Theme Park Knights became an official UCF Registered Student Organization on Oct. 2, bringing together students interested in theme parks beyond Walt Disney World at their first meeting on Monday. This story aired on the Oct. 6 webcast, anchored by Kinsley Catarineau.
Central Florida’s theme park culture extends beyond the Mouse, with a newly established UCF Registered Student Organization, giving students a place to connect over their shared passion for theme parks outside of Walt Disney World.
Theme Park Knights became an official UCF RSO on Oct. 2. The organization aims to give students a place to connect over their passion for theme parks, whether for entertainment, rollercoasters or other experiences. They emphasize parks throughout Central Florida, such as Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa, while welcoming anyone interested in the theme park industry.
Students do not need an annual pass, theme park experience or a particular major to join.
“There should be clubs that embody other things, not just Disney, because while Disney is great, there are people who prefer other IPs and other companies,” Aurora Ulrich, junior stage management major who is the president and founder of Theme Park Knights, said.
Ulrich said the group is intended to be a social community rather than a career-focused or academic organization.
“It is a club for all theme park lovers to come and unite,” Ulrich said.
Theme Park Knights is one of several theme park-related RSOs at UCF, including the socially focused Happiest Club on Earth, which centers on Walt Disney World.
Aurora Ulrich, junior stage management major and president of Theme Park Knights, moderates a game of trivia at the organization’s first meeting from the head of a table in a study room at the UCF John C. Hitt Library on Monday.
Emilie Gilbert
Ulrich previously served as secretary for Happiest Club on Earth and now works as an entertainment technician at Universal Orlando Resort. Ulrich said she wants the new organization to mainly highlight other parks in the region while also exploring the broader world of themed entertainment.
“I decided I wanted to open up and make it more general and open it to everyone so that it’s not just a one-park-only club,” Ulrich said.
The organization’s broader focus attracted students with connections to different parts of the theme park industry, Ulrich said.
This includes Christopher Tarsitano, junior mechanical engineering major, who works as a ride mechanic at SeaWorld Orlando.
“I was a part of Happiest Club on Earth, but I felt like I just wanted a place to express my interest in more of a general theme park culture rather than specifically Disney,” Tarsitano said.
The first official meeting was on Monday in a study room at the John C. Hitt Library, where attendees met the organization’s officers. Ulrich said she expected about five people to attend but was excited when 14 students were at the first meeting.
They discussed interests and shared ideas for future activities, followed by trivia games played on Blooket, an online quiz platform. Ulrich said these activities helped break the ice and gave attendees a chance to test their knowledge and learn about attractions across the industry.
“I liked doing trivia that was about theme parks in general,” Tarsitano said. “It allowed me to kind of show my knowledge, which was fun.”
Brady Davis, freshman mechanical engineering major, ponders the answer to a trivia question at Theme Park Knight’s first meeting in a study room at the UCF John C. Hitt Library on Monday.
Emilie Gilbert
Abigail Reeves, a second-year transfer stage management major, said she liked that the organization welcomes students regardless of their experience with theme parks.
“It’s like all the theme parks,” Reeves said. “Aurora was very welcoming even if you didn’t know about all the theme parks or didn’t have passes; that’s okay. As long as you’re interested, then you can learn about it, and be a part of the club.”
Reeves said she is particularly looking forward to future group outings to the parks.
Ulrich said the organization plans to host trivia, games and movie watch parties while working toward group outings to local theme parks.
Ulrich aims to attend Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort with Theme Park Knights soon. The organization is also considering more accessible outings, such as visiting Universal CityWalk, for students who do not have theme park passes, Ulrich said.
“I really want to do more socials,” Ulrich said. “It’s the whole point of this club is to go to the parks with friends.”