Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge receives 2 major awards
The Themed Entertainment Association recognized Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge with two Thea Awards for Outstanding Achievement.
The 14-acre lands debuted this year at both Disneyland and Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World with one attraction, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
The land itself was honored with a Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement – New Park Land.
According to TEA, “this multifaceted experience combines epic and detailed placemaking, themed retail and dining, immersive theatrical techniques and interactive attractions into an audacious, genre-redefining, 14-acre adventure that lets park guests live their own Star Wars story in ways never before possible within the boundaries of a conventional theme park. The intricate layout, sophisticated use of scale, extension of character details and high quality of execution combine to make this an outstanding example of story-driven, experiential design blurring the line between guest and experience, making every detail ‘in-world’ authentic.”
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers received a Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement – Attraction. The technology, innovative loading system, screen-accurate vehicle, ultra high-resolution game engine and interactive controls that combine to allow guests to take the controls of one of the most famous ships in the galaxy, according to the TEA.
The second of the land’s attractions – Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance – will open at Hollywood Studios on Dec. 5 and at Disneyland on Jan. 17, 2020.
In addition, Nancy Seruto, Walt Disney Imagineering creative executive for Shanghai Disney Resort, received this year’s Buzz Price Thea Award recipient. This award is presented each year to an outstanding individual whose accomplishments represent the highest standard of excellence in the themed entertainment industry.
“In addition to her incredible work creating story-driven, immersive experiences in our parks, she generously lends her time and expertise to support nonprofit organizations that touch lives around the world. She is widely respected throughout the themed entertainment industry, and this award is a wonderful tribute to her influence and inspiration, ” Bob Weis, president of Walt Disney Imagineering, said.
