Productions by Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, SeaWorld Orlando and various Universal resorts have been named finalists for the 2025 Brass Ring Excellence Awards by IAAPA.
Most visibile of them for theme park visitors is “Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away,” the nighttime parade that debuted at Magic Kingdom in July. It is in the running in the most creative spectacle category, vying against “World of Color Happiness” from Disneyland in California and “Disney Tales of Magic” at Disneyland Paris.
Disney Cruise Lines’ “The Tale of Moana” stage show aboard the Disney Treasure ship is a finalist for most creative theatrical production — year-round operation.
SeaWorld Orlando scored finalist status in two marketing categories. Its Howl-O-Scream 5 Years of Fear is nominated for most creative integrated marketing campaign, and Big City Penguins campaign is recognized for most creative outdoor advertisement.
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Universal Horror Unleashed, the year-round haunted attraction that debuted in Las Vegas last year, has two finalists in the food and beverage category: Its Boiler is in the running for best food and beverage build and its Death by Chocolate offering for best new menu item — year-round operation.
Universal parks worldwide have 10 nods among the finalists. Three took the entire category of most creative amosphere production: Melting Pot at Universal Studios Japan, Minions Summer Street Party at Universal Studios Singapore and Universal Spring Carnival Party at Universal Beijing.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s “Christmas on Ice” show is a finalist in the most creative holiday production category.
The Brass Rings cover 26 categories divided into food and beverage, live entertainment, human resources, marketing, merchandise, sustainability and family entertainment center zones. Finalists cover a global swatch ranging from Dollywood in Tennessee to Yas Island Abu Dhabi to Kolmarden, an attraction in Sweden.
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IAAPA — shorthand for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions — is an Orlando-based international trade association with members in more than 100 countries.
A complete list of finalists is at IAAPA.org. Winners will be announced at the IAAPA Honors events in Xcaret, Mexico, in May.
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