Disney’s Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser wins a Thea Award

Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel
Updated ·2 min read

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, Disney’s immersive overnight experience, was the sole Central Florida attraction to win a Thea Award this year. The honors, presented by the Themed Entertainment Association, were announced during the IAAPA Expo Tuesday afternoon.

Galactic Starcruiser, which opened earlier this year at Walt Disney World, is a two-day, two-night venture where passengers can incorporate themselves into “Star Wars” storylines and affect eventual outcomes in an intergalactic setting. The 100-cabin space is adjacent to Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park. Its Thea was for outstanding achievement in “brand experience.”

Peter Weishar, director of UCF’s themed-experience program, was recognized for his volunteer work with TEA with the Peter Chernack Distinguished Service Award. Longtime TEA founder and supporter Kevin Murphy was given the same honor.

The Main Street Electrical Parade, now stationed at Disneyland, was bestowed the Classic Award by TEA.

Susanna Tubert, executive director of the Latin International Theater Festival of New York and creative director at Walt Disney Co., was one of two Catalyst Award winner, alongside Chevy Humphrey, president of Chicago’s Museum of Science & Industry.

Universal Studios Beijing captures three Theas, including outstanding achievement for theme parks, for attraction (Jurassic World Adventure) and for live events (“How to Train Your Dragon: Untrainable”).

Other Thea Award recipients

  • Roland Mack, founder of Europa Park, earned the Buzz Price Award, a lifetime achievement honor.

  • Chasseurs de Tornades at Futurescope in France, won for outstanding achievement in an attraction.

  • Underlandet at Liseberg in Sweden, for limited-budget attraction.

  • Jump by Limitless Flight of Bluffdale, Utah, for connected immersion.

  • Particle Ink: Speed of Dark, Las Vegas, for immersive live experience.

  • Shanghai Astronomy Museum for science center.

  • The Irish Racehorse Experience at Irish National Stud & Gardens Co. of Kildare, Ireland, for limited-budget museum.

  • Quake at Lisbon Earthquake Experience in Portugal, for limited-budget historical experience.

  • Beaudry Interactive, Los Angeles, for technology.

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