Can waiting in line for a roller coaster be... enjoyable?

You’ve seen it all too often: a busy weekend, crowds pouring in, and your operations stretched to the limit. Lines at the entrance, cloakroom, ticket booth, food court... Your team’s giving their all, but someone’s still frustrated. After all, it was supposed to be fun – not a lesson in patience.

Global theme parks are investing heavily in digital automation – apps, virtual queues, self-service kiosks. But that doesn’t mean smaller, seasonal, or regional parks are left behind. These solutions aren’t as expensive or complex as they used to be – and they’re getting easier to scale down.

Technology doesn’t have to be a mystery or a revolution.
It can be a practical tool to help you:

• reduce queues,

• lighten the load on your staff,

• and deliver an experience that brings guests back – and gets them to recommend you.

What’s changed?

The pandemic was a turning point – for guests and operators alike.

Guests now expect convenience, hygiene, and digital simplicity. But operators also want more control over guest flow, service points, and operations.

This isn’t a passing trend. It’s the new baseline in the attractions industry.

Today’s visitors want:

• less physical contact,

• shorter wait times,

• more control over their visit,

• better time management,

• and access to everything – tickets, rides, food – from their phone.

From ticket booths to kiosks – a quiet revolution in guest service

Theme park service points have undergone a transformation.
Instead of physical ticket queues – self-service kiosks and mobile tickets.
Instead of manually counting guests – occupancy monitoring systems.
Instead of paper maps – interactive navigation in mobile apps.

In Western Europe, the US, and Japan, this is already the expected standard. Why?

Because it:

• minimizes physical contact,

• eliminates lines,

• speeds up entry to attractions.
  
  
  

In Poland, this shift is gaining traction – and GoKidz in Krakow is one of the pioneers.

GoKidz implemented a modern self-service kiosk designed and delivered by oakfusion.
Guests now can:

• purchase tickets on their own,

• top up their play cards,

• choose packages – all without staff assistance.
  
  

It’s not just convenient – it’s a tangible operational saving and a smoother guest flow, especially during peak hours.

Guests have changed. Parks need to evolve too.

First, the guest evolved. People who’ve spent years buying everything through their phones won’t happily return to physical lines and printed tickets.

Their new standard of service? Amazon-level simplicity, Uber-like control, banking-app convenience.

A theme park can’t afford to ignore this shift.

Guests now expect:

• instant access and minimal friction,

• autonomy over time and activity choices,

• a sense of safety and modernity.

Technology doesn’t replace people – it allows you to be more human where it counts. Automation eases the pressure on staff and reduces chaos. And when the chaos is gone, the experience feels personal.

Automation in guest service

– a strategy, not a trend

Some operators still see innovation as a cost.
But forward-thinking businesses know that digital transformation in the attractions industry delivers real ROI.

Key benefits:

👉 fewer errors,
👉 less reliance on staff for routine tasks,
👉 better data and crowd flow management,
👉 more control over the end-to-end guest journey.

The challenge? One-time visits

Most parks struggle with repeat attendance. Guests often come once and don’t return. So what can you do?

Offer a mobile app with a built-in loyalty system:

• reward time spent in the park,

• gamify engagement,

• tailor communication.

Real-life examples to watch

• Europa-Park – online-only tickets, reservation and navigation via app.

• Disneyland – end-to-end guest experience powered by mobile app.

• GoKidz (Poland) – self-service kiosk delivered by oakfusion.

• Energylandia (Poland) – mobile food ordering app, disinfection drones, contactless thermal screening.

What this means for other parks

The industry is standing at a crossroads. As a park operator, you have two options:

1. Adopt digital tools simply because your competitors have them.

2. Design a guest experience tailored to your park’s identity – and implement the right tech at your own pace.

This isn’t just for the Disneys of the world.
Digital guest experience platforms, kiosks, and mobile apps can be delivered in months – not years.
Just like we did for GoKidz. Their kiosk project was fully launched in just six months.

Got an idea for your park?

Whether you’re thinking about:

• a mobile app,

• a queue management system,

• ticketing kiosks,

• or full-service guest automation...

We’re a software house that understands the attractions industry from the inside. We design solutions that make guests happier – and operations smarter.

👉 Let’s talk about your idea – from MVP to full integration without disrupting your existing systems.
👉 Schedule a quick call or see how we help others like you.

Sources

Amusement Today, “COVID-19, consumers make contactless payment permanent trend,” https://amusementtoday.com/covid-19-consumers-make-contactless-payment-permanent-trend/ [accessed 04.04.2025].

Amusement Today, “Special Digital Edition: COVID-19 Impact on the Amusement Industry,” https://amusementtoday.com/issues/2020/covid/ [accessed 04.04.2025].

Blooloop, “AR | Augmented Reality in visitor attractions,” https://blooloop.com/ar/ [accessed 04.04.2025].

Blooloop, “Virtual queues | the impact on the theme park experience,” https://blooloop.com/theme-park/opinion/virtual-queues-impact/ [accessed 04.04.2025].

Droplabs, “Online ticket sales system for tourist attractions,” https://droplabs.pl/ [accessed 04.04.2025].

My Company Polska, “VR and AR technologies – will Polish companies join the global elite?”, https://mycompanypolska.pl/artykul/technologie-vr-i-ar-polskie-firmy-znajda-sie-w-swiatowej-czolowce/9483 [accessed 04.04.2025].

Vending Times, “How self-service kiosks improve the family entertainment centers guest experience,” https://www.vendingtimes.com/blogs/how-self-service-kiosks-improve-the-family-entertainment-centers-guest-experience/ [accessed 04.04.2025].

Vending Times, “The Future of Consumer Self-Service,” https://www.vendingtimes.com/blogs/the-future-of-consumer-self-service-2/ [accessed 04.04.2025].

Wadowice24.pl, “Energylandia chce się otworzyć. Specjalna grupa do dezynfekcji, drony oczyszczą powietrze,” https://www.wadowice24.pl/magazyn/13667-energylandia-chce-sie-otworzyc-specjalna-grupa-do-dezynfekcji-drony-oczyszcza-powietrze.html [accessed 04.04.2025].