Listed here are all the Thea award recipients since 2013. You can also view full details of recipients from 2013 onwards here.
1st Thea Award (1994)
Harrison “Buzz” Price (Lifetime Achievement Award)
2nd Thea Awards (1995)
Marty Sklar (Lifetime Achievement Award)
3rd Thea Awards (1996)
Monty Lunde (Outstanding Individual)
Awards for Outstanding Achievement
Ocean Base Atlantic, New Jersey State Aquarium
Wild Arctic, Sea World Florida
Waterworld, A Live Sea War Spectacular, Universal Studios Hollywood
Fremont Street Experience, Las Vegas
Rainforest Café, Schaumburg, Illinois
Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, Epcot
Indiana Jones Adventure, The Temple of the Forbidden Eye, Disneyland
Mystery Lodge, Knott’s Berry Farm
Space Mountain, From the Earth to the Moon, Disneyland Paris
4th Annual Thea Awards (1997)
Lifetime Achievement
Don Iwerks
Thea Classic
Pirates of the Caribbean, Disneyland
Awards for Outstanding Achievement
Terminator 2:3D, The Battle Across Time, Universal Studios Florida
Villa Volta, Efteling, Holland (Attraction)
Daytona USA, Daytona Speedway, Florida
Apollo/Saturn V Center, KSC, Florida
Warner Bros. Studio Store Expansion, NYC
Niketown New York, NYC
Caesars Magical Empire, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas
The Intergalactic Circus Spectacular, Lotte World, Seoul, Korea
Rock’n Robin, Cinema World, Kamakura City, Japan (Limited Budget)
Dark Castle, Fantasy Pointe, Nasu Highlands, Japan (Limited Budget)
5th Annual Thea Awards (1998)
Lifetime Achievement
John Hench
Thea Classic
Calico Mountain (The Mine Train Ride), Knotts Berry Farm (Classic)
Awards for Outstanding Achievement
Ripley’s Aquarium, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Star Trek: The Experience, Las Vegas
Space Quest Casino, Las Vegas
New York-New York Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas
The Power of Houston
Coney Island Emporium in the New York-New York Hotel
Masquerade Show in the Sky, Rio Suite Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas
Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds UK
Adventure Slots (Limited Budget)
Encounter at LAX, Los Angeles International Airport (Limited Budget)
UFO Encounters (Limited Budget)
6th Annual Thea Awards (1999)
Lifetime Achievement
Bob Gurr
Thea Classic
The Haunted Mansion, Disneyland
Awards for Outstanding Achievement
“It’s Tough to be a Bug,” Animal Kingdom
Journey to Atlantis, Sea World Orlando
Animal Kingdom
Disney Quest, Orlando
American Girl Place, Chicago
Acquamatrix Show at the Lisbon World Expo ’98
Café Odyssey, Mall of America
“O”, Cirque du Soleil, Las Vegas
Viejas Outlet Center & Legend of Nightfire Fountain Show
DVP Server Pro (Technical)
Titanic Official Movie Tour
Robot Zoo, Toronto, Canada
M&M’s Academy, Las Vegas (Limited Budget)
Hotel Gasten, Liseberg, Sweden (Limited Budget)
7th Annual Thea Awards (2000)
Thea Classic
Tivoli Gardens
Awards for Outstanding Achievement
The Stone Forest (Attraction)
Trial by Fire (Limited Budget)
The Palmach Museum, Israel
“The Year 2000 Starting Signal” Millennium Pyro Ballet
Richmond Sound Design Ltd.’s AudioBox (Technology)
James Cameron’s Titanic: The Experience
COSI Columbus
FiestAventura at Universal Studios Port Aventura, Spain
Test Track Presented by GM
Gold’s Gym presents HEROES – Health, Fitness and Beyond
Animator’s Palate
Atlantis, Paradise Island
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man at Universal Orlando
8th Annual Thea Awards (2001)
Lifetime Achievement
Tony Baxter
Thea Classic
Silver Dollar City
Awards for Outstanding Achievement
Millennium Village Event
Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle of the Buccaneer Gold
Sydney 2000 Olympics: Opening Ceremony
The Great Platte River Road Archway Monument
Nickelodeon Flying Super Saturator
Men in Black: Alien Attack
Discovery Cove
Lights of Liberty Show
HollandRama, Holland
Kid’s City/La Ciudad de los Ninos
Desert Passage
Volkswagen Autostadt, Germany
Exploration in the New Millenium (Limited Budget)
L’Oxygenarium, France (Limited Budget)
Stealth – World’s First Flying Coaster (Innovation)
Disney’s FASTPASS (Innovation)
9th Annual Thea Awards (2002)
Lifetime Achievement
Jon Jerde
Thea Classic
Universal Studio’s Tram Tour
Awards for Outstanding Achievement
The Sherman Brothers (Special Achievement)
Les Mysteres de la Mer, France
The London Eye, United Kingdom
Animal Celebration, Universal Studios Japan
Disney Animation, Disney’s California Adventure
Soarin’ Over California, Disney California Adventure
FDNY Fire Zone, New York (Limited Budget)
Star of Destiny Theater, Texas State History Museum
Busch Gardens: Ireland
Media Pro 4000 (Technology)
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Orlando
Tokyo DisneySea & Entertainment Program
Chicano Now: American Expressions
Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark, Texas
Texas Wild!, Ft. Worth Zoo
10th Annual Thea Awards (2003)
Lifetime Achievement
George Millay
Thea Classic
Knott’s Scary Farm Halloween Haunt
Awards for Outstanding Achievement
Legoland Parks (Special Achievement)
Cine’Magique, Walt Disney Studios, Disneyland Paris
Templo del Fuego, Universal’s PortAventura, Spain
Tomb Raider: The Ride, Paramount’s Kings Island, Cincinnati
Stitch’s Photo Phone, Walt Disney Imagineering (Technology)
Haunted Mansion Holiday, Disneyland
2002 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies, Salt Lake City
Cerritos Library, City of Cerritos, CA
The Great Barn, Stone Mountain, GA (Limited Budget)
Luz y Voces del Tajin, Mexico
The Grove, Los Angeles, CA
Die Glaserne Manufaktur Dresden, Germany
The Guinness Storehouse, Dublin, Ireland
(Note, the Thea Award Gala was moved from fall to spring, skipping 2004)
11th Annual Thea Awards (2005)
Lifetime Achievement
Barry Upson
Thea Classic
Efteling Park, Holland
Awards for Outstanding Achievement
Revenge of the Mummy, Universal Orlando
The Challenge of Tutankhamon, Walibi Belgium
Mission: SPACE, Walt Disney World, Orlando
Aladdin, Disneyland
Freedom Rising, National Constitution Center, Philadelphia
The Imagination Workshop, Temecula, CA (Limited Budget)
The Spy Museum, Washington DC
The Ford Rouge Factory Tour, Dearborn, MI
uShaka Marine World, Durban, South Africa
Lucky the Dinosaur, Walt Disney Imgineering Research & Development (Technology)
Jurassic Park Institute Tour, Japan
Action! An Adventure in Moviemaking, Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago (Limited Budget)
Health Royale, The Avampato Discovery Center, WV (Limited Budget)
Greenfield Village, The Henry Ford, Dearborn, MI
12th Annual Thea Awards (2006)
Lifetime Achievement
Yves Pépin
Thea Classic
Disneyland
Awards for Outstanding Achievement
Olympic Spirit Toronto
Ice Age Adventure! Bremen Germany (Limited Budget)
Images of Singapore at Sentosa Island
Athens 2004 Olympics Opening Ceremony
Dodge Wild Earth at the Philadelphia Zoo (Limited Budget)
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum
The Churchill Lifeline Table, London, UK
Remember...Dreams Come True
MagiQuest Technology (Technology)
Curse of DarKastle: The Ride
Fear Factor Live, Unviersal Studios Hollywood
13th Annual Thea Awards (2007)
Lifetime Achievement
Bob Rogers of BRC Imagination Arts
Thea Classic
Madame Tussauds, London UK
Awards for Outstanding Achievement
Toyota Pavilion, Expo 2005 Japan
U-505, MSI Chicago
Zoomazium, Woodland Park Zoo
The Great Glass Elevator, Alton Towers UK
Kidspace Museum, Pasadena, CA The Real Cost Cafe, Monterey Bay Aquarium, CA
Robots, MSI Chicago
Ski Dubai, Dubai
Ashes & Snow, Tour
Believe, Sea Worlds
Boudin at the Wharf, San Francisco
Expedition Everest, Disney's Animal Kingdom
Georgia Aquarium, USA
Lifetime Achievement
Robert L. Ward
Thea Classic
Epcot
Awards for Outstanding Achievement
Museum of the Marine Corps
Operation Spy, an Interactive Adventure at the International Spy Museum The Newseum
Forces of Nature at the Arizona Science Center
Audubon Insectarium
Air Force One Discovery Center at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Finding Nemo The Musical
The Legend of Mythica
Muppet Mobile Lab
2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremonies
Wynn Macau's Tree of Prosperity
Jungala at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Florida
BeWILDerwood
Molenheide The Forgotten MineOetken
The Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood
16th Annual Thea Awards (2010)
Lifetime Achievement
Mark Fuller, WET Design
Thea Classic
Coal Mine, Chicago Museum of Science and Industry
Awards for Outstanding Achievement
Toy Story Midway Mania, California Adventure and Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World
Dragon’s Treasure Show, City of Dreams, Macau
Disaster! Universal Studios Florida
The Museum at Bethel Woods, New York USA
Please Touch Museum, Philadelphia USA
America I Am: The African American Imprint
Skyscraper! Achievement & Impact, Liberty Science Center, Liberty State Park, Jersey City USA
McNeil Avian Center, Philadelphia Zoo (Limited Budget)
Tea Show @ OCT East Resort, Shenzhen, China
Heineken Experience, Amsterdam
Please note: From 2011 on, the “Life Time Achievement Award” was renamed “The Buzz Price Thea Award - Recognizing a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements”
17th Annual Thea Awards (2011)
The Buzz Price Thea Award - Recognizing a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements
Kim Irvine
Thea Classic
The Exploratorium, San Francisco, CA
Awards for Outstanding Achievement
Along the River During the Qingming Festival, China Pavilion, Shanghai Expo 2010
The National Infantry Museum, Columbus, Georgia USA
The Walt Disney Family Museum, San Francisco, USA
Science Storms, Museum of Science & Industry, Chicago USA
Beyond All Boundaries, Solomon Victory Theater, National World War II Museum, New Orleans USA
Glasnevin Museum, Dublin, Ireland
World of Color, Disney California Adventure, Anaheim USA
ICT Mobile Device, Information and Communications Pavilion, Shanghai Expo 2010 (Technology)
"Flynn Lives," ComiCon 2010 San Diego, Calif. USA
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Resort Orlando, USA
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Resort Orlando, USA
"Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey," Universal Resort Orlando, USA
"Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey," Universal Resort Orlando, USA (Technology)
18th Annual Thea Awards (2012)
The Buzz Price Thea Award - Recognizing a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements
Joe Rohde, Walt Disney Imagineering
Thea Classic
Puy du Fou: Le Grand Parc and Cinéscénie, Vendée, France
Awards for Outstanding Achievement
Space Fantasy The Ride at Universal Studios Japan
Barnas Brannstasjon (Children’s Fire Station) at Kongeparken, Norway (Limited Budget)
Arthur, L’Aventure 4D at Futuroscope
Star Tours - The Adventures Continue at Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World
Fernbank NatureQuest at Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta
YOU! The Experience at Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
The Changing Climate Show at Science North (Limited Budget)
The Ghost of the Castle at Louisiana’s Old State Capitol (Limited Budget)
Crane Dance at Resorts World Sentosa
The Magic, The Memories, and You! at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom
Yo México, Celebration of the Century of the Mexican Revolution, Mexico City
The House of Dancing Water at City of Dreams, Macau
FoodLoop at Europa-Park
Animation Magic in the Animator’s Palate Restaurant aboard Disney Cruise Line’s Ship - Disney Fantasy (Technology)
TEA Distinguished Service Honoree: Gene Jeffers
19th Annual Thea Awards (2013)
The Buzz Price Award – Recognizing a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements
Frank Stanek
Thea Classic
Europa-Park Theme Park and Resort, Rust, Germany
Awards for Outstanding Achievement
Big-O Experience
Radiator Springs Racers, Disney California Adventure Park – Anaheim, USA
Transformers: The Ride 3D, Universal Studios Singapore & Hollywood
Cars Land, Disney California Adventure Park – Anaheim, USA
Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame – Calgary, Canada
Aquanura at Efteling Park - Netherlands
Big-O Experience, Yeosu 2012 International Expo - South Korea
Tait Pixel Tablets – London, England (Technology)
Warner Bros. Studio Tour - The Making of Harry Potter - London, England
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa - Ko Olina, Oahu, Hawaii USA
Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge, Disney California Adventure Park – Anaheim, USA
TEA Distinguished Service Honoree: Judith Rubin
20th Annual Thea Awards (2014)
The Buzz Price Thea Award - Recognizing a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements
Garner Holt
Thea Classic
The Enchanted Tiki Room - Disneyland - Anaheim, California
Awards for Outstanding Achievement:
Revolution Tru-Trackless Ride System (Breakthrough Technology)
Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
Michael Jackson ONE, Madalay Bay Hotel, Las Vegas
Enchanted Tales with Belle, Magic Kingdom Park, Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando (USA)
The Mind Museum, Taguig City, Philippines
Marine Worlds Carousel, Les Machines de L'ile, Nantes France
Polynesian Cultural Center, Oahu, Hawaii
De Vuurproef, Het Spoorwegmuseum, Utrecht, Netherlands
Mystic Manor, Hong Kong Disneyland
Titanic Belfast, Northern Ireland
The Song of An Angel, Universal Studios Japan, Osaka
TEA Distinguished Service Honoree: Karen McGee
21st Annual Thea Awards (2015)
The Buzz Price Thea Award - Recognizing a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements
Ron Miziker
Thea Classic
"it's a small world", Disneyland, Anaheim,California
Paragon Award
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studios Florida (Orlando)
Diagon Alley
Hogwarts Express
Diagon Alley Retail/Dining
Awards for Outstanding Achievement:
Harry Potter & The Escape from Gringotts, Universal Studios Florida (Orlando)
Interactive Wands - Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studios Florida (Orlando) - Technical Excellence
Graatassland "The Land of the Little Grey Tractor," Kongeparken - Norway
The Grand Hall Experience at Saint Louis Union Station
Wilderness Explorers, Disney's Animak Kingdom, Walt Disney World (Orlando)
Nature Lab, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
Wings of Time, Sentosa Island, Singapore
Story Garden at AmorePacific Beauty Campus, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
Bistrot Chez Remy, Walt Disney Studios Park, Disneyland Paris
ChimelongOcean Kingdom, Hengqin Island, China
National September 11 Memorial Museum, New York City
Wonderkamers, Gemeentemuseum, The Hague
The Time Machine, Parc du Futuroscope, Poiters (France)
TEA Distinguished Service Honoree: Pat MacKay
22nd Annual Thea Awards (2016)
The Buzz Price Thea Award - Recognizing a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements
Keith James, Owner/CEO, Jack Rouse Associates
Thea Classic
San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park (San Diego, CA, USA)
Awards for Outstanding Achievement:
One World Observatory (New York NY, USA) - Attraction
SpongeBob SubPants Adventure, Moody Gardens (Galveston, TX, USA) - Attraction
Les Amoureux de Verdun, Puy du Fou (Les Espesses, France) – Attraction, Limited Budget
Foresta Lumina, Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook (Coaticook, QC, Canada) – Interactive Attraction, Limited Budget
Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden, Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden (Dallas, TX, USA) – Science/Discovery Garden
Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, Victoria and Albert Museum (London, UK) – Museum Exhibit
Inspector Training Course, Discovery Cube LA (Sylmar, CA, USA) – Science/Discovery Experience, Limited Budget
Fountain of Dreams (Wuyishan, China) – Event Spectacular
Disney Paint the Night, Hong Kong Disneyland & Disneyland (Hong Kong & Anaheim) – Parade Spectacular
Geppetto Animation Control System – Technology Breakthrough
Manufacturing Innovation, Ford Rouge Factory Tour, The Henry Ford (Dearborn, MI, USA) – Brand Experience, Limited Budget
Moments of Happiness at World of Coca-Cola (Atlanta, GA, USA) – Corporate Visitor Center Rehab, Limited Budget
Integrated Environmental Media System at Tom Bradley International Terminal, LAX (Los Angeles, CA, USA) – Environmental Media Experience
TEA Distinguished Service Award: John Robinett, Senior Vice President – Economics, AECOM
23rd Annual Thea Awards (2017)
The Buzz Price Thea Award - Recognizing a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements
Jeremy Railton, Founder & Chairman, Entertainment Design Corporation
Thea Classic
WaterWorld: A Live Sea War Spectacular (Universal Studios, Hollywood, CA, USA)
Awards for Outstanding Achievement:
5D Castle Theater; Chimelong Ocean Kingdom (Hengqin Island, Zhuhai, China) - Attraction
Center Parcs Domaine du Bois aux Daims (Les Trois-Moutiers, France) - Eco-friendly Destination
Decrocher la Lune VI, (La Louviere, Belgium) - Live Event Spectacular, Limited Budget
Ghost Post, The Haunted Mansion, Disneyland Park (Anaheim, CA, USA) - Connected Immersion
House of Eternal Return by Meow Wolf (Sante Fe, NM, USA) - Connected Immersion, Limited Budget
Le Dernier Panache, Puy du Fou (Les Epesses, France) - Live Show
Mack Rides' Inverted Powered Coaster - Innovative Ride System
Meet Vincent Van Gogh Experience (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) - Immersive Museum Exhibit: Touring
Senate Immersion Module, Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate (Boston, MA, USA) - Connected Immersion in Education
Slideboarding - Technology
Springfield, Universal Studios Hollywood (Universal City, CA, USA) - Themed Food & Beverage Experience
TRANSFORMATIONS, Museum of Latin American Art (Long Beach, CA, USA) - Museum Exhibit, Limited Budget
Camp Discovery, Shanghai Disneyland (Shanghai Disney Resort, China) - Attraction
Pirates of the Caribbean; Battle for the Sunken Treasure, Shanghai Disneyland (Shanghai Disney Resort, China) - Attraction
Shanghai Disneyland (Shanghai Disney Resort, China) - Theme Park
TEA Peter Chernack Distinguished Service Award: Peter Chernack, Past President, TEA-Themed Entertainment Association (Posthumous Honor, In Memorium)
The Buzz Price Thea Award - Recognizing a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements
Phil Hettema, Founder, The Hettema Group
Thea Classic
Cedar Point, (Sandusky, OH, USA)
Awards for Outstanding Achievement (AOA):
Sleep No More Shanghai, McKinnon Hotel (Shanghai, China) - Connected Immersion Theater
Ghost Town Alive!, Knott's Berry Farm (Buena Park, CA, USA) - Connected Immersion Theater, Limited Budget
Pandora - The World of Avatar, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort (Orlando, FL, USA) - Theme Park Area Development
Avatar Flight of Passage, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort (Orlando, FL, USA) - Attraction
Darren Brown's Ghost Train:Rise of the Demon, Thorpe Park Resort (England) - Immersive Attraction
Jameson Distillery Bow St., (Dublin, Ireland) - Brand Experience
Chimelong Ocean Kingdom's Journey of Lights Parade, (Zhuhai City, China)- Live Show
Frozen Ever After, Norway Pavilion, Walt Disney World Resort (Orlando, FL, USA) - Attraction Reimagining
Symbolica: the Palace of Fantasy, de Eftelng, (Netherlands) - Attraction
Citadella Visitors Centre, (Gozo Island, Malta) -Heritage Visitor Center, Limited Budget
Les Carrieres de Lumieres, (Les Baux de Provence, France) - Immersive Event
"Aura," Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal (Motreal, Canada) - Immersive Event, Limited Budget
Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT!, Disney California Adventure, Disneyland Resort (Anaheim, CA, USA) - Attraction Reimagining
DreamWorks Animation Zone, MOTIONGATE™, (Dubai, UAE) - Theme Park Land
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, (Washington DC, USA) - Museum
Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War, Te Papa Museum (Wellington, New Zealand) - Museum Exhibit, Limited Budget
Rainis' Museum Tadenava, (Latvia) - Museum Rehab on a Limited Budget
3D Live - Holographic 3D LED Display - Innovative Technology
TEA Peter Chernack Distinguished Service Award: Joe Fox Birket Engineering and Annika Oetken, Freelance Project Manager
The Buzz Price Thea Award – Recognizing a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements
Thea Classic
Thea Awards for Outstanding Achievement (AOA) - recipient name, location (AOA category)
TEA Peter Chernack Distinguished Service Award (recognizing exceptional volunteer service to the Association)
Posted by Jennie Nevin
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TEA Members please log in to commentMark Woodbury, Vice Chairman of Universal Parks & Resorts and President of Universal Creative, is receiving a high industry honor in 2019: the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) Buzz Price Thea Award for a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements. Mr. Woodbury will be a celebrated, featured presence at TEA's big industry weekend in Anaheim April 11-13. He will keynote the TEA Summit on April 11, and formally accept his Thea trophy at the 25th Annual TEA Thea Awards Gala on April 13.
Dollywood park is receiving a top industry honor in 2019: the Thea Classic Award, from the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA). Dollywood will be celebrated at TEA's big industry weekend in Anaheim April 11-13. At the TEA Summit (Day One, April 11) Dollywood Company executives Craig Ross (President) and Pete Owens (Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations) will be featured speakers in a session moderated by Christine Kerr . Two days later (April 13) at the 25th Annual TEA Thea Awards Gala presented by Chimelong, the Thea Classic trophy will be formally bestowed.
Co-chairs Roberta Perry and Pat MacKay talk about the 2019 Themed Entertainent Association (TEA) Thea Case Studies Day, aka TEA Summit Day Two, an illuminating showcase of the recipients being honored this year with TEA Thea Awards, providing essential education and networking among peers in the global visitor attractions industry. #TEAsummit #TEAtheas