Disney receives four Thea awards

Leah Zanolla | Posted: Nov 17, 2011 | Updated: Oct 19, 2014 - 9:25:27 AM

The Themed Entertainment Association has announced their annual Thea Awards and Disney has been honored several times over. The company was awarded in four different categories.

For outstanding achievement in the "attraction refresh" category, Star Tours (from both Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disneyland) took home the prize. The attraction was closed for almost a year for a rehab, which included retheming the ride and adding a 3D film.

Magic Kingdom's projection show "The Magic, the Memories, and You" was honored for outstanding achievement in the "show spectacular" category. This show is projected on the walls of Cinderella Castle each night and features photos of guests taken by the PhotoPass photographers each day.

Disney's third award comes for an attraction that is still under construction - the
Animator's Palate Restaurant has received an honor for "ingenious use of technology." The restaurant will debut when Disney Cruise Line unveils the Disney Fantasy, its fourth ship, in March. Animator's Palate is on all of the current ships, but on the Fantasy, will showcase new technology. Guests will have the opportunity to draw sketches on their placemats; the sketches will then be animated and made into "movies" with Disney characters.

The Buzz Price Thea Award was given to Joe Rohde for a "lifetime of distinguished achievements." Rohde has been with Walt Disney Imagineering for 30 years, first as a model builder and working his way up to designing both Disney's Animal Kingdom and Aulani Resort & Spa in Hawaii.