In a dramatic power shift within the global theme park industry, Universal's Epic Universe has delivered a stunning blow to Disney's long-standing dominance by sweeping the board at the prestigious annual Thea Awards.
A Landmark Victory for Universal
The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) announced the winners on Tuesday evening, with Universal's Epic Universe clinching a staggering four accolades. This remarkable haul marks one of Universal's most commanding performances in years and signifies a seismic change in the industry's competitive landscape.
Since its grand opening in May this year, Epic Universe has generated immense buzz, with fans flocking to its gates and praising its ambitious scale. The park's success was officially cemented at the ceremony, where it received honours for outstanding achievement in the theme-park category itself.
Celebrating Immersive Worlds and Innovation
The awards recognised the park's meticulous design and cutting-edge technology across its five immersive worlds. The How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk area was a winner in the theme park land category. Furthermore, two of its major attractions were individually honoured: Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment in the attraction category and the Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride for an outstanding ride experience.
In a personal recognition of a storied career, Dale Mason, retired vice president and executive art director at Universal Destinations and Experiences, was awarded the esteemed Buzz Prize Award for a lifetime of distinguished achievements.
Disney's Unprecedented Snub
The victory is made more significant by the notable absence of Disney, the traditional titan of theme parks, from categories it has historically owned. Instead, Disney secured only a single honour for the themed food and beverage experience at the Haunted Mansion Parlor aboard the Disney Treasure cruise liner.
This outcome is being widely interpreted as a major snub and marks the first time in a decade that a central Florida park other than a Disney property has so thoroughly dominated the Thea Awards ceremony. The results have sparked industry speculation about a potential decline in Disney's creative momentum, especially as the company's latest earnings report confirmed a drop in attendance at its US parks compared to the same quarter last year, coupled with a recent sharp decline in its stock price.
Melissa Oviedo, CEO of the Themed Entertainment Association, declared that the announcement from Universal Epic Universe was just the beginning of a months-long celebratory campaign, which will culminate next May during the annual TEA INSPIRE program and the 32nd Annual Thea Awards Gala.
