Innovative Film City (IFC) is good start but heading nowhere. It seems promoters are confused what are the target customers for them? is it for masses or classes? As of now, IFC doesn’t fulfill need for anybody.
Entry fee and fees for different events inside the park is higher than average means of entertainment in India. However, quality of entertainment offered inside doesn’t justify the fees. None of the events/activities/shows create an excitement for an individual to come back to the park again. Yes, all the events are different and have uniqueness to theme park category entertainment in India.
Let me go to specifics:
Distance from the city is frustrating and one just hopes all the time while driving that return journey is satisfying enough and worth the pain. Parking for the park is open, just roadside in the industrial area which is surprising. Wonder-la parking gives a more secure feeling. Anyway, doesn’t matter till you get parking easily and your vehicle is safe.
IFC entrance and front view is amazing, beautiful and gives a feeling that visitor has reached a rocking destination. The street just after entry is also very good. Though most of it is empty, one can hope if this park clicks these places would be occupied.
For event by event review, let me categorize visitors by class and age:
Premier Class – Expats, S/W Professionals, High Class Families who have seen the world:
You will find the park exactly same as I explained above. Yes, it is an achievement for us who have lived in small towns of India and now seeing these kinds of theme parks being developed. But compared to what you might have seen in Universal Studios or Disneyland, it is not even close. Wax museum sucks, mirror maze creates some excitement for kids below 5 years, Ripley’s Believe it or not is mockery of its name. Cartoon city is third grade work; Municipal Corporation has done a better job in Cubbon Park. Aqua Kingdom water is yellow colored and you have to literally plead the operators to start the waves otherwise it operates 20 mins in one hour.
There will be 200 people on a weekend afternoon in a 50’X30’ pool. 4D is one thing you might like but unfortunately fun is over before it starts. It is an 8-10 mins show. Miniature city is waste of time. Make sure you grab your seat before buying food in the cafeteria otherwise you might have to have food standing in hot shade in the cheap, thin plastic plates. You might still like wave pool; after all you have driven 50 KM from the city to spend a day! There is an artificial 30’ waterfall; you might want to catch some sleep there after having lunch. Horse riding, bungee high jumping (not the freefall one) can be tried.
Average Class – Normal crowd of Bangalore, nearby places, tourist who have come from small towns of north India, Professionals who can spend money but have not seen anything comparable abroad:
You will find park over priced, waste of money, one more way to waste hard earned money by Bangaloreans. If my father would have visited the place, these could have been his feelings. Day package is definitely not recommended. Wave pool, 4D magic, Wax museum can be explored. If you did not get change to go to any of the video game place like Amoeba in the city, funplex can be tried for video games. A lot of variety available in funplex. If your kids are little intelligent Dinosaur World can be tried.
Visitors below 5 years-
Time to spend a day, generally any such thing which is different for them is total fun. Please do not hesitate to take them.Visitors between ages of 5-15 years-Nothing much; rides are useless, video games can be tried at several malls and places within city. Wave pool can be tried, if you are really enthusiastic about water activities.
Finally, some tips for promoters and investors in this park:Please identify target customers. If you really want to provide something equivalent of what US/Singapore offers, add some excitement. Make 4D half an hour show, add some simulated activities, add some rides combined with bollywood experience. Visitors need to feel the urge to experience the park again. After that, do not hesitate to double the fee. If people can pay $69 in US, they can definitely pay Rs 1200/- in India.
If intension is to just provide another option of entertainment for general mass (it is not a bad idea though); you will have to reduce the ticket charges. Increase activities related to India. I don’t think Wax museum; Believe it or not excite masses enough. Add Indian flavor, Indian excitement like bollywood star doubles, water games, rides etc.
You can target both the types of customers by defining core and peripheral area of the park. Peripheral area can have lower and reduced fees and all the existing options can be made available to general masses. Develop a core area park which can have exclusive activities like the one explained above.
And please whatever you do- stop sarees, suits, jeans in the wave pool area immediately. Ladies with long hair, flowers in their hair do not hesitate to jump in the water and make things worse. People with leather belts, jeans, trousers in water will make the experience bitter.
However, I would still say it is a good start. Nobody even thought of this theme in India. Park is different. You will not be badly disappointed but will not go again for a year for sure.