Ava Landry
Universal Creative
Orlando, Florida
Role: Technical Intern, Ride & Show
​
Duration: January 6, 2020-May 1, 2020
​
Programs Used: AutoCAD, SolidWorks, BlueBeam Review, Microsoft Excel
​
Skills Developed:​ Project & Vendor Management, Confidentiality of Information, Attraction Design & Development, Theming & Vendor Research & Presentation, Mockup Design & Testing, RFP Development, Code Compliance, Communication Across Disciplines, Professional Development & Leadership
My Experience
When I got the call that I was hired as an intern for Universal Creative, I couldn't believe it. As a lifelong fan of theme parks, I was so excited to get to work with some of the best in the business! As a Ride & Show intern, I helped the Engineering team design Ride (mechanical systems with motion) and Show (special effects and other story elements) systems. Though the specifics of my work are under wraps, I can say that I learned so much during my time at Universal.
​
Project & Vendor Management
I assisted the Ride & Show team in working with the vendors of our ride & show systems in order to meet our standards & creative intent. I frequently interacted with vendors from different companies and backgrounds and assisted in communicating our team's needs. Our team utilized BlueBeam review to communicate document comments and changes.
Confidentiality of Information
The work that I completed was part of upcoming projects, and thus was incredibly confidential. I learned how to monitor my social media content and conversations to protect the integrity of our projects.
Attraction Design & Development
During my internship, I assisted in attraction development for Universal Parks & Resorts, specifically for the Ride & Show team. I was mostly a Ride systems intern, but often worked on Show elements as well. Throughout the course of my internship, I experienced & understood the design cycle of a project. I utilized AutoCAD, SolidWorks, and Microsoft Excel for various development t asks.
Theming & Vendor Research & Presentation
One of my larger projects involved researching theming examples to help our Creative team with selecting an attraction design.  I researched vendors and contacted them for more information on relevant products. I then presented my research to our engineers and artists.
Mockup Design & Testing
My favorite project was planning and building special effect mockup designs. My first project involved assisting another team member in a design, then I was able to create my own design and build for another effect. These mockups were used to demonstrate the guest's experience of special effects for our development team.
RFP Development
One of my final projects was writing RFP and project scopes for various ride and show systems. I was in charge of working with our team to communicate our design intent and needs to potential vendors. I utilized similar RFPs and updated them for new project scopes.
Code Compliance
I became very familiar with industry codes and standards in order to ensure compliance of our attractions. I utilized ASTM F2291, ADA standards, & Universal's internal specifications.
Communication Across Disciplines
I was able to interact with a team made of every discipline imaginable. I learned to communicate efficiently with artists, facilities, operations, and technical services teams. We not only shared ideas, but made sure to refer to each team on design decisions.
Professional Development & Leadership
As an intern, we received complimentary admission to all of Universal's parks, which was really great. We also got to participate in special intern events, such as early-morning attraction walkthroughs and scavenger hunts! I was also able to complete multiple trainings during my time as an intern, including Basic Ride Access Control (BRAC), Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), Concept to Comission, Animated Figures, and RFPs for project scopes.
Lessons Learned
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |