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Smiles. Happiness. Endorphins. Feel good factor. Whatever your teminology, we're all in the leisure industry for one thing - to make people happy.
While rollercoasters may give us a hit of personal success and sugary dounts a sprinkling of joy, we need to move past these rudimentary descriptions to really understand just what makes people happy.
The science
When it comes to the science, we've relied on the super simple description from Integris to talk you through the details.
Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that carry signals from one neuron to another. A neuron is a cell that transmits information to other cells, muscles or glands. These chemicals work together every second of your day to regulate your mood, perception and view on life.
Four main brain chemicals, dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins, all play a role in how you experience happiness.
Dopamine
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter produced by the hypothalamus, a small region of the brain that helps you feel pleasure. It’s an important part in your reward system, meaning the brain releases dopamine when you do things that feel good or pleasurable or when you complete a task. Dopamine also helps with movement and motivation.
Serotonin
Oxytocin
Endorphins
Hacking happy chemicals at theme parks
We all know that in our everyday lives both good diet and exercise stimulates happy chemicals, but what else in a theme park or visitor attraction contributes to the feel good factor?
Let's take a look at what feelings make us feel 'happy' and how we could hack into these by creating amazing themed attractions for our guests.
Playful
Stimulates: dopamine
Other definitions: aroused and cheeky
Types of experiences: splash zones on log flume rides
Content
Stimulates: endorphins
Other definitions: free and joyful
Types of experiences: sandpits with endless possibilities
Interested
Stimulates: dopamine
Other definitions: curious and inquisitive
Types of experiences: Geocaching trails and escape rooms
Proud
Stimulates: serotonin
Other definitions: successful and confident
Types of experiences: individual and team challenges
Accepted
Stimulates: serotonin
Other definitions: respected and valued
Types of experiences: inclusive experiences for all
Powerful
Stimulates: endorphins
Other definitions: courageous and creative
Types of experiences: Making and listening to music
Peaceful
Stimulates: oxytocin
Other definitions: loving and thankful
Types of experiences: quiet areas for reflection
Trusting
Stimulates: oxytocin
Other definitions: sensitive and intimate
Types of experiences: Wellbeing and couple experiences
Other considerations
As soon as a guest buys a ticket for our visitor attractions, they are saying one thing to us, "make me happy". Aside from wine, dark chocolate, meditating and a 20-minute run (all proven to release happy chemicals), theme parks and visitor attractions is the key to the door of happiness. We just need to make sure:
We are delivering happiness in more than one way
We are considering the happiness of all
We are providing happiness in context of our visitor attraction
For theme park operators
What are guests currently feeling throughout your park? Is there enough diversity in your 'happy' rides and experiences? Discover how our guest experience audit can help you find the answers. https://www.katapult.co.uk/guest-experience-audit
For brand and IP owners
For ride manufacters
For themed resort and hotel owners
For museum and heritage attractions
Bring the feel good factor
We're delighted to bring happiness to over 95 million guests every single year, across 26 different countries. Our team are on-hand to see how we can help you bring the feel good factor to your existing visitor attraction, or, new visitor attraction concept. Speak to us today to find out more.
