Keywords
Resorts in Florida, Transportation simulation methods
Abstract
At this time there is an increasing emphasis in Florida on developing large, multipurpose complexes which include shopping, entertainment, and accommodations for tourists. In all cases a major design problem is people transportation. For best efficiency the primary mode of transportation, the car, must be exchanged for other people movers within the complex, which will afford more security, flexibility, and better movement of people to their ultimate destination. Economically speaking, this would not only conserve fuel, but would allow consolidation of automobile parking into a less desirable area and the grouping of facilities for more shopping and recreation convenience. An example could be typified by a large complex of scattered hotel/motels, which must handle people and their belongings efficiently. One such case is the hotel operations at Walt Disney World. At the present time, only the Polynesian and Contemporary hotels are operating; however, future hotels are planned. Permitting cars to drive directly to the hotel introduces much confusion, traffic congestions, and additional effort on the part of guests and host. A cursory review of WDW hotel operations reveals the alrge amount of effort which typically much be expended into processing the guests and their belongings to and from their room. To be meaningful any such study must include all aspects of guess processing and the interrelationships of the major functions, such as transportation, material handling, and guest treatment. Because of the size and complexity, this can only be done by simulation. This research used simulation to test the Guest Welcome Center concept. The proposed Walt Disney World Guest Welcome Center would feature a luggage unloading area, special parking lot for hotel guest vehicles, convenient reception and registrations, orientation for new guests, and transportation to the hotels and Theme Park. It would further feature luggage containerization, with a special container tram running to and from the hotels. A computer simulation model of the proposed Guest Welcome Center was developed, and its performance analysed. The measures of performance were the maximum length of waiting lines and the maximum number of facility service channels needed, both by hour of the day and the average waiting time spent by hotel guests at various locations. The model performance defined staffing requirements and floor space requirements for guest waiting lines and luggage storage. Further, the simulation study lent insight into the nature of the system and suggested changes which might improve it.
Graduation Date
1974
Degree
Master of Science (M.S.)
College
College of Engineering
Degree Program
Engineering
Format
Pages
57 p.
Language
English
Rights
Written permission granted by copyright holder to the University of Central Florida Libraries to digitize and distribute for nonprofit, educational purposes.
Length of Campus-only Access
None
Access Status
Masters Thesis (Open Access)
Identifier
DP0003468
Subjects
Resorts -- Florida, Transportation -- Simulation methods
STARS Citation
Barraclough, Bradley, "A Simulation Study of Guest Procedures in a Resort Hotel Complex" (1974). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 86.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/rtd/86
Contributor (Linked data)
University of Central Florida. College of Engineering [VIAF]
Collection (Linked data)
Accessibility Status
Searchable text