Why Did This Disney World Attraction Win an Award?

Disney Parks have consistently raised the bar for fantastic theme park attractions. Whether it’s the classic dark rides that still hold up today or groundbreaking new attractions, Disney is still the standard bearer.

Related: Disney Signals Plans to Remove IPs From Theme Parks

A New Award

It should also come as no surprise that Disney has received many awards over the years for its unique shows, engineering feats, and exciting experiences.

It was recently announced earlier this week that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be honored with the Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement. During the IAAPA Expo Tuesday evening, award recipients were announced for 2024.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Award

The Thea Award is an internationally recognized honor that acknowledges theme park and entertainment creatives.

Related: Change My Mind: Journey into Imagination with Figment is BETTER than Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

“On behalf of all Imagineers, I would like to thank TEA for this tremendous recognition of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and for continuing to drive the theme entertainment industry forward,” Walt Disney Imagineering President said.

The vastly popular indoor roller coaster themed to the MCU was recognized for outstanding achievement in the attraction category. Following the characters from the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, such as Peter Quill (AKA Star-Lord), Rocket, Gamora, Drax, and Groot, it takes guests on a high-speed roller coaster set to music.

It replaces the former Universe of Energy building and attraction and replaces it with a Xandar pavilion. As always, things don’t go as planned, and Walt Disney World Resort guests are recruited to help save the galaxy.

We’re proud to announce Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at @WaltDisneyWorld has earned a prestigious Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement – Attraction! Learn more about this exciting achievement: https://t.co/lx2FHcwUSv pic.twitter.com/fLU4ghZB6t

— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) November 15, 2023

In addition to being the first Disney park roller coaster to feature a reverse launch, the ride has six unique soundtracks, providing a different experience when enjoyed multiple times.

Related: Disney Executive Admits That Cosmic Rewind Passengers Need to ‘Take It Easy’

Other Thea Winners

Other attractions sharing honors with Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind include SeaWorld Abu Dhabi in Yas Island, which won a Thea for Outstanding Achievement for an indoor marine park.

In addition, Thea Award winners for outstanding achievement for attractions include:

-Bermuda Storm, Chimelong Spaceship, Zhuhai, China

-Musikkfabrikken Hunderfossen, Hunderfossen Eventyrpark, Lillehammer, Norway

Related: Forbes Recognizes Disney Cruise Line with Prestigious Award

“Celebrating excellence is core to the TEA mission,” said the TEA International Board President Melissa Oviedo. “These remarkable individuals have demonstrated unparalleled creativity, innovation, and commitment to delivering extraordinary guest experiences on a truly global scale. Their work has not only entertained and inspired million bus also continues to shape the future of our industry.”

The Award winners will be honored at the 30th annual Thea Awards Gala. It is scheduled to take place on March 16 in Hollywood, California.