The Thea Awards are the Oscars of themed entertainment; a symbol of excellence and pride in the industry. This year has been momentous for Walt Disney Imagineering with the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, so it should come as no surprise that the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) honored them at the 2019 Thea Awards Gala!

Citizens of Baatu can beam with pride today, because the Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement – New Park Land was awarded to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!

TEA was wowed by the land’s scale and story, calling special attention to the rich, “in-world” details that make guests feel like they’ve really stepped into a Star Wars movie.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run was also honored with a Thea for Outstanding Achievement – Attraction. The ride’s screen accurate vehicle, interactive controls, and innovative loading system were recognized during the award ceremony for their outstanding quality. We can’t wait to see if Rise of the Resistance (opening December 5th at Hollywood Studios) exceeds TEA’s already high expectations.

Finally, Walt Disney Imagineer Nancy Seruto, was honored with the Buzz Price Lifetime Achievement Award for her work as creative director of Shanghai Disneyland, among other spectacular Disney attractions.

Previous Thea award winners at the Disney parks and resorts include Avatar: Flight of Passage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Sunken Gold at Shanghai Disneyland, and Radiator Springs Racers at Disney’s California Adventure. Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, The Enchanted Tiki Room. and “it’s a small world” have also been honored with Thea Classic awards, for attractions predating the award ceremony.

Do you think Rise of the Resistance, Tron, or Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway have a shot at winning next year’s Theas? Let us know your thoughts below!

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