IAAPA Archives

Jollywood Nights ‘Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along’ Nominated for IAAPA Brass Ring Award

February 1, 2025

A person in a black skeleton costume, reminiscent of "Nightmare Before Christmas," performs on stage with colorful, abstract backdrops, captivating the audience at Jollywood Nights.

“‘What’s This?’: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along has been chosen as a finalist for the “Most Creative Winter Holiday Production,” a Brass Ring Award given by IAAPA. The show, which debuted in 2023 at Disney Jollywood Nights, features the giant life-like Jack Skellington puppet from “Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular” fireworks at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. The puppet … Read more

Halloween Horror Nights Show ‘Nightmare Fuel’ Wins Award at IAAPA Honors 2024

March 5, 2024

Cast of Nightmare Fuel Wildfire, a Halloween Horror Nights show

A fan-favorite Halloween Horror Nights show has received an IAAPA Brass Ring Award at this year’s ceremony. ‘Nightmare Fuel’ Wins IAAPA Award Announced at the annual ceremony in Las Vegas, the Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights show, “Halloween Nightmare Fuel Wildfire” was awarded a Brass Ring Award at the IAAPA Honors 2024. IAAPA Honors is … Read more

UPDATE: Disneyland Resort Officials Say ‘No Announcement Made’ Regarding Location of Future Avatar Experience

November 13, 2023

After an announcement made this morning, it appears that the Avatar experience coming to Disneyland Resort isn’t quite ready to make a grand reveal. According to Disneyland officials, the information shared earlier was not correct. Disneyland Official Shares Update on Avatar Announcement Per Scott Gustin on X, “a Disneyland official reached out […] to say … Read more

IAAPA Expo No Longer Giving Press Badges to YouTube Creators Without Blogs

July 20, 2023

The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) will not give IAAPA Expo 2023 press badges to YouTube content creators who do not have an “established online blog.” IAAPA Expo IAAPA offers complimentary credentials to press/media/influencers who cover the attractions industry and meet certain criteria. Here are all of the changes to this year’s … Read more

More Fantasyland Fight Drama, Remy’s Scavenger Hunt Statues Replaced with Plates, Tour to Serve Refreshments to Guests on Walt Disney’s Patio, and More: Daily Recap (10/5/22)

October 5, 2022

We bring you a lot of stories every single day. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up. So in case you missed anything from our feed, we have rounded up all our stories in one place to get the news at a glance. Here is your Daily Recap for Wednesday, October 5, 2022. Walt Disney World Magic … Read more

IAAPA EXPO 2022 to Honor 40th Anniversary of EPCOT at Legends Panel Discussion

October 5, 2022

This year, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) will celebrate EPCOT’s 40th Anniversary at the Legends 2022: Epcot, 40 Years in a State of Becoming panel at the upcoming expo. The panel, which will be held on November 16, 2022, from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m., will explore the past, present, and future … Read more

WDWNT Daily Recap (11/16/21): Minecraft Magic Kingdom Edition, Contemporary Resort Time Capsule Opened, 2022 Disney World Military Discounts, Inventory Shortage Closes Hollywood Studios Store, and More

November 16, 2021

We bring you a lot of stories every single day. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up. So in case you missed anything from our feed, we have rounded up all our stories in one place to get the news at a glance. Here is your Daily Recap for Tuesday, November 16, 2021. Walt Disney World … Read more

Universal Studios Theme Parks Win Thea and Brass Ring Awards at IAAPA Expo

November 16, 2021

Universal theme parks around the world have won multiple Thea Awards from the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) and a Brass Ring Award from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), as announced at the IAAPA Expo. Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan will be awarded the Thea Award for Theme Park Land. … Read more

Walt Disney Imagineers, Stuntronics, and More Awarded by Themed Entertainment Association and IAAPA

November 16, 2021

The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) announced at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Expo that they would be presenting three Thea Awards to Walt Disney Imagineering in 2022. The Stuntronics technology used in Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure will receive a Thea Award for Outstanding Technical Innovation. This advanced robotics figure … Read more

WDWNT Daily Recap (7/2/21): Tropical Storm Elsa Upgraded to Hurricane, Walt Disney World Theme Park Hours Released, Trader Sam’s Gift Shop Unveiled at the Jungle Cruise, and More

July 2, 2021

We bring you a lot of stories every single day. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up. So in case you missed anything from our feed, we have rounded up all our stories in one place to get the news at a glance. Here is your Daily Recap for Friday, July 2, 2021. Walt Disney World … Read more

Chairman of Disney Parks, Josh D’Amaro Talks Innovation, Inclusivity, and More

July 2, 2021

In an interview with the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions for their publication “Funworld,” Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro discussed the struggles of the last year and the innovations for the future. D’Amaro, who stepped into the role at the start of the pandemic in 2020, was in a unique position of navigating … Read more

Study Finds that Theme Parks Could Safely Reduce Physical Distancing Requirement to 3 Feet

April 26, 2021

A new study from the University of Central Florida and International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) indicates that the theme park industry could lower physical distancing requirements from six feet to three feet. The study looked at droplet volume, quantity, size, and propagation while participants coughed and spoke. Ultimately, it found that when … Read more

IAAPA Releases Report on COVID-19’s Impact on Attractions & Theme Park Employment

February 24, 2021

sleeping-beauty-castle-at-disneyland-park

As vaccinations continue to expand across the United States, experts are beginning to assess the massive impact the COVID-19 has left on the amusement industry. IAAPA has released a study on job losses within the industry in the last year, calling on elected officials and policymakers to provide aid and safe reopening guidelines in an … Read more

WDWNT Daily Recap (11/17/20): Fireworks Testing at Magic Kingdom, Voice of Brer Rabbit Comments on Princess and the Frog Retheme Coming to Splash Mountain, Tour a “Lion King” Suite at Disney’s Art of Animation, Tony Baxter and Greg Hale Inducted into IAAPA Hall of Fame, and More

November 17, 2020

We bring you a lot of stories every single day. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up. So in case you missed anything from our feed, we have rounded up all our stories in one place to get the news at a glance. Here is your Daily Recap for Tuesday, November 17, 2020. Walt Disney World … Read more

WDWNT Daily Recap (11/16/20): First Look Inside a Star Wars Starcruiser Cabin, Disney Bringing Back Entertainment… Eventually, Guardians of the Galaxy Update, New McDonald’s Toys, Disneyland Reopening Delays, and More

November 17, 2020

We bring you a lot of stories every single day. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up. So in case you missed anything from our feed, we have rounded up all our stories in one place to get the news at a glance. Here is your Daily Recap for Monday, November 16, 2020. Walt Disney World … Read more

PHOTOS: ProSlide Announces Project for Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, Possible New Attraction

November 19, 2019November 19, 2019

IAAPA Expo 2019 is underway in Orlando, and our intrepid reporters noticed that ProSlide, makers of Summit Plummet and Teamboat Springs, casually announced a new attraction could be coming to Disney’s Blizzard Beach. Information about the new attraction is scarce at this time, as questions about the type of attraction and opening date were deflected … Read more