Theme Park U
UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management
I've got a B.S. from UCF's Rosen College of Hospitality Management, with a focus on Theme Park Operations. Yes, It's a real degree!
About Me
Hey there! I'm Ben Adler, a product leader with 20+ years in theme parks, hospitality, and guest-experience tech. Here's the ride so far.
Earning My Ears
Walt Disney World Resort
I started out running rides; Tower of Terror, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster; Mission:Space, Buzz Lightyear and more; then moved inside as a Front Office Supervisor at the Grand Floridian, the BoardWalk, and the opening team for Art of Animation.
Somewhere in there I helped a property-wide PMS migration and Disney's switch from MagStripe tickets to MagicBands.
Somewhere in there I helped a property-wide PMS migration and Disney's switch from MagStripe tickets to MagicBands.
Checking In
Marriott International · Orlando World Center & Gaylord Palms
Next stop: guest services at the Orlando World Center, one of the largest Marriotts in the world, then supervising the Front Desk and Contact Center teams of 50–70 at the Gaylord Palms.
I also built the ticketing and pricing for 'ICE!' one of the Southeast's biggest seasonal attractions and various other special events around the resort.
I also built the ticketing and pricing for 'ICE!' one of the Southeast's biggest seasonal attractions and various other special events around the resort.
Going Universal
Loews Hotels · Universal Orlando Resort
One of the Assistant Front Office Managers at Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort. 2,200 rooms, a team of 70+, an RFID lock conversion, the consturction and opening of Volcano Bay, and a 400-room expansion. All at once.
That kind of volume changes how you think. It still shapes how I build products.
That kind of volume changes how you think. It still shapes how I build products.
From the Midway to the Roadmap
accesso Technology Group
Since 2018 I've been at accesso Technology Group, in roles across Operations and Product Management, building tools that make visits smoother for guests and easier for the people running the show.
I've worked with some of the biggest names in the attractions industry and support over 1000 venues worldwide.
I've worked with some of the biggest names in the attractions industry and support over 1000 venues worldwide.
Billions Served
Passport eCommerce v6 · Media Content Engine
I helped design and roll out Passport eCommerce v6 and the Media Content Engine. Together they handle over $3b in transactional revenue and 25 million guest interactions a year.
See the full projects →
See the full projects →
400 Coasters & Counting
Off the Clock
I've visited parks around the world and ridden 400+ roller coasters. Not done yet.
Off the coasters, you'll find me running, cycling or outside somewhere with my wife, Stephie, and my son, Charlie — who's already showing strong theme park instincts.
Off the coasters, you'll find me running, cycling or outside somewhere with my wife, Stephie, and my son, Charlie — who's already showing strong theme park instincts.
How I Work
Approach
One rule: build for the person actually using it. A guest buying a ticket, an employee scanning passes in the rain, a manager pulling reports. If it doesn't work for them, it doesn't work.
Discovery & Research
Good products start with listening. I spend time with the people who'll actually use the software. Sometimes the general public, sometimes operators who know their workflows better than any spec ever will.
Delivery
Work with great people, agree on what done looks like, then get out of their way. My job is clearing obstacles and keeping us pointed at the same goal. Clear definitions and even clearer expectations.
Communication
Open and fast. If something changes, everyone knows why. If something ships, everyone sees what's new. No surprises.
Documentation
Write it down. Requirements, decisions, and the reasoning behind them. Whoever picks this up in three years isn't left guessing.