The Walt Disney Company has recently announced two new technological advancements this week, with one of them being the MagicBand+ wearable and the other “Hey Disney!” voice assistant. Both will debut in 2022 at Walt Disney World Resort as part of the 50th anniversary.
MagicBand+
Back in 2013 when Walt Disney World Resort introduced the MagicBand, it gave guests a hands-free device, including park and guest room entry, retail and dining, Disney PhotoPass, and more.
MagicBand+ will come alive at various times with color-changing lights, haptic vibrations, and gesture recognition, enhancing the environment’s immersive storytelling. You can find different experiences such as:
- Play like a bounty hunter in a galaxy far, far away and find virtual bounties throughout Black Spire Outpost in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
- Interact with the “Disney Fab 50 Character Collection,” the golden sculptures spread throughout the Walt Disney World theme parks.
- Experience nighttime spectaculars in a new way as they see their bands light up and complement the magic in the skies, including the new “Harmonious” at EPCOT and “Disney Enchantment” at Magic Kingdom Park.
This will be available for purchase beginning next year. MagicBand+ will be available at a discounted, pre-arrival price for Disney Resort hotel guests, as well as new and renewing Walt Disney World Annual Passholders. Don’t worry, the older version of MagicBand will still be around as well!
‘Hey Disney!’
“Hey Disney!”, is a voice assistant that will work alongside Alexa to respond to vocal prompts, bringing Disney characters and stories to life.
“Hey Disney!” will begin rolling out in Disney Resort hotel guest rooms across Walt Disney World in 2022, access will be offered as an optional, complementary feature during guest stays. This includes weather forecasts, timers, alarms, and more, featuring popular characters such as Mickey Mouse, Olaf, C-3PO, and more.
This also features the Disney Magical Companion, who will help guests discover more than a thousand interactions, such as hearing special greetings and jokes from authentic Disney character voices, asking trivia questions, and exploring audio environments inspired by Disney films and destinations. You can also ask questions such as “Hey Disney! When does the next bus to EPCOT depart?”, “Hey Disney! Can we have some extra towels?”) and more.
“Hey Disney!” will be available for purchase for supported Amazon Echo devices via the Amazon Alexa Skills store,
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Emily Ann has always loved the theme parks, and is now so happy she gets to create content around them for ThrillGeek! She considers herself a huge theme park foodie, as well as finding unique items across the parks. Would die for HHN.