The Themed Experience & Attractions Academic Society is holding its 6th annual one-day Symposium. The event is on the final Friday of the IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions) Expo in the Orange County Convention Center.
Date/Time: Friday, November 17th – 9:00am – 5:00pm
Location: Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), Orlando, Florida – Room S310ABC
Symposium Agenda
09:00-09:25 | Welcome and Thanks Martin Lewison, TEAAS Symposium Chair Peter Weishar, Chair of TEAAS Steering Committee Welcome from IAAPA: David Mandt, EVP & Chief Governance Officer, IAAPA, Jakob Wahl, President and CEO, IAAPA, Jorge Cabrera, SVP, People Development, IAAPA |
09:30-10:00 | AM Keynote: Bethanee Bemis (Museum Specialist, Smithsonian National Museum of American History & Author, Disney Theme Parks and America’s National Narratives: Mirror, Mirror, for Us All) “Our Cartoon City Upon a Hill: Why Disney Theme Parks Matter in America” |
10:05-10:50 | Presentation Session I 1. Carissa Baker (Asst. Prof., Rosen College, Univ. of Central Florida) – “Three-Dimensional Fear: The Presence of Narrative in Theme Park Halloween Event Haunted Houses” 2. Ava Bender (Univ. of Florida) – “Mary Hallock- Greenewalt’s Light Art — Art & Entertainment in the Early Twentieth Century” 3. Logan Zawacki (Project Manager, Sally Dark Rides) – “The Multiverse of Learning: Why Every College Should Offer an Interdisciplinary Elective About Themed Entertainment” |
10:50-11:05 | Break |
11:05-11:50 | Presentation Session II 1. Ady Milman (Prof., Rosen College, Univ. of Central Florida) and Asli D.A. Tasci (Prof., Rosen College, Univ. of Central Florida) – “Understanding Unruly Guest Behavior in Theme Parks” 2. Kathryn Woodcock (Prof., Toronto Metropolitan Univ.) – “Monitoring Safe Condition of Inflatable Amusement Devices” 3. Margaret J. King (Director, The Center for Cultural Studies & Analysis) and Jamie O’Boyle (Senior Analyst, The Center for Cultural Studies & Analysis) – “Disney 100: The Disney Effect” |
11:50-11:55 | Nate Naverson, ThemedAttraction.com (Lunch co-sponsor) |
11:55 -13:15 | Poster Session with Lunch |
13:15-14:00 | Presentation Session III 1. Emma Bashford (Brunel Univ. London) – “GamePortal – Developing a Design Solution which Improves Access to Interactive, Gamified Technologies within Location-Based Entertainment Venues” 2. Josh Polk (Lecturer, Purdue U. School of Eng. & Tech. Indianapolis) and Christian Rogers (Assoc. Prof., Purdue U. School of Eng. & Tech. Indianapolis) – “Boiler Gold Rush to Excellence – A Dark Ride Educational Experience” |
14:05-14:35 | PM Keynote: Caro Murphy (Visiting Assoc. Prof., Northeastern U. College of Arts, Media, & Design, Entrepreneur, Game Designer, Creative) “The Growth of ‘Immersive’ in Themed Experiences” |
14:35-15:20 | Industry Panel Michael Libby (Founder & CEO, WorldBuildr) Val Syganevich (President & Co-Founder, Freckled Sky) Ray Kallmeyer (CEO, Enklu) |
15:20-15:35 | Break |
15:35-16:20 | Presentation Session IV 1. Lacey Lober (Univ. of Florida) – “The Smartphone Phenomenon: How Mobile Device Use by Guests Impacts Experience within the Theme Park Realm” 2. Barbara Burgess-Lefebvre (Assoc. Prof., Robert Morris Univ.) – “Best Practices in Guest Assistance for Disabilities” 3. Aimee Slater (University of Florida) – “Nostalgia Can’t Be Forgotten: Reviewing The Use of Nostalgia in Theme Parks to Develop a Theory That Will Refine the Balance Between the Ailing Emotion and a Hopeful Outlook |
16:20 | Closing and Thanks, Announcements Martin Lewison, TEAAS Symposium Chair Peter Weishar, Chair of TEAAS Steering Committee |