A
family entertainment center (or
centre), often abbreviated
FEC in the entertainment industry, is a small
amusement park marketed towards families with small children to teenagers, and often entirely indoors or associated with a larger operation such as a
theme park. They usually cater to "sub-regional markets of larger metropolitan areas." FECs are generally small compared to full-scale amusement parks, with fewer attractions, a lower per-person per-hour cost to consumers than a traditional amusement park, and not usually major tourist attractions, but sustained by an area customer base. Many are locally owned and operated, although there are a number of chains and franchises in the field. FECs are sometimes called
family amusement centers,
play zones,
family fun centers, or simply
fun centers. Some non-traditional FECs, called
urban entertainment centers (
UECs), with more customized and branded attractions and retail outlets, are associated with major entertainment companies and may be tourist destinations. Others, sometimes operated by
Non-Profit organizations as
Children's Museums or
Science Centers, tend to be geared toward
edutainment experiences rather than simply amusement. FECs may also be adjuncts to full-scale amusement parks.