16 OCTOBER – DAY 1

(All times are in Eastern Standard Time UTC-5)
Time and sessions are subject to change at this current time, please check back frequently for the most up to date version of the agenda.
​For more in depth information on each scheduled day, click one of the buttons below.

Schedule overview

17 OCT - Day 2

18 OCT – day 3

**Day 1 programming will be located at the Dreamsong Theater in the Dollywood Boulevard area of the park.**

​7:45AM - 5:00PM | REGISTRATION/INFORMATION DESK OPENS

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​8:00AM - 9:00AM | BREAKFAST

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MORNING SESSIONS:

KEYNOTE PANEL: BEYOND THE SMOKIES – TRANSLATING REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUCCESS INTO GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES 
​Moderator

• Matthew Cross, SATE Co-Chair | OE Experiences

Panelists

• Mahavir Patel, President & CEO | Aatmos
• Eugene Naughton, President | The Dollywood Company
• Mary Kellogg Joslyn, Co-Owner | Westgate Entertainment
• Allen Newton, Executive Director | Sevier County Economic Development Council
• Christopher Greene, PMP, Chief Operating Officer | Kituwah Builders, LLC

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SHOW CONTROL FOR ALL:
Show control is the array of technologies and techniques used to tie together entertainment control systems (lighting, sound, video, scenic automation, etc.) to technologically elevate, enhance and integrate storytelling in everything from theme parks to Broadway shows. While show control has its roots in big-budget theme park attractions, these days it can be found in everything from the smallest home haunts to community museums, and from live concerts to immersive theater productions of all sizes. John Huntington (Consultant | Zircon Designs) will introduce the field, continue with a quick overview and history, and then give an introduction to the main types of show control and outline a system design approach.

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DELIGHT AND SURPRISE– GUESTS' JOURNEY INTO NEW SPACES:
Open up new worlds for your guests to explore and entertain them with experiences they never dreamed possible. Imagine being able to offer your visitors a chance to dive to the bottom of the ocean, or to interact with Dobby at Hogwarts in Harry Potter – all without building any new physical structures. This is what Wevr’s been doing for over a decade. By combining the greatest creative minds with the power of Epic’s Unreal Engine, and AWS cloud infrastructure, it’s possible to weave any worlds you can dream of into reality. Jeff Zabel (Global M&E Business Development - Immersive Experiences | AWS), Neville Spiteri (Co-Founder/CEO | Wevr) , and Rob Di Figlia (Business Development Director | Epic Games) will discuss the case studies of The Blu and Harry Potter, exploring in detail how we developed them, including how we overcame challenges along the way, specifically with regards to using Unreal, AWS and Unity. They'll provide a sneak preview of what’s coming next at the World’s Fair in Osaka, and what’s possible going forward in terms of attractions at museums, concert halls, movie studios and more.

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MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE: ​
The desire to go places, do things, connect with places and communities is not unique to massive, global scale tourist attractions. Rather, hospitality & entertainment offerings within regional locales present the unique opportunity to gather humans together by attracting people to play in everyday places and spaces. Yet without careful positioning and foresight, experiences, whether temporary pop-ups of licensed IP or permanent builds inspired by local cultural heritage can miss the opportunity to meet diverse audiences where they are, in a way that is authentic, engaging, and cost effective.

Ann Morrow Johnson (Global Experiential Architecture & Design Leader | Gensler) and Mikhael Tara Garver (Head of Immersive Entertainment | Culture House Media) will discuss the growing desire to create meaning, connection, and joy anywhere. Drawing on examples across the US, from no budget pop-up community art projects to custom designed spaces, they will explore the emerging desire for people to engage with narrative-rich environments. By blending themed entertainment design principles with hospitality and commercial savvy, they will discuss how to make ordinary activities and spaces into extraordinary experiences.

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THE SITE-SPECIFIC THEATER PLAYBOOK – CREATING AUTHENTIC, MEANINGFUL, AND INIMITABLE EXPERIENCES:
The term “site-specific theater” refers to a play that can only be performed in one location and is impossible to transfer to any other venue. The production gains authenticity and meaning by operating outside of a conventional theater and leaning into what is unique (and often logistically challenging) about the location.

Similarly, attractions outside of the major theme park hubs are often able to realize incredibly powerful experiences by embracing the specificity of their unique locations. Whether it’s access to natural resources, generations’ worth of stories, or even historical artifacts, smaller parks, museums, and immersive experiences can artfully and accurately reflect a specific community to create an experience that feels specific, special, and spectacular. Drawing from years of making successful experiences at intimate scales, this panel will share their best practices and strategies for design and operation, often transforming logistical challenges into guest highlights.

​The panel which will feature Monai Rooney (Manager, Marketing & Development | B Morrow Productions), Lacy K. Campbell (Creative Director | TAIT), Judith Zissman (Executive Creative Director | Blue Telescope), and Kevin Kalbfeld (Business Development | Adirondack Studios) will explore a selection of regional attractions and experiences, mapping those strategies to the specific elements and components that make those experiences authentic, meaningful, and inimitable. Audiences are invited to extend this conversation into networking sessions by sharing when unconventional natural assets or resources have contributed to a meaningful experience.

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12:25PM - 1:25PM | LUNCH

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AFTERNOON SESSIONS

CREATING COST EFFECTIVE INTERACTIVES: 
Interactives are all the rage. But what does interactive really entail? Why are they worthwhile? And how do you do it without outsized expenses like tons of actors, cutting-edge tech and low through-put? It doesn’t matter if you are building a new experience or are looking for how to amp up your already-existing experience, there are ways to add maximum interactivity for minimal costs.

​In this talk, the Wild Optimists will take you through different types of low cost interactives and how they work in various LBE spaces. They will walk you through how to use interactives to achieve your goals, and make your experience more fun and memorable, no matter the scale. They will go through how to figure out and eliminate pain points in your experience and create easy extras that encourage repeat visits. Finally, they will discuss playtesting the interactives you’ve created to ensure your guests are getting the learnings and experience you are hoping for.

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MOMENT, MONUMENT, MOVEMENT:
Design in the public realm can unearth legacy, catalyze change, connect communities, and ensure more equitable outcomes for all. Chip Crawford (Managing Director | Lamar Johnson Collaborative​) will discuss the importance of an inclusive design process, the benefits of re-imagining green infrastructure, the role of art as a catalyst for civic well-being, health, and mobility, and the engagement of public private partnerships to create spaces that spur meaningful moments.

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ACCESSIBILITY & INCLUSION FOR DIGITAL GALLERIES – COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO USING EXISTING & EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES:
As digital and projection galleries—like the Van Gogh Immersive and exhibits by Artech House and TeamLab—continue to reshape experiential entertainment, accessibility challenges persist for individuals with low vision, the deaf community, and those sensitive to sensory stimuli. This session offers a comprehensive analysis of accessibility issues in immersive digital exhibits, exploring both common problems and innovative solutions. We'll review cost-effective modifications, such as spatial adaptations and haptic wearables, and discuss emerging technologies like AR filters and flash-friendly timed exhibits.
Join Michael Coney (Technical Development Intern​ | Walt Disney Imagineering - Live Entertainment) and Apoorva Avadhana (Post-Doc Accessibility Researcher | New York University) for an interactive presentation where we’ll recreate an art experience through isolated sensory inputs—vision, sound, and touch—to highlight the diverse perceptions within a multisensory digital gallery setting. This hands-on demonstration will offer insights into how accessibility can be enhanced, ensuring that state-of-the-art technology in creative expression is inclusive and equitable for all audiences. ​

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DEVELOPING FUN IN A REGIONAL MARKET – HOW THE ISLAND AND ITS ATTRACTIONS CAME TO BE:
Join Darren Brown (VP, Attraction Development | Dynamic Entertainment), Michael Carroll (VP, Executive Producer | Dynamic Entertainment), Clay McManus (VP, Business Development | Diverse Concepts), Ernest Yale (CEO & Founder | TrioTech) for an engaging evening as they delve into the creation and success of The Island, a standout entertainment complex renowned for its dynamic blend of attractions, shopping, and dining. Our expert panelists will offer an exclusive look into the development process behind this thriving regional destination. Discover the strategic vision and creative strategies that have driven The Island's success, including the development of signature attractions like SkyFly and the 7D Dark Ride Adventure. How did these experiences, tailored for a local market, achieve such a significant impact? Get ready for an insider's view into the innovative approaches that make The Island a must-visit destination!

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6:00PM - 9:00PM | THE ISLAND EVENT (OFF-SITE EVENT)

The Island in Pigeon Forge offers families affordable fun night and day. Showcased by The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, a 200-foot-high observation wheel, and our multi- million dollar show fountain, The Island provides the area’s newest shopping, dining and entertainment options in the East Tennessee area. 

VIEW WEBSITE | ENTRY INCLUDED WITH SATE NA TICKET
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131 The Island Drive
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863