Latest Industry News

Join us tomorrow December 2nd @ 12:45pm for the ITTT Showcase featuring Ultraleap. Invitation To Tomorrow Today (ITTT) was founded by TEA Master Roberta Perry, NormaLynn Cutler, Susie Ogihara and Heidi Hirsch.  We present monthly virtual series, on Zoom to showcase people and /or companies with innovative market ready solutions targeting known or unknown challenges…

The awarded slide is located at Aquapark Reda in Poland and was put into operation on January 10, 2020.The team of Aquapark Reda named the slide Aquaspinner. The SlideWheel – developed by wiegand.waterrides – is a combination of a Ferris wheel and a water slide offering a unique dimension of sliding which is not comparable to any other existing slide.

Partner PortAventura World Honored by TEA Thea Awards for Dark Ride Sesame Street: Street Mission JACKSONVILLE, FL:  Sally Dark Rides, a leading creator of family ride experiences around the globe, today announced its partner PortAventura World was awarded the prestigious Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement for dark ride Sesame Street: Street Mission. Named by the…

ATRAX 2021 to be held 8-10 April in Istanbul Tureks International Fairs Co. has announced news dates for ATRAX-International Amusement-Attraction, Parks-Recreation Exhibition which will be held on 8-10 April in Istanbul, Turkey. The reason for postpone is in order to offer a healthier and more effective event experience. With this update made with the goal…

Orlando, FL, November 16, 2020 – The newest addition to Falcon’s Creative Group’s expanding portfolio of patented and patent-pending offerings is the GameSuite™ product, an immersive gaming environment for friends and families to play, lounge, and connect. Each GameSuite™ unit combines an enveloping game bay and an adjoining lounge area, where the experience can dynamically…

ITEC Entertainment Contributes to Once-in-a-lifetime Industry Collaboration Highlights Themed Entertainment Strength During Time of Turbulence ORLANDO, Fla. – (November 13, 2020) – ITEC Entertainment Corporation, an industry leader of worldwide entertainment solutions, today announced its contribution and partnership with Give Kids The World Village, a nonprofit resort that brightens the lives of critically ill children…

Mad Systems Inc. Announces Issuance of U.S. Patent Covering Recognition Based Media Delivery Revolutionary Audiovisual Systems Deliver Personalized Content using Color, License Plate, and Facial Recognition  Orange, CA: Mad Systems Inc., an audiovisual design and integration company specializing in interactive exhibits, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued U.S.…

Prayer Networking Invitation Friends! Please join us for the annual Prayer Networking Event on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020 at 12 noon EST. This industry event will be both live and in-person as well as virtual and on-line, featuring guest speaker Theron Skees, Portfolio Creative Executive of Walt Disney Imagineering. Although the International Association of Amusement…

A gripping, new horror dark ride experience has been unveiled by themed attraction designers Katapult, in collaboration with simulator ride manufacturer, Simworx.

Borrow one of Chandler’s sweaters, because The FRIENDS™ Experience has blown into the Windy City for a limited time! Originally created for the show’s 25th anniversary, fans can celebrate their favorite friends and revisit some of the series’ most iconic moments with this two-story, enhanced experience created by Superfly X, Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Warner…

FEC open at Shenzhen OCT Happy Harbor at the end of the year SHENZHEN, CHINA – China Leisure Development Co., (CLDC) and ViacomCBS have inked a deal to develop a Nickelodeon-themed Family Entertainment Center (FEC) in the city of Shenzhen, China. Comprising four attraction zones featuring SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol, Dora the Explorer, and Teenage…

Falcon’s Creative Group Teams with Eric Calderon to Create New Animated Series Based on Katmandu® IP Beloved characters from Katmandu Parks will be brought to life through an animated series developed by two entertainment powerhouses Orlando, Fla., September 22, 2020—Falcon’s Creative Group, a leading experience design and animation company in the world of themed entertainment,…

(Lake Elsinore, CA, September 22, 2020) – Storyland Studios announced today the hiring of three new leaders and promotion of one across multiple disciplines. The announcement comes as Storyland sees continued growth in the experience design business. The four strategic positions will play key roles in supporting the company’s rapidly expanding client portfolio.   Storyland…

Storyland Studios, an experience design firm that helps brands connect their stories in three dimensions, congratulates Children’s Hunger Fund (CHF) for receiving the Themed Entertainment Association’s (TEA) Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement on a Limited Budget for Poverty Encounter, a permanent exhibit, at the non-profit’s Los Angeles headquarters.  Storyland Studios contributed concept development and design…

In a year where nothing is going right, it’s hard to find a silver lining to 2020. With dozens of theme parks shut down and even the entertainment behemoths like Universal and Disney struggling, everything seems to be in freefall. As we move closer and closer to October, us at Gilderfluke started wondering, what is…

Storyland Studios Opens UK Branch, Hires Former Disney Leaders Spatial storytelling design firm Storyland Studios announced Thursday that they are expanding their availability to clients by opening an international branch in London. Disney alumnus Ben Thompson will run the office just outside of London, England as Chief Strategy Officer and Head of International, effective August…

Offering exclusive insight, education and rarely-found, direct accessibility to a senior level creative leader. Florida July 30, 2020: The founder of The Designer’s Creative Studio, Theron Skees, announced today the addition of learning content to the company’s recently launched website and gave a sneak peek of the many offerings in development. These expanded features will…

July 17 is such a special day. Disneyland opened 65 years ago…and Imagineering an American Dreamscape went on sale, well, a little less than that. It’s finally done, and what a fun journey it’s been putting it together.   The book traces the evolution from the grand world expositions to Disneyland, laying the groundwork for…

One of the great stories of conservation and animal advocacy in the past century is Jane Goodall’s action to protect chimpanzees and inspire action to preserve the natural world. And that story continues as Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Dr. Jane Goodall, an exhibition for National Geographic Museum has been named an overall winner of…

(Stevensville, Maryland): As parks around the world examine the ways to safely re-open their properties Ride Entertainment has services to help. Two key areas are Skycoaster® and attraction maintenance. “We know that things will look different as properties start to open,” said Adam Sandy, President of Business Development. “We want to do our part to…

Benoit Cornet launches BoldMove Corporation for high-energy and affordable digital attractions Unique vendor-independent service to prep for post-crisis era Benoit “Ben” Cornet is proud to announce the launch of BoldMove Corporation to the entertainment market. With his team he will be advising theme parks & leisure venues on selecting the best technology for their digital…

Theme parks and crowd handling may never be the same after the Covid-19 period. The Covid-19 epidemic makes us humans look differently at other humans. We keep our distance as the other person might be contagious. We are more suspicious of others. How will this affect our feelings and behavior after this Covid-19 is gone?…

Miziker Entertainment, the themed entertainment company behind dozens of award winning shows, parades, media-based attractions, and memorable guest experiences, will host a 3-day mentorship and professional development weekend for eight qualified students from SCAD’s (Savannah College of Art & Design) pioneering undergraduate and graduate programs in themed entertainment design and related disciplines. The weekend, known…

(SAN JOSE) – VBO Tickets launches new QuickBooks™ Online integration for its cutting-edge event ticketing software, a development that further advances an accounting solution in their platform. This integration allows accountants to easily custom create GL account logic in VBO Tickets and replicate box office sales transactions from their QuickBooks Online account. Items in VBO…

Shandong Huaxia Cultural Tourism Group Named for 2 Prestigious Awards The magic and wonder of Chinese traditions are alive and well at Huaxia theme park resorts in China. The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) and the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) have both named Shandong Huaxia Cultural Tourism group for two original, live…

DESIGNED/BUILD BY ADG, OPENING MAY 2020 February 20, 2020 (Cohoes, NY) Aquatic Development Group (ADG) has been contracted as design/builder of the 1-acre ‘Coconut Shores’ water play kid’s area renovation project at Kings Dominion Soak City Water Park (VA). The area is currently under construction and is slated to open May 2020. Kings Dominion approached…

February 4, 2020 (Vienna, Austria): The world’s first Booster Unhinged debuted in the spring of 2019 at Prater Park and added yet another element of thrills to this traditional amusement park. The new attraction, dubbed King Size, puts a new twist on the classic extreme ride. “After over 20 years of success with our original…

[Los Angeles, CA]: bohdri, LLC today announced the launch of bohdri.com, a new online job platform designed exclusively for the Themed Entertainment industry. bohdri offers a new way for individual talent and organizations in the themed entertainment industry to connect. It’s the new way to ‘gig’ in the industry. “Having run a design and production…

Efteling, the famed theme park in the Netherlands, has added the last two track sections for their new dual-tracked, powered roller coaster, Max & Moritz. Using nearly 5,000 bolts and nuts, the 59th and 60th track sections have today been installed. This completes the two different track courses of the new Mack Rides coaster. Located…

FORREC Hires Executive Producer, David Kenneth November 12, 2019 [Toronto, Ontario] – Emmy-nominated producer takes his skills off-screen, creating the ultimate immersive entertainment experience. FORREC, is proud to announce its newest hire, David Kenneth, as Executive Producer at the company for its new Media Studio. Kenneth began his career in live-action production before moving into…

Immersive Experiences by Falcon’s Creative Group Brings Jane Goodall’s Story to Life at National Geographic Exhibition Through a variety of innovative multi-media storytelling techniques and technologies, “Becoming Jane” delves into the iconic scientist’s remarkable journey and how she became one of the world’s leading conservationists. Learn more: https://falconscreativegroup.com/selected-work/becoming-jane-the-evolution-of-dr-jane-goodall Photo-realistic computer-generated imagery (CGI), 3D projection mapping,…

NEW 3D FILM IN COLLABORATION WITH MULTI AWARD-WINNING UK STUDIO AARDMAN 7 December 2019: Efteling – the fairytale theme park in the south of Holland – has celebrated the official opening of its newest attraction Fabula – a 4D film adventure complete with a new themed restaurant. Centred on the theme of nature, Fabula comprises…

One of the most sustainable, world-class destinations also reveals ‘six lands’ London, 5th December 2019 – The London Resort has revealed new, concept artwork, for the six lands that will be created as the first phase of the 535-acre site, the equivalent of 136 Wembley Stadiums. The visuals are the first to be revealed since…

Starnberg, November 21, 2019 wiegand.waterrides GmbH received the IAAPA Brass Ring Award for the best new product concept. The award ceremony took place at the great IAAPA Gala last night in Orlando, Florida. The new product is called SlideCoaster – a combination of roller coaster and water slide. It is the first coaster-waterslide-combination worldwide! This…

That big $150 million dirt pile is getting serious these days. Along with the new buildings and creek retaining walls, Hersheypark’s 2020 hyper coaster Candymonium was topped off today. Reaching a peak of 210ft, the delicious-looking, sweet-smelling, chocolate-colored B&M will be the centerpiece of the park’s new expansion property. Visitors strolling through the new front…

What park can you think of with a better brand than Hersheypark? I mean, really. I drive through Hershey every day and it’s one of the most unique towns you’ll ever see, from the Kiss-shaped streetlights, the majestic Hershey Theatre and other ornate buildings erected during the Great Depression, and the original chocolate factory before…

The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) Summit is a gathering of theme park and experience design industry professionals, which takes place every year at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California. It’s a three day event which culminates in a gala celebration of those projects honored with a TEA Thea Award, considered the industry’s highest honor.  …

One of the themed entertainment industry’s highest honors will be presented to Mark Woodbury, Vice Chairman of Universal Parks & Resorts and President of Universal Creative, at the Themed Entertainment Association‘s (TEA) 25th Annual TEA Thea Awards Gala on April 13. Woodbury will receive the distinguished Buzz Price Thea Award for his Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements…

The history of audio-animatronics cannot be told without Walt Disney’s tribute to America’s sixteenth president, Abraham Lincoln. In the same way, animatronics history also cannot be told without Garner Holt, one of the world’s foremost leaders in the craft. Disney’s historic animatronics show, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, debuted at the 1964 World’s Fair and…

Designers and representatives from Wiegand.Maelzer, a water slide creator in Germany, knew they had something special with their water slide/Ferris wheel hybrid, “SlideWheel,” but they never expected the reaction from international theme park community. After the World Waterpark Association (WWA) Tradeshow in Las Vegas and the IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando, SlideWheel took home, not…

Dynamic Attractions Duel Power Coaster is the world’s most advanced roller coaster vehicle: If you had a Hot Wheels racing set as a kid, you’ve no doubt let your imagination run with some of the death-defying moves your car can make. But what if you could do all those same moves in a theme park…

Question: How many theme park professionals can you fit into a 30 x 30 convention booth? Answer: Depends. Can we use a Pepper’s Ghost? The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) announced the recipients of their prestigious TEA Thea Awards at IAAPA’s Attractions Expo today. Clearly one of the most anticipated announcements of the week, the large,…

TEA Thea Award recipients to be announced at IAAPA – 11/13/18 at 2pm The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) will officially announce the new slate of TEA Thea Awards recipients at a press conference on Tuesday, Nov 13, 2018 at 2:00 pm (local time) during the IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando. New TEA International Board President Michael Mercadante…

Stunned. That’s how we felt after a preview visit to Poverty Encounter, the new immersive attraction built by Children’s Hunger Fund (CHF) in Los Angeles. The non-profit is currently prepping their walk-through experience for public opening in December. The attraction is meant to be an eye-opening, educational look at the plight of the extremely poor…

The 2018 TEA Thea Awards, Anaheim, California. April 7, 2018 By Freddy Martin ANAHEIM – When civil rights activist and U.S. Representative, John Lewis, dedicated the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in Washington, DC, his words echoed the triumph of generations; “See what a dream can do.” The NMAAHC was…