A new Universal theme park near Bedford – the first in Europe – was announced to much fanfare earlier this week.
Set to open in 2031, construction is to begin at the 476-acre (1.9-sq-km) site, where attractions are likely to feature James Bond, Paddington and The Lord of the Rings.
But from deciding how many loops to include on a coaster, to making sure even the trees blend in seamlessly with an area's design, building a dream world is a painstaking task.
To find out what planning lies behind the thrills, and what sort of things we could expect when the new Universal park finally arrives, BBC News spoke to some rollercoaster experts.
Building an iconic rollercoaster
Of course, any good theme park needs some good rides – but maybe it's an understatement to say that's a tall order.
While "at least two or three iconic rides" are needed, these need not necessarily be the fastest, tallest or most innovative to stand out, explains Andy Sinclair-Harris, creative director at Katapult, which has designed attractions for the likes of Legoland and Alton Towers.
"What is more important is the depth of storytelling," he says, so that you're fully immersed in the experience of the ride.
A good example, says Robbie Jones, insights director at Katapult, is a Harry-Potter-themed rollercoaster called Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, located at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal's Orlando resort. Riders sit in replicas of Hagrid's motorbike and zoom through recreations of settings from the popular film series.
"There's nothing particularly brand new or absolutely amazing about that ride, other than it tells a story amazingly well," he adds.
