Trends Report, December 2000. At the turn of the century, Family Travel Forum's editor rounded up some of the more interesting trends of the past decade to share with readers.

If we study the recent past to speculate on the future, the key travel trend we're seeing is Entertainment Rules. Whether it's a Jekyll & Hyde theme restaurant where cuisine is secondary to set design, or Medieval Times, which rates a B for at least educating children while thrilling and feeding them, children's senses are being bombarded.

That's both good and bad, as can be seen in three leading edge sectors of the travel industry -- theme parks, transportation and lodging.

Here's the Scorecard we used to rate the travel industry at the dawn of the new millennium:

• A = Super
• B = Above Average
• C = Satisfactory
• D = Needs Improvement
• F = Nightmare

Theme Parks

Theme parks will continue to be the major attraction for families -- over 54% cited them as the primary summer vacation destination in a 1999 ASTA/Fodor's survey. However, I believe parents will demand more educational or experiential content, comfort, and convenience from increasingly expensive parks.

Through 2000 and beyond, you'll certainly see more "You will get wet!" rides (B) sprout in rural theme parks and more virtual reality games (B), motion control rides (D) and video arcades (D-) dominate urban entertainment complexes.

Although Florida's Walt Disney World has grown so large it's self-defeating for families to try to see it all, Disney's art direction and creativity are unparalleled. Individual attractions, such as Magic Kingdom's Crystal Pavilion (A) where Pooh and friends genuinely entertain diners or Animal Kingdom's creepy-crawly, holographic 3D "It's Tough to be a Bug" show (B+) are among the best of their genre.

In contrast, California's Disneyland is just the right size for preschoolers, who will love the Dumbo ride, Barney play park and easy-to-spot characters. Ironically, Disney's charmingly retro Tomorrowland (C) appeals more to nostalgic adults than to children weaned on Star Wars. At Disneyland Paris, little ones can take a surprisingly delicious Toy Story High Tea (B+) with Buzz Lightyear and Woody.

Universal Studios Hollywood rules with teens because it so entertainingly teaches visitors about movie special effects. The sleight of hand at the King Kong (B+) and Earthquake (A-) rides is timed beautifully -- little ones don't notice the environment righting itself for the next tram full of tourists but older kids are fascinated by a glimpse of how everything works. At Orlando's Universal Escape, the new Islands of Adventure theme park based on classic (and some dated) pop characters succeeds by integrating lots of activities for all ages with the rides. New technology experiences such as the Lost Continent's Poseidon's Fury (B+) multimedia show and the "You-Bet Jurassic" (A-) interactive game in the Jurassic Park Discovery Center may even educate some jaded young riders. Even children under the 54" mega-ride height limit are empowered -- the clever Camp Jurassic and Seuss Landing's play areas (both armed with themed water squirters and climbing gyms) enable them to create their own world of play.

Perhaps because they don't have a storehouse of adorable characters and movie heroes, Anheuser-Busch excels at 'amusement' in their amusement parks. World culture, wildlife and dramatic storylines are used to mask screaming coaster rides and interesting gift shops. Experience the super-splashy Congo River Rapids (B+) at the Africa-themed Busch Gardens Tampa or the evocative Escape from Pompeii (B+) in the European park at Busch Gardens Williamsburg and I guarantee all ages will feel as if they've been 'away.'

SeaWorld leads the wildlife park pack, with excellent trained marinelife shows (A), entertaining stunt and extreme sports displays (B+), and imaginative aquarium exhibits (A-). The well-trained educational staff (B+) encourages questions from visitors to enhance the experience. Inexpensive behind-the-scenes tours (my family toured SeaWorld Orlando's animal hospital and marine rehabilitation unit) get an A for reinforcing the learning.