Theme Park and Attraction Management

Syllabus

Instructor:	Bill Zanetti	Term:	2021 Spring
Office:	N/A	Class Meeting Days:	Fridays (In Person or Via Zoom)
Office Phone:	N/A	Class Meeting Hours:	4:30pm-5:45pm
Mobile Phone:	407.243.8454	Class Location:	CB1 O307
E-Mail:	bill.zanetti@ucf.edu	Lab Location:	N/A
Website:	billzanetti.com / UCF WebCourses	Class Section:	0M01
Office Hours:	Wed & Fri By Appointment	Class Code:	15744

Course Catalog Description

Prerequisites

Format

Required Materials

Besides the recommended textbook, this course will require the use of the following additional materials and technologies:

• Access to Disney+ (The Imagineering Story), Netflix (The Pixar Story), and YouTube.
• The UCF Here App, available on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
• Zoom (You are required to use Zoom using the Zoom app on your laptop or desktop computer. The mobile version of Zoom is not adequate for this course.)
• You should have a computer running Windows or MacOS in good working order with fast and reliable internet access.
• You should always bring blank paper, a smart phone that runs iOS or Android with internet access, and a writing utensil to class, you never know when you might need it.
• You will also need Microsoft Word for this class, as well as Microsoft PowerPoint. The only alternative I will accept to Microsoft PowerPoint is Apple Keynote.
• When meeting with me, you can meet in person or online. If you want to meet online, you’ll need Zoom or Facetime. Please setup your account prior to the first online meeting with me to ensure a productive conversation.

NOTE: All of these programs are available for free for students, and I have included links to Microsoft Office for Students from UCF. Keynote is available for free through the Apple App Store. You are expected to have the latest versions of all applications. Please note that for any files you turn in, Prezi is strictly forbidden. Google Docs is also NOT accepted.

Visual Paradigm supports University of Central Florida with the use of web based UML software, BPMN software, flowchart software and agile story mapping tools, under the Academic Partnership.

Textbook

There is an excellent recommended (not required) textbook for this course that is written in somewhat of an encyclopedia format. The book is:

Younger, David. (2016). Theme Park Design & The Art of Themed Entertainment.
Inklingwood Press. ISBN: 9780993578915

The book is available in the Rosen College Bookstore in paperback. The hardcover version is available through Amazon.com and other fine theme park book retailers.

Course Accessibility Statement

It is my goal that this class be an accessible and welcoming experience for all students, including those with disabilities that may impact learning in this class. If anyone believes the design of this course poses barriers to effectively participating and/or demonstrating learning in this course, please meet with me (with or without a Student Accessibility Services (SAS) accommodation letter) to discuss reasonable options or adjustments. During our discussion, I may suggest the possibility/necessity of your contacting SAS (Ferrell Commons 185; 407-823-2371; sas@ucf.edu) to talk about academic accommodations. You are welcome to talk to me at any point in the semester about course design concerns, but it is always best if we can talk at least one week prior to the need for any modifications. If SAS grants you an accommodation that is assignment-based (extra time for tests for example), you must send me a WebCourses message every time you wish to have the accommodation applied to the test, and I will make the adjustment within 24 hours of receipt of your message.

Controversial Content

Since we will be studying themed entertainment throughout history and into the digital era, there may be times when some of this material may include foul language, blood & gore, racial stereotypes and sexist overtones. Additionally, in the interest of keeping teaching entertaining and humorous at times, your instructor may make jokes, puns, or otherwise use humor that you may find offensive, stereotypical, or derogatory. You will understand that this is not directed at any one individual, and should not be looked at as anything but teaching with entertainment. 

In-Class Recording Policy

Audio and/or video recording of all or part of a class for personal use is prohibited. Photos without flash are allowed of content such as slides and whiteboard diagrams. Such photographs are only acceptable in the context of personal, private studying and notetaking and are not authorized to be shared with anyone outside the class without the separate written approval of the instructor. Live Photos or photos that include any type of moving image or audio are prohibited. A video of the class meeting will be posted after the class has completed and Zoom has had time to process the file.

Copyright

This course may contain copyright protected materials such as audio or video clips, images, text materials, etc. These items are being used with regard to the Fair Use doctrine in order to enhance the learning environment. Copying, duplicating, downloading or distributing these items is strictly prohibited. The use of these materials is reserved for this online classroom environment and your use only. All copyright materials are credited to the copyright holder.

Grading System Categories    

Quizzes	10%
Participation	10%
Activities	30%
Midterm Exam	20%
Final Exam	30%
Total	100%

Point Grading Scale      

94 – 100 %          A
90 – 93.99 %       A-
87 – 89.99 %       B+
84 – 86.99 %       B
80 – 83.99 %       B-
77 – 79.99 %       C+
70 – 76.99 %       C
< 70 %                  F

Note on grading scale: Rosen College does not allow a passing grade of lower than a "C" in Entertainment Management & Hospitality Management Courses. This grading scale complies with these standards.

Weekly Format and Due Dates

Each Module will open weekly on Tuesday. Treat Monday as your "day-off" from this course. Most assignments will become available on Tuesdays of each week. It is important to attend the lectures, either in-person or via Zoom, as the assignments are based on the lectures. Almost all assignments will be open for at least 5 days, due at 11:59:00 pm on Sunday Evenings. The only exceptions to this rule are the Syllabus Quiz and the Final Exam. Those assignments are due as specified. 

Please be aware that it is NOT recommended to wait until the last minute for assignments. This class sometimes has multiple assignments due each week. Plan accordingly. Presentations are required as described when projects are assigned.

Each module has requirements that must be completed before moving to the next module. These requirements might be as simple as viewing the message from the instructor each week, or submitting assignments. The point is simple though: if you can't access the next module, be sure you've clicked through and submitted all assignments in the previous module. Chances are it will unlock after you do that.

Class is held-in person on select weeks and will also be held via Zoom every week. Attendance is not-mandatory, though it will be taken using UCF Here. It does not constitute any part of your grade. You are expected to attend either via Zoom or in-person every week.

Final Exam Date and Time

The final exam will be administered per UCF policy on the date and time specified by the UCF calendar. There will be no exceptions to this policy.

Makeup Exam & Quiz Policy

Exams and Quizzes (Tests) are important and should not be missed when administered. No make-up opportunity will be available for any assignment, including tests. You will have at minimum a week to complete each test, but there may be more than one test each week. (This means you may start each test anytime during that week, however some tests are timed so you will need to finish it in the time allotted.) Be aware that work must be completed in order, and each module must be completed before moving on to the next module. Because of the nature of this course, it is not possible for you to work ahead beyond the current week’s assignments. In the event that you submit an assignment on-time but in the incorrect format(s), you will receive a 0 on that assignment. At the professor's discretion, an opportunity may be given to you to submit the assignment in the correct format(s), however this is handled on a case-by-case basis and the grade of 0 will remain until the professor has graded the re-submission of the assignment in the correct format.

Deployed Active Duty Military Students

Students who are deployed active duty military and/or National Guard personnel and require accommodation should contact their instructors as soon as possible after the semester begins and/or after they receive notification of deployment to make related arrangements.

Academic Integrity

Students should familiarize themselves with UCF’s Rules of Conduct at http://osc.sdes.ucf.edu/process/roc. According to Section 1, “Academic Misconduct,” students are prohibited from engaging in:

1. Unauthorized assistance: Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids in any academic exercise unless specifically authorized by the instructor of record. The unauthorized possession of examination or course-related material also constitutes cheating.
2. Communication to another through written, visual, electronic, or oral means: The presentation of material which has not been studied or learned, but rather was obtained through someone else’s efforts and used as part of an examination, course assignment, or project.
3. Commercial Use of Academic Material: Selling of course material to another person, student, and/or uploading course material to a third-party vendor without authorization or without the express written permission of the university and the instructor. Course materials include but are not limited to class notes, Instructor’s PowerPoints, course syllabi, tests, quizzes, labs, instruction sheets, homework, study guides, handouts, etc.
4. Falsifying or misrepresenting the student’s own academic work.
5. Plagiarism: Using or appropriating another’s work without any indication of the source, thereby attempting to convey the impression that such work is the student’s own.
6. Multiple Submissions: Submitting the same academic work for credit more than once without the express written permission of the instructor.
7. Helping another violate academic behavior standards.

You are not to discuss any part of this course with another person except fellow students enrolled in the course this semester and the instructors. Violations to this policy will be met with severe penalties.

For more information about Academic Integrity, students may consult The Center for Academic Integrity http://www.academicintegrity.org/icai/assets/FVProject.pdf.

For more information about plagiarism and misuse of sources, see “Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism: The WPA Statement on Best Practices” http://wpacouncil.org/node/9.

Responses to Academic Dishonesty, Plagiarism, or Cheating
Students should also familiarize themselves with the procedures for academic misconduct in UCF’s student handbook, The Golden Rule http://goldenrule.sdes.ucf.edu/docs/goldenrule.pdf. UCF faculty members have a responsibility for students’ education and the value of a UCF degree, and so seek to prevent unethical behavior and when necessary respond to academic misconduct. Penalties can include a failing grade in an assignment or in the course, suspension or expulsion from the university, and/or a “Z Designation” on a student’s official transcript indicating academic dishonesty, where the final grade for this course will be preceded by the letter Z. For more information about the Z Designation, see http://goldenrule.sdes.ucf.edu/zgrade.

Campus Safety Statement

Emergencies on campus are rare, but if one should arise during class, everyone needs to work together. Students should be aware of their surroundings and familiar with some basic safety and security concepts.

• In case of an emergency, dial 911 for assistance.
• Every UCF classroom contains an emergency procedure guide posted on a wall near the door. Students should make a note of the guide’s physical location and review the online version at http://emergency.ucf.edu/emergency_guide.html.
• Students should know the evacuation routes from each of their classrooms and have a plan for finding safety in case of an emergency.
• If there is a medical emergency during class, students may need to access a first-aid kit or AED (Automated External Defibrillator). To learn where those are located, see http://www.ehs.ucf.edu/AEDlocations-UCF (click on link from menu on left).
• To stay informed about emergency situations, students can sign up to receive UCF text alerts by going to https://my.ucf.edu and logging in. Click on “Student Self Service” located on the left side of the screen in the toolbar, scroll down to the blue “Personal Information” heading on the Student Center screen, click on “UCF Alert”, fill out the information, including e-mail address, cell phone number, and cell phone provider, click “Apply” to save the changes, and then click “OK.”
• Students with special needs related to emergency situations should speak with their instructors outside of class.
• To learn about how to manage an active-shooter situation on campus or elsewhere, consider viewing this video https://youtu.be/NIKYajEx4pk.

Campus Safety Statement for Students in Online-Only Courses

Though most emergency situations are primarily relevant to courses that meet in person, such incidents can also impact online students, either when they are on or near campus to participate in other courses or activities or when their course work is affected by off-campus emergencies. The following policies apply to courses in online modalities.

• To stay informed about emergency situations, students can sign up to receive UCF text alerts by going to https://my.ucf.edu and logging in. Click on “Student Self Service” located on the left side of the screen in the toolbar, scroll down to the blue “Personal Information” heading on the Student Center screen, click on “UCF Alert”, fill out the information, including e-mail address, cell phone number, and cell phone provider, click “Apply” to save the changes, and then click “OK.”
• Students with special needs related to emergency situations should speak with their instructors outside of class.

Required Statement Regarding COVID-19

University-Wide Face Covering Policy for Common Spaces and Face-to-Face Classes

To protect members of our community, everyone is required to wear a facial covering inside all common spaces including classrooms (https://policies.ucf.edu/documents/PolicyEmergencyCOVIDReturnPolicy.pdf). Students who choose not to wear facial coverings will be asked to leave the classroom by the instructor. If they refuse to leave the classroom or put on a facial covering, they may be considered disruptive (please see the Golden Rule for student behavior expectations). Faculty have the right to cancel class if the safety and well-being of class members are in jeopardy. Students will be responsible for the material that would have been covered in class as provided by the instructor.

Notifications in Case of Changes to Course Modality

Depending on the course of the pandemic during the semester, the university may make changes to the way classes are offered. If that happens, please look for announcements or messages in Webcourses@UCF or Knights email about changes specific to this course.

COVID-19 and Illness Notification

Students who believe they may have a COVID-19 diagnosis should contact UCF Student Health Services (407-823-2509) so proper contact tracing procedures can take place.

Students should not come to campus if they are ill, are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, have tested positive for COVID, or if anyone living in their residence has tested positive or is sick with COVID-19 symptoms. CDC guidance for COVID-19 symptoms is located here: (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html)

Students should contact their instructor(s) as soon as possible if they miss class for any illness reason to discuss reasonable adjustments that might need to be made. When possible, students should contact their instructor(s) before missing class.

In Case of Faculty Illness

If the instructor falls ill during the semester, there may be changes to this course, including having a backup instructor take over the course. Please look for announcements or mail in Webcourses@UCF or Knights email for any alterations to this course.

Course Accessibility and Disability COVID-19 Supplemental Statement

Accommodations may need to be added or adjusted should this course shift from an on-campus to a remote format. Students with disabilities should speak with their instructor and should contact sas@ucf.edu to discuss specific accommodations for this or other courses.

Course Calendar & Due Dates

The official full course calendar will be found in the modules section of WebCourses. The following abbreviated course calendar provides a list of in-person meeting dates, as well as what topics will be discussed. It is recommended to use the modules section when referring to due dates, as all assignments and readings will be posted on Webcourses in the modules section. Be aware that the instructor reserves the right to change the calendar, assignments, tests, and/or due dates, provided adequate notice is given to the class.

In Person?	Week of:	Topics & Associated Readings
In Person or Zoom	1/15	Course Introduction, Syllabus & Syllabus Quiz “Getting to Know You!” Resume Activity Your Ticket to Know the Industry Professional Writing for Business Pre-test
In Person or Zoom	1/22	The History of the Parks Knott's Holiday World The Idea of Disneyland
Zoom Only	1/29	A Focus on the Design of Disneyland - The First Theme Park
Zoom Only	2/5	Using Disneyland Paris as an Example for: Infrastructure / Location / Seasonality - Design for Capacity The World of Live Entertainment Entertainment Costuming Atmosphere Entertainment - Disneyland After Dark Parades Stage Shows Live Music BGM Controls Techno-tainment Spectaculars Character Costumes
In Person or Zoom	2/12	The Big US Resorts Walt Disney World Universal Orlando Disneyland Resort Casting, not Hiring? / Marketing
Zoom Only	2/19	Money & Tickets The Business Evolution: From Amusement to Theme to Brand Ticket Price Strategies Special Events - A Focus on Epcot and Universal
Zoom Only	2/26	Building Stuff
In Person or Zoom	3/5	Ongoing Revenue Operations Enter Cruise Lines
Zoom Only	3/12	Merchandise & Food and Beverage Queue Theory Attractions & Theming
In Person or Zoom	3/19	How Big Companies Look at the Parks vs Small Companies Meow Wolfing about Location-Based Entertainment
Zoom Only	3/26	Live Entertainment Offerings
Zoom Only	4/2	Marketing and Special Events
In Person or Zoom	4/9	Corporate Culture / Communications / Leadership & Decision Making
N/A	4/16	Spring Break - No Class Lecture
Zoom Only	4/23	Advanced Theme Park Classes at UCF Rosen College Review for Final Exam
Online Only	4/28-5/4	Final Exam Week The final exam is cumulative, including all modules and lectures.