ORLANDO, Fla. — Two Disney World attractions and one Universal Orlando attraction have received awards from the Themed Entertainment Association.


What You Need To Know

  • Disney, Universal attractions win awards

  • Rise of the Resistance, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway receive Thea Awards

  • The Bourne Stuntacular also received a Thea Award

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios were winners of the association’s Thea Award for outstanding achievement.

In its announcement, the association’s awards committee praised Disney’s Rise of the Resistance for its technological achievements. “Dozens of individually complex systems are choreographed seamlessly to produce high capacity and redefine what a major marquee attraction can be,” the committee wrote.

Rise of the Resistance is located in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios as well as Disneyland in California.

For Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, which opened to the public in March, the committee praised the attraction’s use of physical sets with animation and effects. “This new, 21st century attraction is both surprising and mind-blowing; it keeps one engaged and delighted throughout the ride, making all guests feel as if they have literally stepped into an animated world in ways never imagined before,” the committee wrote.

The Bourne Stuntacular show at Universal Studios Florida’s new stunt show, The Bourne Stuntacular, also received a Thea Award for outstanding achievement. “The creative staging, and the dynamic way in which elements are combined — live performers, digital backgrounds, special effects — results in one ‘wow’ moment after another,” the committee noted.

Another award recipient was Walt Disney Imagineering president Bob Weis, who was honored with the Buzz Price Thea Award, which recognizes lifetime achievements. Weis helped with the development of Tokyo Disneyland and worked on the creation of Hollywood Studios, which at the time was called Disney-MGM Studios.

The full list of award recipients are available on the TEA website.