The Big Work

I am writing this on the eve of a large Entertainment industry conference I attend every year called IAAPA. IAAPA is short for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.

It’s a huge event with 30,000+ attendees. The conference has been in Orlando for several years running. IAAPA attracts everyone from food vendors and plush toy sales to roller coaster designers. My job designing theme parks means IAAPA is a huge deal. Lots of client time, meetings, and parties.

As you will come to know, Gav LOVED theme parks. He loved roller coasters, live shows, hanging with his brother and friends. He practically grew up at SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica and Walt Disney World. For his 14th birthday which would have been December 29, 2022, Gav wanted to visit Busch Gardens Tampa to ride Iron Gwazi, a newly opened steel track hybrid coaster.

On Friday of IAAPA many people would bring their kids to allow them to experience all the vendor exhibitions. There are rides, video games, simulators, and lots of snacks. I took Conor on his own when he was about seven years old. The next year as the conference week went on Conor asked if he could go to the “big work” again. For years we referred to IAAPA as the big work. The boys went a number of times, including in 2021. They always tried to get me to pay for a rickshaw to take them from the convention center to the car at the end of a long day. Every once in a while I succumbed to the pressure😊. I have a lot of great memories of taking the kids to IAAPA. Conor’s not interested in going this year. Maybe next year.

BTW - did you catch Gav doing the "dab" in the one video? That was a thing in our house for quite a while :)