Less Staff, No Stress:
Smarter Operations in a Tight Labor Market
The labor crunch is not just a headline—it is a daily operational reality for parks and attractions around the world. But with the right strategies and a little creativity, lean teams can still deliver big experiences.
The New Staffing Reality
From ride ops and retail to F&B and guest services, attractions have been navigating a tricky terrain: guest expectations are high, but team sizes are leaner than ever. While it is tempting to view this as a setback, many parks are flipping the script by turning lean staffing into an opportunity for innovation.
The key is to work smarter, not harder. Let’s look at 4 important operational strategies that can work.
1. Cross-Training: The Swiss Army Knife Strategy
Empowering your team to work across multiple roles increases flexibility and reduces downtime. Parks like Disney and many smaller FECs have long embraced this approach, assigning Cast Members or Team Members to rotate between attractions, food counters, and guest flow duties.
Pro Tip: Start with your highest-traffic zones and build simple, tiered cross-training plans that grow with tenure.
2. Automation & Self-Service: Let Guests Help Themselves
From mobile food ordering to ticket kiosks and automated lockers, self-service options reduce the need for full-time staffing while often improving the guest experience.
For instance, Universal Orlando’s mobile order systems and virtual queues help reduce bottlenecks and labor costs.
Many arcades now employ RFID playcards and self-redemption systems to streamline staffing.
Pro Tip: Even simple additions like digital signage or QR codes for info can eliminate the need for a staffed post.
3. Dynamic Scheduling: Labor that Flows with Demand
Using scheduling tools (and even AI platforms) to align team rosters with real-time guest traffic helps parks stay lean without compromising service. These tools, already standard in the hotel industry, let parks avoid overstaffing during lulls and ensure coverage when crowds swell unexpectedly.
Pro Tip: Look outside your four walls for inspiration. Hotel brands like Marriott and Hilton use occupancy-based tools to flexibly schedule front desk, housekeeping, and concierge roles. Airlines use dynamic pricing and automated bag-check to maintain guest service with minimal staff. Retailers like Target employ AI-based traffic counters to trigger staff shifts only during peak times. Parks can apply the same logic to queue monitoring, attraction throughput forecasting, and staff scheduling.
4. Operational Audits: Find the Hidden Inefficiencies
Lean times are ideal for stepping back and asking: What’s truly essential? By reviewing everything from SOPs to zone staffing models, parks can eliminate outdated or redundant practices and reallocate labor to the most guest-critical areas.
Pro Tip: Bringing in an outside team to conduct regular operational audits adds tremendous value. A fresh perspective can spot inefficiencies or gaps that internal teams may overlook, especially in routines that have become “the way things are done.” These outside audits are a smart way to ensure standards stay sharp, even when budgets are tight.
Even with smaller teams, there are big wins to be found. With the right approach, parks can streamline operations, elevate the guest experience, and do more with less…….all without burning out staff or compromising on quality or safety.
How ITPS Can Help
For over 42 years, we have helped clients around the globe navigate complex operational challenges. In today’s labor-tight market, ITPS offers expert insight and recommendations to support smarter staffing and more efficient operations.
Our services include:
Workforce Reviews – Identify staffing gaps, overlaps, and areas for streamlined staffing modifications.
Operational Efficiency Assessments – Evaluating procedures, guest flow, and staffing models to find cost-effective improvements.
Cross-Training Strategies – Helping develop customized plans for multi-role training and lean operations.
Technology Readiness Guidance – Advising on how automation and self-service tools can fit into your operation without sacrificing the guest experience.
Let ITPS help your team work smarter, not harder……..because doing more with less does not mean doing it alone.
Want to unlock greater efficiency with the team you have? Reach out to ITPS today for a personalized operational review.
Contact ITPS
International Theme Park Services, Inc.
2200 Victory Parkway, Suite 500A
Cincinnati, Ohio 45206
United States of America
Phone: 513-381-6131
http://www.9vfox.com
itps@interthemepark.com