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.
TEA Summit Day 1 – Industry Presentations
Day one is closed to the press, which allows for more open discussion of trade secrets and developments which are better served as surprises to theme park guests.
The day opened with a case study on Dollywood, the park honored with The Thea Classic Award. Morning discussions included subjects such as the global economy, trends and their effect on the industry. Afternoon sessions included focuses on live entertainment, the future of zoos and aquariums, safety and parenting issues in parks. Guests were treated to a special discussion from Disney Imagineers about how storytelling is changing in the theme park medium.
The day ended with a “fireside chat” with Mark Woodbury, the Universal Parks and Resorts executive being honored with The Buzz Price Lifetime Achievement Thea Award, where he shared wisdom gained from a career in creating incredible places for people to engage their imaginations and have fun.
TEA Summit Day 2 – Case Studies
Day two, however, is open to press so we jumped at the invitation to cover it. The day is packed full of case studies showcasing the stories behind the creation of the attractions nominated for Thea Awards. Here they are, one by one:
Volcano Bay: Thea for Water Theme Park – Universal Orlando Resort

Volcano Bay – Photo credit Universal Orlando Resort

Dale Mason and Justin Schwartz describe the challenges and triumphs of building Volcano Bay. – Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association
A grand and inspiring polynesian-inspired water park surrounding a 200-foot-tall volcano known as Krakatau.
“We have impossible ideas, and give ourselves impossible schedules, and then we set out to do it.” – Justin Schwartz, Universal Creative
Fantawild Oriental Heritage: Thea For Theme Park – Xiamen, China

Fantawild Oriental Heritage Park – Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association

Daisy Shang of Fantawild Holdings, Inc. uplifts the rich history of the Chinese people.
A beautiful park with 9 thematic areas & 12 major attractions that presents thousands of years of Chinese history, culture, and folktales.
“Cumulative experience is the foundation for success” – Daisy Shang, Fantawild Oriental Heritage
Be Washington: It’s Your Turn to Lead: Thea for Museum Experience on a Limited Budget – George Washington’s Mount Vernon

Be Washington: It’s Your Turn To Lead – Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association

Rob Shenk and Matt Briney of George Washington’s Mount Vernon and Joseph Cortina of Cortina Prod. seek to keep Washington’s memory alive. Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association.
A first-person, interactive experience where guests face crises that Washington faced during his presidency.
“We didn’t need to invent any heroic stories. We just needed new ways to tell them.” – Rob Shenk, George Washington’s Mt. Vernon.
The Evel Knievel Museum: Thea for Museum on a Limited Budget – Topeka, KS

The Evel Knievel Museum – Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association.

Amanda Beach, Bruce Zimmerman, and Michael Patterson of The Evel Knievel Museum tell the death-defying tale of their unexpected rise to a TEA Thea Award. Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association.
Tribute to the motorcycle stuntman’s life and achievements featuring exhibits of memorabilia, vehicles, costumes, and a VR stunt experience.
“We’re not museum people, so we put out for design quotes, then we quickly realized we were going to build this museum ourselves.” – Michael Patterson, The Evel Knievel Museum
LEGO® House A/S: Thea for Brand Center – Billund, Denmark

LEGO House A/S – Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association.

Jesper Vilstrup of the LEGO House builds a case for the best LEGO location on earth. Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association.
Immersive brand center for children and adults to engage their creativity while pushing the limits of their learning through play.
LEGO House is… “A physical manifestation of a vision to stimulate life and creativity.” – Jesper Vilstrup, LEGO House
MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM: teamLab Borderless – Thea for Connected Immersion in Digital Art – Tokyo, Japan

MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM:teamLab Borderless – Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association.

Takashi Kudo mixes philosophy, sake, and elaborate projection mapping in his description of teamLab Borderless. Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association.
Collaborative experience by Japan’s famed art collective, teamLab, and urban landscape developer featuring dozens of interactive digital works of art.
“The artworks communicate and fuse with the other artworks.” – Takashi Kudo, teamLab
ILLUMINATIONS: human/nature: Thea for Connected Immersion in Digital Overlay Experience, Limited Budget – Canada

Illuminations: human/nature – Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association.

Tamara Ross and Sarah Fuller of Illuminations and Simon Garant of Moment Factory were as concerned with their project’s environmental footprint as they were its impact on the guests.
Magical, nighttime, digital spectacular which highlights the rich history and ecological interests in two of Canada’s national parks.
“No matter what marks we make, the marks frame the landscape of the future.” – Sarah Fuller, Co-Creator, Illuminations: Human Nature
Bazyliszek, Park Legendia, Chorzow, Poland: Thea for Attraction on a Limited Budget

Bazyliszek Dark Ride – Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association.

Pawel Cebula of Legendia and Benoit Cornet of Alterface describe Bazyliszek, the most advanced ride in Poland’s oldest theme park. Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association.
Interactive dark ride about one of the most famous stories in all of Polish fairy tales about a snake with a chicken head.
“We had to build the best attraction possible on our limited budget, so that’s why we partnered with the best.” – Pawel Cebula, Park Legendia
JUSTICE LEAGUE: Battle for Metropolis: Thea for Attraction – Six Flags Magic Mountain

JUSTICE LEAGUE: Battle for Metropolis – Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association

Les Hudson of Six Flags Entertainment with Rich Hill of Sally Corporation tell the heroic tales of the making of their epic dark ride advances. Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association.
Story-driven dark-ride that blends multiple effects (3D, dimensional sets, animatronics, projection mapping, and interactive gaming.
Why does the ride start with all the heroes imprisoned by the villains? “We want the guests to be the heroes.” – Rich Hill, Sally Corporation
Nemo & Friends SeaRider: Thea for Repurposed Attraction – Tokyo Disney Sea

Nemo & Friends SeaRider – Photo credit: Tokyo Disney Resort

Owen Yoshino of Walt Disney Imagineering dives deep in the story of reimagining a classic simulator ride (StormRider) into a family adventure. Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association.
Charming and exciting 3D simulator ride based on the Pixar property taking the place of its predecessor, StormRider.
“We never know exactly what we’re doing until we’re done. Only then can we say, ‘we can do that!’” – Roger Gould, Pixar Animation Studios
SlideWheel: Thea for Attraction – Chimelong Water Park

SlideWheel at Chimelong Water Park – Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association

Rainer Maelzer of wiegand.maelzer GmbH tells the story of one boy’s impossible dream that became a reality at Chimelong. Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association.
A unique mashup of waterslide and Ferris wheel, it is a visually appealing experience for riders and spectators alike.
“When we think about buying a ride, we think about 2 major factors. One is the product itself, and the other is the people.” – Chris Ho, Chimelong Group
Fantastic Journey, Majestic Princess: Thea for Live Show Spectacular, Limited Budget – Princess Cruises

Fantastic Journey, Majestic Princess – Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association

Bob Binniol and Danny Teeson describe the challenges of including a drone light show inside a moving metal cruise ship as part of Princess Cruises’ Fantastic Journey spectacular. Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association
A live musical concert spectacular featuring high-tech projection mapping, immersive audio, lighting design, and drone show all on board a cruise ship.
“We asked what would be detrimental factors to a flying drone show inside a theater. They said a venue with a lot of metal in it.” – Bob Bonniol
Legend of Camel Bells: Thea for Live Show Spectacular – Huaxia Cultural Tourism Resort, Xi’an, Shanxi Province, China

The Legend of Camel Bells – Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association

Bingo Tso of ACE International brings the story of the silk road to life on a massive rotating theater. Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association.
Stage show telling the story of the legendary Silk Road travelers utilizing massive props, huge cast, animal actors, all presented on a stadium-sized circular stage surrounding a 3,000 person audience on a rotating platform.
“The audience experiences a journey like no other.” – Bingo Tso, ACE International
Universal Spectacle Night Parade: Thea for Live Show Spectacular – Universal Studios Japan

Universal Spectacle Night Parade – Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association

Mike Davis of Universal Parks and Resorts tells how guest experience and expectations were of paramount importance when developing the Universal Spectacle Night Parade. Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association.
Lighted, musical nighttime parade that brings to life memorable movie moments that surround and immerse guests in the story.
At some point in the development process… “we have to stop talking about the creativity and start talking about the practical application of design (PAD).” – Mike Davis, Universal Parks & Resorts
Intel Shooting Star Drone System: Technology Showcase

Intel Shooting Star Drones – Photo courtesy Themed Entertainment Association

Anil V. Nanduri and Daniel Gurdan of Intel wish to put the technology of their Shooting Star drones into the hands of themed entertainment creators.
Ultra lightweight drones provide brilliant moving light points with billions of color combinations creating automated animation in the night sky.
“It’s only a tool, so we need creative people to create something amazing that people want to come and see.” – Daniel Gurdan, Intel
Read about the 2018 TEA Thea Awards Gala HERE.
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