Attractions Expert Q&A: Terry Monkton

By Kendall Wolf

Simworx has developed an immense library of 3D/4D films and the engineering resources to design and deliver custom attractions for theme parks, museums, zoos, aquariums, and entertainment centers.

What theme park souvenir might we be surprised to find on your shelf, and what’s its story?

I have to admit I’m a hoarder. I collect things. All sorts of things. Any customers who’ve been to Simworx will have seen that I have this huge collection of retro gaming consoles and retro computers going back to the ’70s. Much to my wife’s dismay, I also collect vinyl records and many other items. Plus, when I go to a park, I always buy souvenirs and give them to our creative designers so our offices look like ToysRUs.

The one item I have that is quite unique is not a theme park souvenir. While most of our business is in theme parks, we also work in museums, family entertainment centers, and heritage sites. We did a project many years ago with a company called Metropolis at the London Science Museum named “The Legend of Apollo,” in which astronaut David Scott tells the story of his trip on Apollo 15 and their voyage to the moon. Once they landed, they were the first astronauts to drive a Lunar Roving Vehicle on the moon’s surface.

David Scott himself opened the attraction in London and kindly gave me a book called “The Two Sides of the Moon,” written by David and Russian astronaut Alexei Leonov. It’s the story about the Cold War space race. They both signed it, and that’s an item that I treasure.

What theme park have you always wanted to visit but have never been to?

Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan. My two sons grew up loving Nintendo; they love anime and Pokémon. They would really like to go. And I confess, I’ve never been to Japan. So I would choose Universal Japan to take them to Super Nintendo World as I know they would love it.

Was there a theme park, ride, or attraction that made you want to be in this industry? How did it inspire you?

I sort of fell into the industry when I was 27. I used to be a Group Finance Director. It’s an unusual route for someone doing what I do now, but it’s been extremely helpful.

It wasn’t a specific ride that inspired me to get into this industry, but what I do remember that was relevant to me was when I was younger, going to Cine 180 and Cine 360 domes in theme parks and my mind being blown by them. The fact that you are standing there looking at this huge screen — I had never seen a screen of that size before — and the impact that media had upon people’s emotions. People were swaying. People would fall over just watching a film. That always resonated with me. When I began what I started doing when I was 27, that was something that always remained with me — the magic of combining media and motion.

What was your favorite ride/attraction as a child, and why?

A ride called Steeple Chase at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. It was the first theme park attraction that I ever went on when I was a child.

Two people sit on a horse, and it’s a coaster ride, though not as fast and not with big peaks and drops. I remember riding it with my mother and being quite amazed. When we traveled there on holiday when I was young, Steeple Chase was a ride I always looked forward to.

Was there a ride, attraction, or character that frightened you as a child?

Probably the first big coaster I went on called Corkscrew at Alton Towers. I think I was 12 or 13, and I remember that anticipation where the coaster climbs and climbs and, oh, the feeling in my stomach as it gets to the top so slowly, and then you have the first drop. That first one was like 30 seconds and was so scary. But then you go on the rest of the adventure. The adrenaline would kick in, and as soon as the ride was finished, it was like, live, die, repeat. Go and do the same thing again. And still, the climb got to me every time.

What was your oddest or coolest job in a theme park or your company?

I’ve been very fortunate to visit extraordinary places doing the job that I love — some really cool locations, like Bana Hills in Vietnam. Sun Group built this incredible theme park on a mountain, with cable cars going up to it. It still blows my mind how they did this.

In 2022, we installed a hybrid flying theater there called Mắt Bay (Flying Eyes). I’ve since taken my family to Bana Hills – it’s such an amazing place. I have many pictures of the four of us there and on Sun Group’s Golden Bridge.

What ride/attraction do you think everyone needs to experience and why?

My favorite is [The Amazing Adventures of Spider Man] at Islands of Adventure. I can ride Spider Man over and over. I also think everyone needs to experience [Avatar Flight of Passage]. It’s an incredible ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

If you were tasked with creating a new theme park food, what would it be?

As part of the whole theme park experience, I love trying whatever treats are there and, of course, going to theme parks around the world; there are so many different types of foods. I’ve always embraced the local cuisines and enjoyed them all – I will eat anything! I can’t invent something to beat the foods I love that are already in place.

You’re a walk-around character for a day; who do you choose?

I would absolutely be one of the Stormtroopers at Disney’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

How they’ve done that and how they talk to guests is fantastic. You could stand and watch them for hours. They look really cool, and they’re so witty in how they interact with everyone. I would definitely be a stormtrooper at Galaxy’s Edge.

What types of attractions would you like to see more of and why?

I love attractions that tell a story from the minute you walk into the queue – they build up your interest and excitement.

And there are certain rides, the Harry Potter ride, for instance, that are pretty incredible, telling the story from start to finish and using unique innovation with robotics and moving dome screens. Of course, we’re fortunate there are so many of those attractions that do this well, and I could be here all day with a huge list of amazing rides.

Do you have any interesting theme park or company pandemic stories?

I don’t know that it’s particularly interesting, as the pandemic was difficult for everybody. From a personal perspective, for many, many years, I was always traveling around the world, but during the pandemic, it was the longest time I’ve ever spent at home. When I’m away, I don’t get to eat with my family, of course. Even when I’m in the Simworx office when I get home, I’m often knackered [tired], and my wife and sons have already had dinner. So I enjoyed having an extended period at home, all of us eating at the same time. My two kids took up cooking, and some of the meals they made were fantastic. They had the time to put into the preparation, and my youngest son, in particular, really embraced spending two or three hours creating a family meal. Then we sat down to eat together every night, and it was a nice thing that I really enjoyed. If there’s anything positive about the pandemic, let’s go with that.

Can you talk about what you are working on these days?

While the pandemic was tough for everyone, I think confidence has come back nicely in theme parks since the middle of last year. In 2022, there were still elements of caution and, of course, Ukraine, the energy crisis, material shortages of chips, and other difficulties. But the good news is, now parks have a successful summer season behind the belt. It feels back to normal, and that’s been lovely. We’re working on lots of projects. Regarding our flagship products, we have one if not more orders for each of those, which is a nice position to be in.

We have a flying theater we opened toward the end of the year in Istanbul and a Metro Mover opening in Saudi Arabia next year. That’s been a very good market for us. We’ve just signed a deal for our fourth attraction in Saudi Arabia. We exhibited at the Saudi Entertainment and Amusement Expo – our last show before the pandemic. Some great projects are happening there. Boulevard Riyadh City is an incredible place.

You are going to your favorite theme park or attraction – which industry people (dead or alive) are you taking with you?

Besides my role with Simworx, I’m also the Chair of a British association called The British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers, and Attractions( BALPPA). We visit parks and attractions as part of our conferences, and I love going to theme parks with that group.

I’ve also gone with associates from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA). Going with people who have different ways of experiencing rides is really fun. I have friends in both those associations, BALPPA and IAAPA, and I always have a great time with them. You get to enjoy the rides, but then you get to talk about the technicalities afterward, and I love doing that.

Writer Kendall Wolf is a long-time consultant in the themed entertainment industry. She has worked with designers, producers, and fabricators to help developers create unique and successful projects around the world. In 2017, she introduced Merlin Entertainments to a development group in Sichuan province for the first Legoland park in China. Kendall continues to consult for the developer to open more themed resorts in China.