There are plenty of awards ceremonies for certain aspects of the Orlando theme parks. The Golden Ticket Awards are just one of the ways parks are honored for achievements like best dark ride, friendliest staff and best rollercoaster. The Disney Company has its own way of honoring the people behind the parks. It takes thousands of people to make sure the Disney theme parks run smoothly for the guests that go through the gates every day, but it takes an even larger crew to create the Disney parks people visit and the movies people see. Those crews are honored by the Disney Legends Awards.

The awards were created in 1987 by Robert Iger and Roy E. Disney at The Walt Disney Studios to honor animators, songwriters, actors, Imagineers and business leaders that help the Disney machine run smoothly year after year. In 1997 Disneyland Paris got its own version of the awards to honor the European Disney leaders. There are three elements to the Disney Legend award’s statue. The spiral represents the imagination and the power of ideas. The hand represents the gifts of skill and the discipline required for good craftsmanship, and the wand and star represent the magic of imagination and skill combined to form a new dream.

There are plenty of Disney legends already inducted into this hall of fame. 2009 brought in a new class of equally talented Disney stars. Two men that voiced classic Disney characters are part of the list this year. Tony Anselmo, the voice of everyone’s favorite cranky bird Donald Duck, was inducted alongside Bill Farmer, the voice of Goofy. Inductee Robin Williams, famous for his variety of acting roles in movies like Night at the Museum, Jumanji and The Bird Cage, was also the voice of the Genie in Disney’s Aladdin. America’s Golden Girls were also inducted. We lost Estelle Getty, who played Sophia on the Golden Girls, last year. This year we lost Bea Arthur, who played Dorothy. Rue McClanahan (Blanche) and Betty White (Rose) survived Bea and Estelle, but all four of them still received their Legends award. New people are inducted into the Disney Legends group every year and the list of legends grows. It’s great to see the talented members of the Disney community honored for their achievements, even if a lot of them are behind the scenes!

Movies have the Oscars and music has the Grammys, but for theme parks, their equivalent is the Golden Ticket award from Amusement Today. Well the 2009 Golden Ticket Awards were just handed out and Orlando theme parks made their mark on the amusement world once more as they took home six awards in some of the biggest categories the Golden Ticket Awards have.

SeaWorld Orlando won the award for Best Marine Life Park. With great rollercoasters like Kraken and Manta, thrill enthusiasts are never disappointed. SeaWorld also has beautiful marine life exhibits that make your regular city aquarium pale in comparison. From the baby dolphin tank to the polar bears and Shamu, there is something for everyone at this fun yet educational park.

Universal Orlando Resort took home a Golden Ticket with the award for Best Halloween Event with Halloween Horror Nights. This year’s “Ripped from the Silver Screen” theme is sure to be a hit with movie fanatics as they see their favorite icons like Chucky, Jigsaw, Frankenstein, Dracula and Wolfman come to life at this great park. Universal Orlando also received a Golden Ticket for Best Indoor Roller Coaster with Revenge of the Mummy.

Over at Universal Islands of Adventure, the superheroes of Marvel Superhero Island were graced with a Golden Ticket for Best Dark Ride with the Amazing Adventures of Spiderman. Join your friendly neighborhood webslinger as he takes on villains like Electro and the Green Goblin in a simulator ride every comic book fan (and non fan) will love. Islands of Adventure’s Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls took home the Golden Ticket for Best Water Ride.

Of course no theme park experience is complete without a wonderful fireworks show and Walt Disney World Resort’s Epcot took home the Golden Ticket for Best Outdoor Night Show Production with IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. This wonderful show highlights the multicultural feeling of Epcot’s World Showcase Pavillion and the message of unity and cultural harmony the spirit of Walt Disney World encourages in all of their parks.

Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards are further proof that Orlando theme parks are the place to go on your holiday. The best of the best in the amusement park world can be found right here in Orlando, Florida.