IAAPA Hall of Fame Honors Two Disney Pioneers
Each year IAAPA ,the global association for the attractions industry, celebrates the industry leaders and professionals who inspire the field. The IAAPA Hall of Fame celebrates and honors those extraordinary pioneers who have seen their personal dreams through to completion not for their own success, but for the growth and betterment of the entire industry. This year two of the IAAPA Hall of Fame inductees are Disney pioneers, Tony Baxter and Greg Hale.
Normally the IAAPA Awards program is held during the IAAPA Expo in Orlando. But, even though this event is virtual this year, the important work and significant impact this year’s winners have made has not gone unnoticed.
Disney IAAPA Hall of Fame Inductees
The IAAPA Hall of Fame was established to honor legends and pioneers from the global attractions industry. IAAPA Hall of Fame inductees are individuals whose work and accomplishments have made significant and lasting contributions to the global attractions industry. This award is the highest and most prestigious honor in the industry. This year, IAAPA is proud to induct two recipients into the IAAPA Hall of Fame from the Disney community:
- Tony Baxter, Walt Disney Imagineering, Anaheim, California
- Tony Baxter, who began his Disney career as a Disneyland host serving ice cream and went on to help define the modern Disney theme park as an Imagineer. Over the years, Tony has not only played a key role in the development of many beloved attractions at the Disneyland Resort, such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (1979), New Fantasyland (1983), Star Tours (1987), Splash Mountain (1989), and Indiana Jones Adventure (1995), he has shared his creative influence at other Disney Parks and Resorts across the globe. In addition to being involved in the opening of Walt Disney World Resort in 1971, he also served as senior vice president responsible for the concept development, design and creation of Disneyland Paris for its opening in 1992.
- Greg Hale, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA
- Greg Hale is the Chief Safety Officer and Vice President of Worldwide Safety and Accessibility for Disney Parks and Resorts. He leads a global team of ride design, operations, maintenance, and safety professionals around the world that keep Disney on the leading edge of theme park safety, accessibility for guests with disabilities, and technology advancements. He is responsible for numerous innovations and inventions that have advanced accessibility for persons with disabilities. The most recent of which is handheld captioning that for the first time, provides captioning for the deaf on moving rides and attractions. In addition, he is a co-inventor and patent holder for Disney’s FASTPASS®, eliminating long lines at Disney theme park rides and attractions.
Congratulations to all the winners! Make sure to tune in to the IAAPA Expo │ Virtual Education Conference next Tuesday, Nov. 17 to see the awards presentations and hear the winners’ acceptance remarks.
IAAPA Hall Fame Disney Credit: IAAPA
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