Abbreviation | TEA [1] |
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Founded | 1991 [1] |
Founder | |
Type | Mutual benefit non-profit corporation |
Purpose | Representative body |
Location |
|
Area served | Worldwide |
Membership | 1,600 companies [1] |
President | Lindsey K. Nelson [2] |
Website | www |
THEA Awards | |
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Sponsored by |
|
Date | April |
Location | Los Angeles, California |
First awarded | 1994 |
Website | THEA Awards |
The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) is an international non-profit association that represents creators, developers, designers and producers of themed entertainment. It is also noted for its THEA Awards, which were founded in 1995 and are distributed annually in a range of themed entertainment categories. [3]
The TEA was founded in 1991 by Monty Lunde, a former special effects designer for Disney who had gone on to start the special effects company Technifex with his business partner Rock Hall. [4] The TEA mission, as stated in its bylaws, is to facilitate dialogue and communication among its members, to stimulate knowledge and professional growth, and to expand the size, diversity and awareness of the themed entertainment industry. [5] Every year since 2007, the TEA has hosted a two-day TEA Summit, 2 days prior to the Thea Awards banquet, showcasing the teams that worked on these award-winning projects. [6]
The TEA presents the annual Thea Awards to projects that exemplify the highest standards of excellence and achievement, including individuals, parks, attractions, exhibits, and experiences in the themed entertainment industry. The Thea Awards began in 1994 with a single honoree: Harrison "Buzz" Price, the first recipient of the Thea Lifetime Achievement Award. [7] That award is now called the Buzz Price Thea Award for a Lifetime of Outstanding Achievements in his honor. [8] The second recipient was Marty Sklar in 1995. Bob Gurr was the recipient in 1999. [9] In 1996, the Awards for Outstanding Achievement (AOA) were introduced, and ten were distributed. In the years since, additional special categories of AOA have been created, ensuring a multi-award event. [8] Anyone can nominate a project, but judging is conducted by a committee that includes all past lifetime achievement honorees, one board liaison, and nine members-at-large appointed to three-year terms. [10] Award recipients are announced in November and formally presented the following spring. [3]
In 2024, Theas were awarded to the following: [11]
Award for Outstanding Achievement:
Award | Name | Company | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Attraction | Bermuda Storm | Chimelong | Chimelong Spaceship, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China |
Attraction | Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind | Disney Parks, Experiences and Products | EPCOT, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, U.S. |
Attraction, Limited Budget | Musikkfabrikken Hunderfossen | Hunderfossen | Hunderfossen Familiepark, Lillehammer, Norway |
Indoor Marine Park | SeaWorld Yas Island | SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment | Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
Retail Experience, Limited Budget | Disney Encanto x CAMP | CAMP | New York, New York, U.S. |
Immersive Mall Experience | AURA: The Forest at the Edge of the Sky | Zhejiang Dafeng Industry | Haikou International Duty-Free Shopping Complex, Haikou, China |
Live Show | Le Mime et L’Étoile | Le Puy du Fou | Le Puy du Fou, Les Epesses, France |
Live Spectacular | Geneva Journey | Groupe F | Geneva, Switzerland |
Live Interactive Experience | Peaky Blinders: The Rise | The Everywhere Group | Camden Stables Market, London, England, United Kingdom |
Museum Attraction, Limited Budget | Deutschlandmuseum | Deutschlandmuseum | Berlin, Germany |
Visitor Experience Re-envisioned, Limited Budget | Titanic Belfast | Titanic Belfast Limited | Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom |
Brand Experience | Johnnie Walker Princes Street | BRC Imagination Arts | Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom |
Etended Reality Exhibit | Colored (Noire) | Centre Pompidou | Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France |
Experiential Dining Attraction | Eatrenalin | Europa-Park | Europa-Park, Rust, Germany |
In 2023, Theas were awarded to the following: [12]
Award for Outstanding Achievement:
Award | Name | Company | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Attraction | Chasseurs de Tornades | Compagnie des Alpes | Futuroscope |
Attraction | Jurassic World Adventure | Universal Destinations & Experiences | Universal Studios Beijing |
Attraction, Limited Budget | Underlandet | Liseberg AB | Liseberg |
Connected Immersion | JUMP by Limitless Flight | Limitless Flight | Bluffdale, Utah |
Immersive Dining Experience, Limited Budget | Absurdities Vol. 1 | Andsoforth | Singapore |
Immersive Live Experience | Particle Ink: Speed of Dark | KALEIDOCO | Las Vegas |
Live Event | How to Train Your Dragon: Untrainable | Universal Destinations & Experiences | Universal Beijing Resort |
Science Center | Shanghai Astronomy Museum | Shanghai Astronomy Museum | Shanghai |
Museum, Limited Budget | The Irish Racehorse Experience | Irish National Stud & Gardens Co | Kildare, Ireland |
Historical Experience, Limited Budget | QUAKE | Lisbon Earthquake Center | Lisbon, Portugal |
Brand Experience | Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser | Disney Parks, Experiences and Products | Walt Disney World |
Theme Park | Universal Studios Beijing | Universal Destinations & Experiences | Beijing, China |
Technology | Beaudry Interactive | Beaudry Interactive | Los Angeles |
In 2022, Theas were awarded to the following: [13]
In 2021, Theas were awarded to the following: [14]
In 2020 the Thea Awards and conference were held digitally due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They were awarded to the following: [15]
In 2019, Theas were awarded to the following: [16]
In 2018, Theas were awarded to the following: [17]
In 2017, Theas were awarded to the following: [18]
In 2016, Theas were awarded to the following: [19]
In 2015, Theas were awarded to the following: [20]
In 2014, Theas were awarded to the following: [21]
In 2013, Theas were awarded to the following: [22]
In 2012, Theas were awarded to the following: [23]
In 2011, Theas were awarded to the following: [24]
In 2010, Theas were awarded to the following: [25]
In 2009, Theas were awarded to the following: [26]
In 2008, Thea Awards for Outstanding Achievement were awarded to the following: [27]
In 2007, Theas were awarded to the following: [28]
In 2006, Theas were awarded to the following: [29]
In 2005, Theas were awarded to the following: [29]
In 2003 (awards moved from fall to spring, skipping 2004), Theas were awarded to the following: [29]
In 2002, Theas were awarded to the following: [29]
In 2001, Theas were awarded to the following: [29]
In 2000, Theas were awarded to the following: [29]
In 1999, Theas were awarded to the following: [29]
In 1998, Theas were awarded to the following: [29]
In 1997, Theas were awarded to the following: [29]
In 1996, Theas were awarded to the following: [29]
In 1995, Theas were awarded to the following: [29]
In 1994, Theas were awarded to the following: [29]
An amusement park is a park that features various attractions, such as rides and games, as well as other events for entertainment purposes. A theme park is a type of amusement park that bases its structures and attractions around a central theme, often featuring multiple areas with different themes. Unlike temporary and mobile funfairs and carnivals, amusement parks are stationary and built for long-lasting operation. They are more elaborate than city parks and playgrounds, usually providing attractions that cater to a variety of age groups. While amusement parks often contain themed areas, theme parks place a heavier focus with more intricately-designed themes that revolve around a particular subject or group of subjects.
Hong Kong Disneyland is a theme park located on reclaimed land in Penny's Bay, Lantau Island, Hong Kong. It was the second Disneyland in Asia to open, after Tokyo Disneyland, with Shanghai Disneyland opening in 2016. Hong Kong Disneyland is located inside the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and is owned jointly by Hong Kong International Theme Parks (52%) and the Walt Disney Company (48%). It is the most visited theme park in Hong Kong, followed by Ocean Park Hong Kong. Hong Kong Disneyland opened to visitors on Monday, September 12, 2005, at 13:00 HKT. Disney attempted to avoid problems of cultural backlash by incorporating Chinese culture, customs, and traditions when designing and building the resort, including adherence to the rules of feng shui. Notably, a bend was put in a walkway near the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort entrance so good qi energy would not flow into the South China Sea.
Tokyo Disneyland is a 115-acre (47 ha) theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, near Tokyo. Its main gate is directly adjacent to both Maihama Station and Tokyo Disneyland Station. It was the first Disney park to be built outside the United States and it opened on April 15, 1983. The park was constructed by WED Enterprises in the same style as Disneyland in California and Magic Kingdom in Florida. It is owned by The Oriental Land Company, which licenses intellectual property from The Walt Disney Company. Tokyo Disneyland and its companion park, Tokyo DisneySea, are the only Disney parks in the world not owned or operated by The Walt Disney Company in any capacity.
Walt Disney Studios Park is the second of two theme parks built at Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-Vallée, France. which opened on 16 March 2002. It is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Experiences division. Upon opening, it was dedicated to show business, movie themes, production, and behind-the-scenes, but in the 2010s, in a similar manner to Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in Florida, it began to distance itself from the original studio backlot theming and entered a new direction of attraction development inspired by iconic Disney stories. The park is represented by the Earffel Tower, a water tower with Mickey Mouse ears similar to the one formerly located at Disney's Hollywood Studios, which in turn was inspired by the water tower at the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, California.
Disney Experiences, commonly known as Disney Parks, is one of the three major divisions of The Walt Disney Company. It was founded on April 1, 1971, exactly six months before the opening of Walt Disney World.
Universal Islands of Adventure, originally called Universal Studios Islands of Adventure and later Universal's Islands of Adventure, is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. It opened on May 28, 1999, along with CityWalk, as part of an expansion that converted Universal Studios Florida into the Universal Orlando Resort. The resort's slogan Vacation Like You Mean It was introduced in 2013.
Universal Studios Florida is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida, that opened on June 7, 1990. Owned and operated by NBCUniversal, it features numerous rides, attractions, and live shows that are primarily themed to movies, television, and other aspects of the entertainment industry. Universal Studios Florida was the first of three theme parks to open at Universal Orlando Resort, joined later by Universal Islands of Adventure in 1999, and Universal Volcano Bay in 2017. In 2019, it ranked eleventh in the world – sixth in North America – for overall attendance among amusement parks with approximately 10.9 million visitors. A fourth park, Universal Epic Universe, is expected in 2025.
Universal Studios Japan (ユニバーサル・スタジオ・ジャパン) is a theme park located in Osaka, Japan. Opened on March 31, 2001, it is one of six Universal Studios theme parks worldwide and was the first to open outside the United States. The park is owned and operated by USJ LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of NBCUniversal. The park is similar in layout to Universal Studios Florida and contains selected attractions from both Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood, in addition to a small number of unique attractions.
Bob Rogers is an American designer, producer, and director, most known for his work in themed entertainment. Rogers is founder and chairman of BRC Imagination Arts, a strategic design and production agency. Rogers oversees the creative elements of all BRC projects, serving clients like Coca-Cola, NASA, Disney, Johnnie Walker, Universal Studios, Ford, General Motors, China Mobile, China Telecom, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. He is a former member of the board of directors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Robert Henry Gurr is an American amusement ride designer and Imagineer. His most famous work was for Walt Disney's Disneyland Park, and its subsequent sister parks. Gurr is said to have designed most, if not all, of the ride vehicles of Disneyland's oldest attractions, including Autopia, Main Street Vehicles, the Disneyland Monorail, Matterhorn Bobsleds, Submarine Voyage, and the Haunted Mansion. He was named a Disney Legend in 2004. He also worked on the King Kong Encounter animatronic for Universal Studios Hollywood.
Universal Creative is the division of Universal Destinations & Experiences responsible for designing, developing, engineering, and producing themed attractions, rides, and, resorts. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, the company operates at Universal Parks & Resorts locations around the world in the United States, Singapore, Japan, and China.
Muppet Mobile Lab is a free-roving, audio-animatronic entertainment attraction designed by Walt Disney Imagineering, that has been tested at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California, at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida and at Hong Kong Disneyland in Hong Kong.
Disneyland is a theme park at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. It was the first theme park opened by the Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney, and opened on July 17, 1955.
Shanghai Disneyland is a theme park located in Chuansha New Town, Pudong, Shanghai, China, that is part of the Shanghai Disney Resort. The park is operated by Disney Experiences and Shanghai Shendi Group, through a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and Shendi. Construction began on April 8, 2011. The park opened on June 16, 2016. The park operated in its first half-year with a visitor attendance of 5.60 million guests.
Tokyo DisneySea is a theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort located in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, just next to Tokyo. It opened on 4 September 2001, at a cost of 335 billion yen. The Oriental Land Company owns the park, and licenses intellectual property from The Walt Disney Company. In 2023, Tokyo DisneySea hosted 12.4 million visitors, making it the seventh-most visited theme park in the world and the third-most visited in Japan.
Harrison Alan "Buzz" Price was a research economist specializing in how people spend their leisure time and resources. Price guided Walt Disney in the siting and development of Disneyland in Southern California and of Walt Disney World in Central Florida.
Yves Pépin is a creator of multimedia shows and large-scale events including the multi-awarded Eiffel Tower Millennium Show. In the course of his career, Pépin's projects have been honored with many awards; an outstanding personal honor was received in 2006, when his peers in the Themed Entertainment Association, the international association for creators of compelling places and experiences, presented him with the prestigious TEA Thea Award for a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements.
Chimelong Ocean Kingdom is a theme park situated in Hengqin, Zhuhai, People's Republic of China. It was designed by PGAV Destinations. The park broke ground on November 28, 2010 and soft-opened on January 28, 2014. The grand opening occurred on March 29 of that year. The first phase of the park cost RMB 10 billion to build. It is part of the Chimelong International Ocean Tourist Resort, which aims to become the "Orlando of China". In 2023 the park hosted 12.52 million visitors, making it the sixth-most visited theme park in the world and the most visited theme park in the world that is not a Disney or Universal park.
Avengers Campus is a Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)–themed area located at Disney California Adventure and Walt Disney Studios Park in Disneyland Paris, and being developed for Hong Kong Disneyland under the name Stark Expo. The Marvel-themed areas or "lands" are being developed simultaneously at the three parks and inspired by the MCU. However, they instead take place in the "Marvel Theme Park Universe", an alternate universe parallel to it within the MCU multiverse, in which the Blip, introduced in Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and subsequent events did not occur. They are designed by Walt Disney Imagineering, in collaboration with Marvel Studios and Marvel Themed Entertainment.
For the last quarter-century, the Themed Entertainment Association has hosted the annual TEA Thea Awards, a prestigious who's-who in the themed attraction industry.