peace of mind.
C. Ambiance and atmosphere
Appropriate themed decoration creates total immersion and transports visitors into another universe. The use of music, lighting and visual effects helps to enrich the sensory experience. In addition, animations and interactions with the public, such as live shows and performances, energize the environment and captivate visitors.
D. Range and diversity of activities
A wide range of activities cater to the interests of different age groups and tastes. The quality of attractions and equipment must be beyond reproach to guarantee a safe and enjoyable experience. In addition, a rich program of events, including special events, shows and entertainment, regularly attracts new visitors and builds loyalty among regulars.
E. Catering and complementary services
A variety of catering options, from restaurants to cafés and food stalls, should be available to satisfy all tastes and dietary needs. Souvenir stores and boutiques offering local products and items related to the theme of the site add an extra dimension to the visitor experience.
F. Easy access and parking
Clear, informative signage helps visitors find their way around easily. The availability of convenient means of transport enables visitors to reach the site without difficulty. Adequate, well-located and easily accessible parking solutions are essential. Ease of parking is the visitor’s first impression of the park on arrival, and the last on departure.
2. Comparison of 10 European theme parks
| Park name | City | Annual number of visitors | Parking | Price |
| DisneyLand Paris | Marne-la-Vallée | 15 million | 11,200 seats | 30€ |
| Puys du Fou | Epesses | 2.3 million | 11 parking lots | Free |
| Europa-Park | Rust (Germany) | 5.6 million | 5000 seats | 10€ |
| Port Aventura | Salou (Spain) | 5 million | 4 parking lots | 15 at €18 |
| Parc Astérix | Plailly | 2.3 million | 6 parking lots | 20€ |
| Futuroscope | Poitiers | 1.9 million | 3 parking lots | 12€ |
| Walibi | Les Avenières | 1.5 million | 1 parking lot | Free |
| Le Pal | Saint-Pourçain-sur-Besbre | 640,000 thousand | 6 parking lots | Free |
| Nigloland | Dolancourt | 600,000 thousand | 5 parking lots | Free |
| Terra Botanica | Angers | 300,000 thousand | 705 seats | Free |
3. How have leisure parks organized their parking facilities?
A. Parking at Disney: 11,200 spaces
The DisneyLand Paris complex has around 11,200 spaces. The park offers special parking zones for visitors with disabilities, as well as charging stations for electric vehicles. Automated payment via pay stations also makes it easier for visitors to exit without having to go through manual checkouts. Parking costs €30 per day for cars, €25 for motorcycles and €45 for motorhomes. Parking +, located closer to the park entrances, is available at €45 per day. Finally, the park has invested in photovoltaic shading and equipped its parking lot with 80,000 panels.
B. Parking at Puys du Fou: 11 parking lots
The Puy du Fou uses parking agents to direct cars to specific spaces, optimizing the use of space. Parking is entirely free for visitors, adding to the park’s appeal. Where necessary, internal shuttles facilitate the transport of visitors between remote parking areas and the park’s main entrance. Charging stations for electric vehicles are available, mainly in parking lot D. For motorhomes, a service area is available, free of charge during the day and subject to a charge at night.
C. Parking at Europa-Park: 5000 spaces
Europa-Park has a large main parking lot with space for around 5,000 cars. The park also has special parking lots for campers and caravans. In addition, a reserved parking lot offering 20 minutes’ free parking is available, allowing visitors to make quick stops at no extra cost. It’s also important to note that payment of parking fees is possible in advance online, and that it’s necessary to reserve your pitch for campervans and caravans. Pitches for campervans are available in the “Camping Europa-Park” and require prior reservation.
D. Parking at PortAventura: 4 parking lots
PortAventura has developed extensive, well-organized parking lots to handle the large flow of visitors, particularly during the high season. The park uses security guards and video surveillance systems to ensure vehicle safety. In addition, special zones for coaches and motorhomes are available, as well as charging stations for electric cars.
E. Parking at Parc Astérix: 6 parking lots
Parc Astérix employs parking attendants to direct vehicles and optimize space utilization. The park also offers reduced-rate parking packages for visitors staying in the park’s hotels. In addition, shuttle buses are available to transport guests between remote parking areas and the main entrance. This guarantees easy, convenient access for all visitors. The park has also chosen to invest in charging stations. The park offers reserved parking spaces for people with reduced mobility, facilitating their access to the park. A wheelchair loan service is also available, ensuring a comfortable and accessible visit for all.
F. Parking at Futuroscope:
At Futuroscope, parking rates are €12 per day and €6 for the evening. Parking spaces are available for people with reduced mobility, as well as areas for motorhomes with additional services. Shuttle buses run between the parking lots and the main entrance. Visitors staying in the park’s hotels can leave their vehicles in the hotel parking lot free of charge and walk to the park. The park also offers free charging points for electric cars.
G. Parking at Walibi: 1 large parking lot
Walibi Rhône-Alpes has reserved parking spaces for people with reduced mobility, guaranteeing easy access for all visitors. The parking lots are supervised by security guards to ensure the safety of all vehicles. Special parking areas for motorcycles and buses are also available. Last but not least, shuttle buses are available during the summer season to facilitate travel to the park entrance.
H. Parking at Le Pal: 6 parking lots
Le Pal combines an amusement park and a zoo. Some of the parking lots are equipped withshading systems to generate electricity for the park. Electric shuttles are available to transport visitors from remote parking areas to the main entrance. Reserved parking spaces are available for people with reduced mobility, and motorhomes also have dedicated spaces. For motorcycles and buses, special parking areas are provided. And for electric vehicles, 14 recharging points are available.
I. Parking at Nigloland: 5 parking lots
Nigloland offers free parking for its visitors. The park uses surveillance systems to ensure vehicle safety, and charging stations for electric cars are also available. Reserved spaces are available for people with reduced mobility, and special areas are set aside for buses. Campervans can stay overnight for €13. For those who prefer to travel by train, the nearest stations are Vendeuvre-sur-Barse and Bar-sur-Aube, around 10 minutes from the park. The park also encourages car-sharing with BlablaCar, and free, no-reservation shuttles are available to the park.
J. Parking at Terra Botanica: over 700 spaces
Terra Botanica offers free parking, with over 700 spaces available. The park offers a warm welcome to motorhomes in its parking lot, although it does not have a dumping zone. The parking lot is closed outside opening hours. The park is fully accessible to people with reduced mobility. Distances within the park may require accompaniment. Manual wheelchairs are available for hire at the ticket office for €5 per day.
4. Smart parking enhances the visitor experience at entertainment venues and theme parks
A. Visitors’ dissatisfaction with the reception experience
Leisure parks have large, spacious parking lots. Yet park visitors still encounter difficulties when it comes to parking. This impacts on visitor satisfaction and the visitor experience. The poor reception experience and dissatisfaction they experience are expressed in Google and TripAdvisor reviews. Ultimately, it’s the park’s appeal, image and number of visits that are impacted.
B. How does smart parking improve the reception experience?
Smart parking, as deployed by Cocoparks, significantly improves the visitor experience. Cocoparks deploys a complete on-site guidance solution. Through the deployment of dynamic signs and a mobile application, visitors are guided to find a parking space more easily. The impact: visitors’ search time is reduced, and the welcome experience and visitor satisfaction increase.
