Universal Orlando leads this year's Thea Award honorees
Universal Orlando's Epic Universe led the Themed Entertainment Association's annual Thea Awards last night, picking up four honors.
The Themed Entertainment Association is the industry's leading association of theme park attraction designers. Every year, the TEA selects notable developments in the industry for Thea Awards. Unlike awards like the Oscars, nominees do not compete with one another in select categories. Instead, developments that met the TEA's standard of excellence are awarded in a designated category.
"The Thea Awards represent industry excellence, and this year’s winners and their collective work delight millions of guests around the world while pushing the boundaries of presentation, creativity, and innovation," TEA International Board President and CEO of CurtainUp, Ltd. Matt Barton said.
This year's Thea Awards for Outstanding Achievement are:
- Attraction – Danse Macabre | Efteling
- Attraction – John Wick Experience | Las Vegas
- Attraction – Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment | Universal Epic Universe
- Attraction – WishWorks | Finker-Frenkel Wish House, Miami
- Attraction, Limited Budget – Bagshot Row, Hobbiton Movie Set Tours | Matamata, New Zealand
- Historical Centre – John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture | Onikan, Lagos, Nigeria
- Historical Experience, Limited Budget – Secret Laboratory | Schloss Augustusburg, Germany
- Immersive Venue – Cosm | Los Angeles and Dallas
- Interactive Experience, Limited Budget – Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue | Multiple Locations
- Live Show – Bob Marley Hope Road | Las Vegas
- Museum – KochiKame Museum | Katsushika, Tokyo
- Museum – The Story of Emily | St Ive, Cornwall, United Kingdom
- Ride Experience – Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry | Universal Epic Universe
- Technical Innovation – MAGNOS Sound Transparent Passive 3D LED Screen Technology | Kraftwerk
- Theme Park Land – How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk | Universal Epic Universe
- Theme Park – Legoland Shanghai
- Theme Park – Universal Epic Universe
- Themed Food & Beverage Experience – Haunted Mansion Parlor | Disney Cruise Line
In addition, Universal Creative's Dale Mason won the TEA's Buzz Price Award Recognizing a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements. Mexico's Xcaret Park won the Thea Classic Award for a long-standing attraction that has passed the test of time.
The TEA announced the winners last night in a special event at Universal Epic Universe. The awards will be presented during the annual Thea Awards Gala on May 2. For the first time, the Gala will happen in Orlando, at JW Marriott Orlando Grand Lakes.
Replies (4)
Wow saw nothing about anything Disney Parks … a cruise line food thing only …
I don’t think the Disney parks made any significant new additions, whereas if Universal hadn’t gotten a few of these despite opening a new world class park that would have been a big deal.
Wow, Universal Orlando's Epic Universe is really dominating this year’s Thea Awards! It’s incredible to see how much innovation and creativity went into their attractions like Monsters Unchained and Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. The recognition for How to Train Your Dragon Isle of Berk is also well-deserved it’s amazing how immersive that land looks in the concept art. Excited to see how the awards ceremony in Orlando will go next year! Universal is setting the bar for the future of theme park experiences, and it's great to see so many other parks worldwide also getting the recognition they deserve.
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Wow saw nothing about anything Disney Parks … a cruise line food thing only …