Alex Traynham

Alex Traynham

I study how great experiences are built,
then help build them.

UCF Entertainment Management graduate. 3+ years at Universal Orlando, including the pre-opening commissioning of Epic Universe. A decade in digital content strategy. Always thinking about what makes experiences stick.

Curiosity drives almost everything I do.

I grew up in Winter Park, so theme parks have always been part of my life. Long before I thought about the industry professionally, I was paying attention to how things worked: the way a queue tells a story, how marketing shapes what guests expect before they even arrive, how one interaction can make or break a visit. That instinct to understand what is behind the magic is what led me from a computer science track to an Entertainment Management degree at UCF.

At Universal Orlando, I went from front-line guest service to helping commission brand-new attractions at Epic Universe before the park ever opened. I worked alongside engineers, ride technicians, and creative teams to get those experiences ready for guests. Now I train the team members who run those same rides, which puts me right at the intersection of operations, safety, and storytelling.

I have also spent over a decade building real knowledge of the online creator world. YouTube analytics, streaming strategy, community building, platform economics. Not as side interests but as things I have genuinely studied and earned credentials in. I think a lot about how entertainment brands connect with their audiences, whether that is through a ride queue, a short-form video, or a full campaign.

This site is where I collect that work. Projects, case studies, and ideas at the intersection of entertainment, technology, and storytelling.

Selected Work

Academic projects, professional concepts, and original research. All grounded in real entertainment industry context.

Original Concept 2025

Curse Tracker: Dark Universe Interactive Experience

Universal Epic Universe · Dark Universe

An original interactive guest experience concept for Universal's Dark Universe at Epic Universe. Curse Tracker reframes the Curse of the Werewolf by suggesting the curse may already be affecting guests before they step inside, turning the surrounding land into a personal narrative. Guests explore Darkmoor's gothic environment, scanning checkpoints, collecting clues, and following signs of the supernatural, with themed Seers guiding them through the story.

The concept covers all three guest experience pillars: Safety, Service, and Setting. It adds depth and replayability for return visitors and superfans, and is built on my firsthand knowledge of the attraction as both an Operator and Trainer.

Experience Design Narrative Development Guest Journey Mapping Operations Integration

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Research 2025

From Thumbnail to Turnstiles

UCF · Guest Services Management

A research study on how theme park promotional content on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube shapes guest expectations, and what happens when reality does not match. I combined academic literature with a student survey and my own observations from working in attractions, then put together data-backed recommendations for how parks can better align their marketing with the actual in-park experience.

Primary Research Social Media Analysis Guest Expectation Management

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Production & Finance 2025

Dear Evan Hansen Touring Proposal

UCF · Entertainment Management Capstone

A five-city touring model for the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen, built for my Entertainment Management capstone. I developed realistic routing and scheduling, a full production budget covering cast and crew payroll, travel, lodging, venue fees, and contingency, and a final presentation that translated the numbers into a clear tour strategy.

Tour Routing Production Budgeting Venue Strategy

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Sponsorship & Marketing 2025

Villains Media Night Sponsorship Proposal

UCF · Entertainment Management Capstone

My individual contribution to a larger Villains-themed media night capstone project for Disney. I independently built the sponsorship proposal: sponsor tiers, partner benefits, brand activation ideas, and a clear deliverable timeline. The goal was to bring real commercial structure to a creative event concept while keeping the storytelling intact.

Sponsorship Strategy Brand Partnerships Event Marketing

Sponsorship Proposal → View Presentation →

Research & Analysis 2025

Gamification & Technology in Theme Parks

UCF · Managing the Guest Experience (Dr. Carissa Baker)

An academic paper on how theme parks use gamification to deepen guest engagement. I looked at how parks apply points, achievements, RFID wearables, and mobile apps to support crowd management, personalize the visit, and strengthen storytelling, with analysis of real implementations at major parks and proposed frameworks for operators.

Gamification Design Guest Experience Technology Integration

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Research 2024

Theme Park and Entertainment Marketing Manager

UCF · Hospitality and Entertainment Management

A research paper exploring the career of a theme park marketing manager. Examined relationship marketing, brand equity, and consumer behavior in the attractions industry. Included a personal interview with Ben May, former Global Director of Corporate Alliances at Walt Disney Company.

Relationship Marketing Brand Equity Industry Research

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Case Study 2025

BMW PR Crisis: Social Media Response Plan

UCF · Entertainment Brand Relations & Publicity

A PR recovery plan for BMW following CEO Jim O'Donnell's EV comments in 2011, which created a real credibility risk. The plan covered crisis monitoring, response timing, channel selection, and gaps in BMW's social media policy, and showed how a 24-hour response through owned channels can keep a niche controversy from reaching mainstream media.

Crisis Communications Social Media Strategy Brand Management

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Content

AtrayGaming

I started making YouTube content over a decade ago: gaming, music covers, live streams. I kept at it long enough to understand the platform from the inside. Over 314 videos and 1,200 subscribers across the years. I took time away to finish school and start my career, but the channel is where a lot of my real understanding of content strategy, analytics, and audience behavior actually came from.

More to come.

1.26K Subscribers

314 Videos

10+ Years

Visit Channel

This is the most viewed video on my channel at 64K views. What making it taught me was how to chase trends and strike while the iron is hot. The song was featured in a major YouTube event at the time, and I was one of the first people to post a Synthesia piano cover of it. Being early was the whole reason it took off.

Career & Background

March 2025 – Present

Attractions Trainer

Universal Orlando Resort · Constellation Carousel & Curse of the Werewolf

I run training programs for new team members, team leaders, and supervisors across two Epic Universe attractions. That means hands-on instruction in ride operations, guest service, and emergency procedures, along with performance evaluations and ongoing mentoring.

August 2024 – February 2025

Attractions Commissioning Team Member Epic Universe Pre-Opening

Universal Orlando Resort · Constellation Carousel & Curse of the Werewolf

I was part of the pre-opening commissioning team for Universal's Epic Universe, one of the biggest theme park expansions in years. I helped with testing and operational setup for new attractions, working directly with engineers, ride technicians, and creative teams to troubleshoot systems and get everything ready for guests.

March 2023 – August 2024

Food & Beverage Associate

Universal Orlando Resort · Volcano Bay

Guest service in one of Orlando's busiest waterpark environments. I handled cash, orders, and inventory while keeping up with food safety standards. It is where I developed the guest-first approach that I still bring to how I train people today.

June 2022 – March 2023

Disney College Program

Walt Disney World · Lake Buena Vista, FL

Disney's College Program gave me a close look at how one of the world's most iconic entertainment brands runs day to day. The standards and culture I picked up there have stuck with me.

2024 – 2025

Member

Future Theme Park Leaders Association (FTPLA)

Part of a professional network focused on building the next generation of theme park leaders through education, networking, and industry events.

Certifications & Credentials

Building Online Communities

LinkedIn · Jul 2025

Developing a YouTube Strategy

LinkedIn · Jun 2025

Content Creation: Strategy and Tools

LinkedIn · Jun 2025

Strategic Content Marketing

LinkedIn · Jun 2025

Marketing on YouTube

LinkedIn · Mar 2025

Social Media Marketing: Strategy and Optimization

LinkedIn · Mar 2025

Understanding Social Media Algorithms for Creators

LinkedIn · Feb 2025

Learning YouTube SEO

LinkedIn · Feb 2025

Inbound Marketing Optimization

HubSpot · Oct 2024

YouTube Certified: Asset Monetization

YouTube · Aug 2019

YouTube Certified: Channel Growth

YouTube · Aug 2019

YouTube Certified: Content Ownership

YouTube · Aug 2019

Areas of Expertise

Operations & Training

Attractions operations & safety
Training curriculum development
Team coaching & evaluation
Guest experience design
High-volume crowd management

Marketing & Strategy

Brand storytelling
Content strategy & creation
Social media analytics (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram)
Sponsorship & partnership development
Crisis communications

Entertainment Business

Production budgeting & tour logistics
Entertainment law fundamentals
Intellectual property & contracts
Business model analysis
Streaming & platform economics

Curiosity drives almost everything I do.

Currently

Interests & Focus Areas

Education

Selected Work

Curse Tracker: Dark Universe Interactive Experience

From Thumbnail to Turnstiles

Dear Evan Hansen Touring Proposal

Villains Media Night Sponsorship Proposal

Gamification & Technology in Theme Parks

Theme Park and Entertainment Marketing Manager

BMW PR Crisis: Social Media Response Plan

AtrayGaming

Career & Background

Attractions Trainer

Attractions Commissioning Team Member Epic Universe Pre-Opening

Food & Beverage Associate

Disney College Program

Member

Certifications & Credentials

Areas of Expertise

Operations & Training

Marketing & Strategy

Entertainment Business

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