Disney officials are hoping to make a visit to one of its theme parks a more personal experience thanks to a new app that will help guide visitors through their experience.
Much of the focus on the new Genie app has been on Lightning Lane, the feature replacing FastPass that will require guests to pay to make reservations to skip the lines at popular attractions. But Disney officials say there is so much more to Genie.
“We’ve been listening to your feedback. You want planning to be easier, you want more flexibility, and you want better tools to help you make the most of your visit, and that’s exactly what Disney Genie is here to do,” the company said in a blog post. “We’ve made significant investments in this cool new technology, which guides you through our theme parks with tips that can help you reduce time in lines, discover magic around every corner and take the guesswork out of ‘what’s next.’”
Disney is most excited about the AI technology in Disney Genie that includes a personalized itinerary feature to help guests make the most of their day. Visitors simply tell the app which attractions, restaurants, or more that they want to visit, and the app gives them a variety of scenarios based on optimum wait times and ease of getting from location to location.
“We’ve had 60 years of experience in theme parks. So we know exactly how people are behaving, how the attractions are behaving. We know exactly how to optimize a day,” Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro told CNN. “So with technology advancing, we’re able to take all that information and all of that data that our industrial engineers have and serve it up in a very convenient way to our guests.”
And it’s not a one-time deal. The app will continue to update its suggestions for guests as the day unfolds, giving them the best opportunity to reach their desired attractions in the shortest time frame.
Disney Genie will have other features as well, allowing guests to make restaurant reservations online, view current and estimated future wait times at any attraction, and message boards where they can contact Disney staff with any questions during their visit.
“The goal of Disney Genie, which will appear in a user-friendly app, is to create a better, more personalized and customized experience for guests, putting them in control and providing even greater flexibility and choice,” Disney CEO Bob Chapek said on an investment call earlier this month. “They’ll be able to spend less time waiting in line and figuring out what attractions or dining options are available and more time having fun.”
Disney Genie is expected to be unveiled in the coming weeks at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
