Each November, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) hosts the world’s largest attractions trade show. This expo hosts more than 1,000 exhibitors and 40,000 professionals from all over the world for 5 days in Orlando, Florida.

To a roller coaster enthusiast, the IAAPA Expo marks the time for manufacturers and parks to announce new attractions, often with a grand reveal of a front car, new animatronics or other large-scale, eye-catching items. However, for both enthusiasts and exhibitors, the IAAPA Expo is so much more than what happens during the first day.

Because it is an amusement industry trade show, booths include all of the things that the average enthusiast would expect: ride manufacturers, arcade games and lots of yummy snacks to sample. But so much more goes into each element of an amusement park than what might be expected.

Have you ever walked into an amusement park and felt as though you entered a completely different universe? The theming is so out of this world that it seems impossible for anyone to have designed and then executed such elements. At the IAAPA Expo, there is a whole subsection of the show floor dedicated to booths staffed by the people who create everything from particular flooring and fake facades to rock formations. Another section of the show floor is dedicated to special effects such as fake snow, fog machines and water lights.

Think of a ride — pretty much any will do. The ride itself is designed and made by a specific manufacturer, but where do they get the special parts that made the ride come together — wheels, seat belts, chains or even individual lights? A booth for each element of a ride can be found on the IAAPA Expo show floor, even ones that are seemingly overlooked. For example, there is one main manufacturer of roller coaster wheels that makes polyurethane wheels for a multitude of different ride manufacturers. From wheels to seat belts and beyond: someone has to make them, and the manufacturer is likely to be found on the IAAPA Expo floor!

To an enthusiast, this is an event where all the things we love converge in one spot, where exhibitors attempt to show why what they are doing is the latest and greatest. For everyone else, this is a work trip to build connections, find a new product and make a deal.

The IAAPA Expo is the place where parks, family entertainment centers, bowling alleys, science-centers, zoos and more try to find whatever they need to make their spaces bigger, better, more accessible or engaging for their intended audience. The tables and chairs set up in many of the booths are there so that business can be conducted. Items throughout the floor get labeled with “Sold” signs. And lots and lots of hands are shaken.

By Friday on the show floor, there is not a lot of major news to comment upon. But, if you look at the name tags of the people going in and out of the different booths, you might find some future headline-worthy news in the making. Stay tuned!

- Madi Pardington