Family Entertainment Center
Encyclopedia
A family entertainment center (or centre), often abbreviated FEC in the entertainment industry, is a small amusement park
marketed towards families with small children to teenagers, and often entirely indoors or associated with a larger operation such as a theme park. They usually cater to "sub-regional markets of larger metropolitan areas." FECs are generally small compared to full-scale amusement parks, with fewer attractions, a lower per-person per-hour cost to consumers than a traditional amusement park, and not usually major tourist attractions, but sustained by an area customer base. Many are locally owned and operated, although there are a number of chains and franchises in the field. FECs are sometimes called family amusement centers, family fun centers (a variant possibly coined by Boomers! Parks
of California, branded Boomers! Family Fun Centers until 1991) or simply fun centers. Some non-traditional FECs, called urban entertainment centers (UECs), with more customized and branded attractions and retail outlets, are associated with major entertainment companies and may be tourist destinations. Others, sometimes operated by nonprofit organizations, may be geared toward edutainment
experiences rather than simple amusement. FECs may also be adjuncts to full-scale amusement parks.
s that increasingly developed their in-house amusement features, small-scale amusement parks needing more offerings than just a few rides and midway
games, and diversifying formerly one-attraction venues (water park
s, skate parks, billiard halls, bowling alleys, and so on). All three categories have moved over several decades continually toward stock, popular entertainment solutions supplied by third-party vendors. Among the earliest of the themed restaurants to become known more for family entertainment than food was Chuck E. Cheese's
, a pizza restaurant founded in 1977 in San Jose, California
.
Most FECs have at least five common major or "anchor" attractions, to provide diverse patrons (often in large parties) at least one to two hours of entertainment, to encourage repeat visits, and to reduce time spent waiting for any given attraction.. Some of the more usual attractions include (depending upon size, climate, etc.):
The most common anchor activities are miniature golf, kart racing, arcade and redemption games, and food & beverage, according to industry specialists StoneCreek Partners. FECs rarely use custom-built attractions, because of the costs involved, and instead install off-the-shelf systems provided and maintained by industry equipment vendors.
Any given FEC may lean more towards outdoor activities, arcade gaming, or passive entertainment and dining. Each may cater to different age ranges, all the time, or during certain hours, e.g. children and entire families in the daytime, and teens to young adults in the evening, with specific promotional programs to attract different market segments at different times.
Because most of the attractions are essentially the same from FEC to FEC, two of the most important factors in an particular center distinguishing itself to potential customers are a highly visible location (hard to obtain because other uses for the land are often more competitive), and a consistently developed and promoted theme that appeals to the target market segments, "the fun factor in the overall decor".
Parental concerns are also important. While children themselves rarely think of it, a major factor in the attractiveness of an FEC to parents is on-site safety and security, as adults may drop off older children at such an establishment to entertain themselves. An increasingly important factor for success is high-quality food and drink to attract parental spending as well as whole-family dining.
One common potential business problem is the need for more liability insurance (e.g. against patron injury) than the average business, which may be provided by specialty insurers via entertainment industry associations, This issue most affects FECs with water attractions, mechanical carnival ride
s, and active sports and games such as laser tag.
, NASCAR
, Sega
, Sony
, United Artists/Regal
and Viacom
, have been attached to family entertainment centers, often much less "traditional" than local and chain FECs, with custom-built, unique attractions, usually heavily branded, and most often located in major metropolitan areas. The first such urban entertainment center (UEC) was the Universal CityWalk
in Los Angeles, California
, which opened in 1993, linking several Universal properties. Including various retail outlets, restaurants, and attractions, the CityWalk created a great deal of "sustained buzz" in the retail real estate industry, which began "embracing the notion that Universal Studios, Sony, Disney, and other entertainment companies could create new anchors and entertainment programs for shopping centers". Another significant UEC was the Sony Metreon in San Francisco, California
(1999–2006).
Some nonprofit, educational installations, such as the Exploratorium
in San Francisco, also have aspects of FECs in format and atmosphere, but with activities geared toward learning and experiencing rather than simple entertainment. Some for-profit enterprises also use this model, or mix edutainment
with simpler amusement attractions.
, Hong Kong
, Brussels, Belgium and Mexico City
. The International Laser Tag Association (ILTA) also remains active (and more broadly than its name suggests). ILTA is based in Indianapolis, Indiana
, U.S.
-style spelling conventions in Canadian English
.
American FECs vary wildly in theme, size and features. Some of the larger businesses in this category have included:
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
marketed towards families with small children to teenagers, and often entirely indoors or associated with a larger operation such as a theme park. They usually cater to "sub-regional markets of larger metropolitan areas." FECs are generally small compared to full-scale amusement parks, with fewer attractions, a lower per-person per-hour cost to consumers than a traditional amusement park, and not usually major tourist attractions, but sustained by an area customer base. Many are locally owned and operated, although there are a number of chains and franchises in the field. FECs are sometimes called family amusement centers, family fun centers (a variant possibly coined by Boomers! Parks
Boomers! Parks
Boomers! Parks is a chain of family amusement centers which feature indoor activities including carousels, kiddie swings, restaurants, musical shows and amusement arcades; and outdoor activities including miniature golf, kiddie rides, bumper boats, batting cages, go-karts, kiddie roller coasters,...
of California, branded Boomers! Family Fun Centers until 1991) or simply fun centers. Some non-traditional FECs, called urban entertainment centers (UECs), with more customized and branded attractions and retail outlets, are associated with major entertainment companies and may be tourist destinations. Others, sometimes operated by nonprofit organizations, may be geared toward edutainment
Edutainment
Edutainment is a form of entertainment designed to educate as well as to amuse.-Overview:...
experiences rather than simple amusement. FECs may also be adjuncts to full-scale amusement parks.
History
FECs are essentially a converged outgrowth of theme restaurantTheme restaurant
Theme restaurants are restaurants in which the concept of the restaurant takes priority over everything else, influencing the architecture, food, music, and overall 'feel' of the restaurant...
s that increasingly developed their in-house amusement features, small-scale amusement parks needing more offerings than just a few rides and midway
Midway (fair)
A midway at a fair is the location where amusement rides, entertainment and fast food booths are concentrated....
games, and diversifying formerly one-attraction venues (water park
Water park
A waterpark is an amusement park that features waterplay areas, such as water slides, splash pads, spraygrounds , lazy rivers, or other recreational bathing, swimming, and barefooting environments...
s, skate parks, billiard halls, bowling alleys, and so on). All three categories have moved over several decades continually toward stock, popular entertainment solutions supplied by third-party vendors. Among the earliest of the themed restaurants to become known more for family entertainment than food was Chuck E. Cheese's
Chuck E. Cheese's
Chuck E. Cheese's is a chain of family entertainment centers. Chuck E...
, a pizza restaurant founded in 1977 in San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
.
Attractions
- Amusement/thrill ridesAmusement rideAmusement rides are large mechanical devices that move people to create enjoyment. They are frequently found at amusement parks, traveling carnivals, and funfairs.-Notable types:*Afterburner*Ali Baba*Balloon Race*Booster...
(elevated, but generally small-scale) - Arcade games
- Ball pitBall pitA ball pit is a pit, usually rectangular and padded, filled with small colorful hollow plastic balls...
- Batting cageBatting cageA batting cage is an enclosed cage for baseball players to practice the skill of batting.It is usually made of netting or a chain-link fence and rectangular in shape. A batter stands at one end of the cage, with a pitching machine at the opposing end...
- Bumper boatsBumper boatsBumper boats are an amusement park ride that uses inner tube shaped watercraft that can be steered by the rider. Some are driven by electric motors, some by gasoline engines, and some require the rider to propel the craft by pedaling. Most are equipped with water guns for duels with other riders...
- Food: Snack barSnack barthumb|A snack bar in AmsterdamA snack bar usually refers to an inexpensive food counter that is part of a permanent structure where snack foods and light meals are sold. A beach snack bar is often a small building situated high on the sand. Besides soft drinks, candies and chewing gum, some snack...
and fast foodFast foodFast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
(especially pizzaPizzaPizza is an oven-baked, flat, disc-shaped bread typically topped with a tomato sauce, cheese and various toppings.Originating in Italy, from the Neapolitan cuisine, the dish has become popular in many parts of the world. An establishment that makes and sells pizzas is called a "pizzeria"...
) - Food: Quality family and group dining in theme restaurantTheme restaurantTheme restaurants are restaurants in which the concept of the restaurant takes priority over everything else, influencing the architecture, food, music, and overall 'feel' of the restaurant...
- Kiddie rides (ground-level)
- Kart racingKart racingKart racing or karting is a variant of open-wheel motorsport with small, open, four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits...
- Laser tagLaser tagLaser tag is a team or individual sport or recreational activity where players attempt to score points by tagging targets, typically with a hand-held infrared-emitting targeting device. Infrared-sensitive targets are commonly worn by each player and are sometimes integrated within the arena in...
- Miniature golfMiniature golfMiniature golf, or minigolf, is a miniature version of the sport of golf. While the international sports organization World Minigolf Sport Federation prefers to use the name "minigolf", the general public in different countries has also many other names for the game: miniature golf, mini-golf,...
- Movie theaterMovie theaterA movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
- Music and dancing
- PlaygroundPlaygroundA playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
equipment and climbing structures - Redemption gameRedemption gameRedemption games are typically arcade games of skill that reward the player proportionally to their score in the game. The reward most often comes in the form of tickets, with more tickets being awarded for higher scores. These tickets can then be redeemed at a central location for prizes...
s and merchandiserMerchandiserA merchandiser is an arcade gaming device, which features a machine that contains a display of merchandise, which can be won by playing the game....
games - Specialty shops (toys, comics, music, etc.)
- Water slideWater slideA water slide is a type of slide designed for warm-weather or indoor recreational use at water parks. Water slides differ in their riding method and therefore size...
The most common anchor activities are miniature golf, kart racing, arcade and redemption games, and food & beverage, according to industry specialists StoneCreek Partners. FECs rarely use custom-built attractions, because of the costs involved, and instead install off-the-shelf systems provided and maintained by industry equipment vendors.
Any given FEC may lean more towards outdoor activities, arcade gaming, or passive entertainment and dining. Each may cater to different age ranges, all the time, or during certain hours, e.g. children and entire families in the daytime, and teens to young adults in the evening, with specific promotional programs to attract different market segments at different times.
Business model
FECs tend to serve "sub-regional markets", such as small cities, quadrants or boroughs of larger cities, and a large suburban area outside such a city. Their busiest times are weekend afternoons and Thursday through Saturday evenings.Because most of the attractions are essentially the same from FEC to FEC, two of the most important factors in an particular center distinguishing itself to potential customers are a highly visible location (hard to obtain because other uses for the land are often more competitive), and a consistently developed and promoted theme that appeals to the target market segments, "the fun factor in the overall decor".
Parental concerns are also important. While children themselves rarely think of it, a major factor in the attractiveness of an FEC to parents is on-site safety and security, as adults may drop off older children at such an establishment to entertain themselves. An increasingly important factor for success is high-quality food and drink to attract parental spending as well as whole-family dining.
One common potential business problem is the need for more liability insurance (e.g. against patron injury) than the average business, which may be provided by specialty insurers via entertainment industry associations, This issue most affects FECs with water attractions, mechanical carnival ride
Carnival Ride
Carnival Ride is the second studio album from American country pop artist Carrie Underwood. It was released in the United States on October 23, 2007. It has been certified 3x Platinum by the RIAA. The album includes the singles "So Small", "All-American Girl", "Last Name", "Just a Dream", and "I...
s, and active sports and games such as laser tag.
Non-traditional FECs
Various major media and entertainment brands, including Disney, LegoLego
Lego is a line of construction toys manufactured by the Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of colorful interlocking plastic bricks and an accompanying array of gears, minifigures and various other parts...
, NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
, Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
, Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
, United Artists/Regal
Regal Entertainment Group
Regal Entertainment Group also known as REG is a movie theater chain headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. Regal operates the largest and most geographically diverse theater circuit in the United States, consisting of 6,775 screens in 548 locations in 39 states and the District of Columbia as of...
and Viacom
Viacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
, have been attached to family entertainment centers, often much less "traditional" than local and chain FECs, with custom-built, unique attractions, usually heavily branded, and most often located in major metropolitan areas. The first such urban entertainment center (UEC) was the Universal CityWalk
Universal CityWalk
Universal CityWalk is the name given to the entertainment and retail districts located adjacent to the theme parks of Universal Parks & Resorts. Originating as an expansion of Universal's first park, Universal Studios Hollywood, CityWalk serves as an entrance plaza from the parking lots to the...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, which opened in 1993, linking several Universal properties. Including various retail outlets, restaurants, and attractions, the CityWalk created a great deal of "sustained buzz" in the retail real estate industry, which began "embracing the notion that Universal Studios, Sony, Disney, and other entertainment companies could create new anchors and entertainment programs for shopping centers". Another significant UEC was the Sony Metreon in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
(1999–2006).
Some nonprofit, educational installations, such as the Exploratorium
Exploratorium
The Exploratorium is a museum in San Francisco with over 475 participatory exhibits, all of them made onsite, that mix science and art. It also aims to promote museums as informal education centers....
in San Francisco, also have aspects of FECs in format and atmosphere, but with activities geared toward learning and experiencing rather than simple entertainment. Some for-profit enterprises also use this model, or mix edutainment
Edutainment
Edutainment is a form of entertainment designed to educate as well as to amuse.-Overview:...
with simpler amusement attractions.
Industry organizations
The major international industry association that supports FECs is the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), which merged with and absorbed the membership of the International Association for the Leisure and Entertainment Industry (IALEI) in October 2009. IAAPA maintains addresses in the VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Brussels, Belgium and Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. The International Laser Tag Association (ILTA) also remains active (and more broadly than its name suggests). ILTA is based in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, U.S.
In Canada
Canadian FECs are called "family entertainment centres" or "fun centres", due to BritishBritish English
British English, or English , is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the United Kingdom from forms used elsewhere...
-style spelling conventions in Canadian English
Canadian English
Canadian English is the variety of English spoken in Canada. English is the first language, or "mother tongue", of approximately 24 million Canadians , and more than 28 million are fluent in the language...
.
- Chuck E. Cheese'sChuck E. Cheese'sChuck E. Cheese's is a chain of family entertainment centers. Chuck E...
(U.S.-owned) - PlaydiumPlaydiumPlaydium is a Canadian company which operates a large Family Entertainment Center in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada...
- Red's (Edmonton, Alberta)
In Japan
- Sega Joyopolis (Yokohama, Japan, 1994)
- Universal CityWalkUniversal CityWalkUniversal CityWalk is the name given to the entertainment and retail districts located adjacent to the theme parks of Universal Parks & Resorts. Originating as an expansion of Universal's first park, Universal Studios Hollywood, CityWalk serves as an entrance plaza from the parking lots to the...
(part of Universal Studios JapanUniversal Studios Japan, located in Osaka, is one of four Universal Studios theme parks, owned and operated by USJ Co., Ltd. . The park is similar to Universal Orlando Resort, since it contains many of the same rides. Most visitors are Japanese tourists or tourists from other Asian countries such as Taiwan, Hong Kong,...
, Osaka, U.S.-owned)
In Mexico
- KidZaniaKidzaniaKidZania is a Mexican chain of family entertainment centers currently operating in 10 locations allowing children to work in adult jobs and earn currency.-Overview:...
(Mexico City, 1999) - America's Incredible Pizza CompanyAmerica's Incredible Pizza CompanyAmerica's Incredible Pizza Company is an American pizza buffet, entertainment center and restaurant chain based in Springfield, Missouri. The first restaurant was opened in Springfield, Missouri in 2002...
(Monterrey, U.S.-owned)
In the United Arab Emirates
- Fun City (Dubai, 1999)
- Magic Planet (Dubai, 1995)
- Sega Republic (Dubai, 2009, Japan-owned)
In the United States
The main national industry group in the U.S. is the National Association of Family Entertainment Centers (NAFEC), which is a division of the International Laser Tag Association (ILTA). NAFEC provdes an industry-facing website, FECOperator.org.American FECs vary wildly in theme, size and features. Some of the larger businesses in this category have included:
- Adventure LandingAdventure LandingAdventure Landing is a group of amusement parks located in Florida, New York, North Carolina and Texas. The first park was opened in Jacksonville Beach, Florida in 1995 by Adventure Entertainment Company. It was a success and nine other parks were constructed....
(Jacksonville Beach, Florida, 1995) - All-American Sportpark (Las Vegas, Nevada, 1996)
- America's Incredible Pizza CompanyAmerica's Incredible Pizza CompanyAmerica's Incredible Pizza Company is an American pizza buffet, entertainment center and restaurant chain based in Springfield, Missouri. The first restaurant was opened in Springfield, Missouri in 2002...
(chain, based in Springfield, Missouri, 2002) - Boomers! ParksBoomers! ParksBoomers! Parks is a chain of family amusement centers which feature indoor activities including carousels, kiddie swings, restaurants, musical shows and amusement arcades; and outdoor activities including miniature golf, kiddie rides, bumper boats, batting cages, go-karts, kiddie roller coasters,...
(chain) - Bullwinkle's Family Fun Center
- Castle Park (full amusement park with FEC section, Texas)
- Chuck E. Cheese'sChuck E. Cheese'sChuck E. Cheese's is a chain of family entertainment centers. Chuck E...
(chain, based in San Jose, California, 1977) - Cinetropolis (Mashantucket, Connecticut, 1994)
- CJ Barrymore's
- Club DisneyClub DisneyClub Disney was a regional children's play center concept operated by Disney Regional Entertainment. Club Disney was billed as "imagination-powered playsite". The first Club Disney opened in Thousand Oaks, California. In February 1998, another club was built at the Eastland Shopping Center in...
(Thousand Oaks, California, 1997) - Cyberplay
- Dave & Buster'sDave & Buster'sDave & Buster's is an American restaurant and entertainment business headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Each D&B has a full-service restaurant and a video arcade. As of July 1, 2009, the company had 57 locations across the United States and two in Canada. The company also licenses the D&B concept...
(Dallas, Texas, 1982) - Discovery Zone Play Place (Lenexa, Kansas, 1990)
- DisneyQuestDisneyQuestDisneyQuest is an "indoor interactive theme park" located in Downtown Disney at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. It is housed in a five-story, windowless building...
(part of Walt Disney World, Florida, 1998) - Entros
- Funtricity Family Entertainment
- GameWorksGameWorksGameWorks is a chain of entertainment venues featuring video games, simulators, prizes, and a full service bar and restaurant. There are 7 GameWorks venues throughout the U.S. The first GameWorks opened in Downtown Seattle in March 1997....
(Seattle, Washington, 1997) - Gatti's PizzaGatti's PizzaGatti's Pizza is a Southeastern United States pizza-buffet chain. Gatti's Pizza, founded in 1964 is owned by Blue Sage Capital, a private equity investment firm. The corporate offices are in Austin, Texas.-History:...
- Go-Karts PlusGo-Karts PlusGo-Karts Plus is an action park in Lightfoot, Virginia, which is considered part of the greater Williamsburg, Virginia area. It is located near the Great Wolf Lodge, the former Williamsburg Soap and Candle Factory, and is right next to the Williamsburg Pottery Factory...
- Golfland SunsplashGolfland SunsplashGolfland-Sunsplash is a water park and family amusement center located in Mesa, Arizona. The park is separated in to two separate parks. Golfland operates year-round and features three miniature golf courses, an arcade, a pizza restaurant, a go-cart track, and bumper boats...
(full waterpark and miniature golf course with FEC section, California and Arizona) - Ground RoundGround RoundGround Round Grill & Bar, an American casual dining restaurant, was founded in 1969 by Howard Johnson's. As of January 17, 2010 Ground Round is owned by Independent Owners Cooperative, LLC, a group of 30 franchisee owners. Independent Owners Cooperative, LLC is located in Freeport, Maine...
- Hinckle Family Fun Center (Albuqueruque, New Mexico)
- John's Incredible Pizza Co. (1997)
- Jumpin' Jax
- Kidmazeum (Cedarhurst, Long Island, New York, 1993)
- Legoland Discovery Center (Schaumburg, Illinois, 2008)
- Malibu Grand PrixMalibu Grand PrixMalibu Grand Prix is an entertainment company that was hugely popular during the 1970s and 1980s as a franchised miniature indy car racing track. The typical complex included a 3000-4000 sq ft...
- Muligan Family Fun Center
- Peter Piper PizzaPeter Piper PizzaPeter Piper Pizza is an Arizona-based pizza chain with locations in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico and formerly in Utah and Nevada. Restaurants usually have a large dining area that adjoins a game room with playground equipment and classic arcade games.-History:Tony Cavolo...
(chain) - Putt-Putt Fun CenterPutt-Putt Fun CenterPutt-Putt Fun Center is the name of a chain of family amusement centers and miniature golf courses in the United States, Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, and Lebanon...
- Puzzle Place Play Centers (chain, based in Chicago, Illinois, 1997)
- Regal FunScape
- Scandia Amusement ParkScandia AmusementsScandia Amusements is a chain of Scandinavian-themed family amusement centers in California, including three locations: Scandia Fun Center in Sacramento, Scandia Family Fun Center in Victorville, and Scandia Amusement Park in Ontario...
(full amusement park with FEC section, California) - Sony Metreon (San Francisco, California, 1999–2006, Japan-owned)
- Swings N Things
- NASCAR Speedpark
- The Alley Indoor Entertainment
- Tempus Expeditions
- UA Starport
- Universal CityWalkUniversal CityWalkUniversal CityWalk is the name given to the entertainment and retail districts located adjacent to the theme parks of Universal Parks & Resorts. Originating as an expansion of Universal's first park, Universal Studios Hollywood, CityWalk serves as an entrance plaza from the parking lots to the...
(part of Universal Studios HollywoodUniversal Studios HollywoodUniversal Studios Hollywood is a movie studio and theme park in the unincorporated Universal City community of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is one of the oldest and most famous Hollywood movie studios still in use...
, Los Angeles, California, 1998) - Universal CityWalk (part of Universal Orlando ResortUniversal Orlando ResortUniversal Orlando Resort is a theme park resort in Orlando, Florida. It is wholly owned by NBCUniversal and its affiliates. The resort consists of two theme parks , Universal CityWalk , and three Loews Hotels...
, Orlando, Florida) - uWinkUWinkuWink, Inc. was a publicly-traded digital entertainment company based in Los Angeles, California, USA. The company was founded in 2000 by Nolan Bushnell, the co-founder and former CEO of both Atari and Chuck E. Cheese...
(2007) - Viacom's Block Party (1994)
- Virtual WorldVirtual worldA virtual world is an online community that takes the form of a computer-based simulated environment through which users can interact with one another and use and create objects. The term has become largely synonymous with interactive 3D virtual environments, where the users take the form of...
- Wannado CityWannado CityWannado City was an indoor role-playing amusement center at the Sawgrass Mills Mall in Sunrise, Florida, a suburb of Fort Lauderdale. It was a property of Grupo CIE. Billed as "where kids can do what they wanna do," it was a child-sized representation of a metropolis where children aged 2-14 could...
(Sunrise, Florida, 2004–2011) - WonderCamp
- XscapeXscapeXscape may refer to:*Xscape , an American/R&B band popular in the 1990s.*"Xscape", an unreleased song by Michael Jackson.*Xscape , a chain of indoor ski slope/leisure complexes in the United Kingdom....
(Indianapolis, Indiana, 2008) - ZDT's Amusement Park (full amusement park with FEC section, Texas)
- Zuma Fun Center