Internationally recognized, the Thea Awards were given out this week at the annual IAAPA Expo, held in Orlando, FL, and Walt Disney World won a Thea Award for its Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind attraction at EPCOT. The Details Given out by the Themed… Read More »Walt Disney World Wins a Thea Award at IAAPA Expo 2023
IAAPA, the global association for the attractions industry, held its annual IAAPA Expo 2022 in Orlando, Florida, and The Walt Disney Company received several THEA and Brass Ring Awards during ceremonies held during the week. Thea Awards The prestigious Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) Thea Award… Read More »Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Awarded for Industry Excellence at IAAPA Expo 2022
Last month the future of theme parks and attractions from around the globe were featured at the IAAPA Expo 2019 which was held in the Orange County Convention Center. The event featured 1,146 exhibitors over a massive indoor and ourdoor trade show floor (over 585,000… Read More »Inside the biggest theme and amusement park expo of the year – IAAPA Expo 2019
IAAPA, the international organization for amusement parks and theme parks, held its annual convention last week in Orlando. Always a glitzy affair the IAAPA Expo is actually open to the public, but admission costs are steep (well over $100/person) and it’s primarily a trade show, not a traveling carnival. That said, there ARE some rides to sample here (think spinner ride, several simulators, and an odd carousel or two), as well as giant inflatable bounce houses and other amusements.
This being a trade show, you’ll find vendors here displaying new technologies such as debit card readers, or the latest in automated cotton-candy vending machines (a neat trick, actually). They are hoping to talk to buyers from theme parks, regional parks, and even family fun centers, all of whom are looking for a way to make their attraction memorable and unique (and profitable). A lot of business gets done at IAAPA in this fashion.
But it’s not all work; there is always a chance to play. One corner of the cavernous convention center is given over to the latest in ticket-spitting games of chance (and skill?), and there are many video games and pinball machines here too. The new Star Trek pinball machine is a clear winner, but I’m less certain we’ll see the standup arcade game for Plants versus Zombies everywhere (you play as the pea shooter). Namco had a nifty wraparound dome screen in a cockpit; it’s like being on Soarin, but the screen is sized just for one person and you’re right next to it.
Read More »IAAPA Expo – An Amusement Park Fan Favorite