Three Walt Disney Imagineering Projects Honored with Thea Awards

Brit Tuttle

A group of nine people kneeling and standing beside three robot models in a themed outdoor setting with rustic architecture.

Three Walt Disney Imagineering Projects Honored with Thea Awards

Three Walt Disney Imagineering projects have been chosen to receive Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) Thea Awards in 2025.

Disney Earns Three Thea Awards

Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea and Zootopia at Shanghai Disneyland have both earned the Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement – Theme Park Land; this marks the first time that Imagineering has received two awards in this category in a single year.

Disney will also receive with the Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement – Technical Innovation in 2025 for the BDX Droids. This follows the Stuntronics Aerial Robotics Technology, which was honored in 2022.

The Thea Awards celebrate exceptional achievements in the themed entertainment industry, as well as the creative teams who bring immersive experiences to life.

Imagineers around the world continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in immersive storytelling, delivering unique experiences and memorable character moments in ways that only Disney can.

I’m so proud of the Imagineers and Cast Members recognized today for their outstanding contributions to our work and the broader themed entertainment industry.

Bruce Vaughn, president and chief creative officer of Walt Disney Imagineering

Fantasy Springs

At Fantasy Springs, Disney stories come to life through intricately designed immersive environments. Serving as the largest expansion at Tokyo Disney Resort to date, this themed port brings guests into the worlds of “Frozen,” “Tangled,” and “Peter Pan.”

Check out all of our Fantasy Springs coverage in this video playlist:

Zootopia

Zootopia at Shanghai Disneyland brings the fictional city’s vibrant streets and buildings to life, thanks to the collaborative efforts between Imagineers and Walt Disney Animation Studios.

A sloth character wearing a shirt and tie looks out from a round, green-framed window in a brick building.

The land is full of references to both the movie and the Disney Parks, with details designed for animals and guests of all sizes.

See more of our Zootopia coverage in the playlist below:

BD-X Droids

The BD-X Droids were developed by Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development and Disney Live Entertainment.

A man kneels in front of a small robotic dog while others observe in a dimly lit exhibition space.

The free-roaming robots learn to mimic movements in a simulation, bringing these Star Wars droids to life and offering expressive character interactions with guests in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

See them in action at Disneyland:

Walt Disney Imagineering has earned nearly 70 Thea Awards over the past 30 years.

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