NextGen Now.
We hope that it’s apparent to you now that we live in a digital age. That digital age even has Disney in its eyesight with many people visiting their Parks and Resorts and rating and sharing their movies online and on a portable device. It is only fitting that Disney serves their tech savy (and non-tech savy) customers by also diving into the digital age.
We’ve already seen mobile apps and games implemented by the Disney Mobile division, but now it’s the Parks and Resorts turn to show off how they’ll be moving to the digital age.
Yesterday, Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs announced MyMagic+, otherwise known as “NextGen” for those who have been following this concept which has been in development for some time now. The concept of using technology to deliver a more helpful and convenient experience as you visit Disney’s parks and resorts was sure a no-brainer for us and now we’re getting more information on how exactly they’ll be doing that.
Firstly, the technology revolves around two things – the My Disney Experience website/mobile app and the MagicBand.
The My Disney Experience website will be the portal for your Disney vacation or spontaneous visit. The website will be where you book guaranteed times for your favorite shows and attractions, dining reservations, and anything else (that hasn’t been announced) that you could do prior to or change while visiting a Disney Park!
To validate those requests on the My Disney Experience portal, that’s where the customizable MagicBand comes into play. The sleek wristband shown above will serve as they key to all that magic you’ve planned out from entering rides, shows, restaurants, as well as being your optional payment account, PhotoPass card, and even hotel room key! Guests will simply have to place their MagicBand to a scanner and that’s it.
It’s really a whole new way to experience a Disney Park folks when you look at the big picture. Gone will be the days of paper FastPasses, plastic hotel room keys, and even not knowing what to do. The MyMagic+ experience really will bring the convenience and helpfulness of technology to make even the simplest of things like riding an attraction a less stressful and magical one.
The MyMagic+ program is slated to begin rollout at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida first beginning this winter and then make it out to the Disneyland Resort in 2014 (should everything at WDW go on smoothly). We’ll update you with more information on MyMagic+ throughout the year.
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What do you all think about MyMagic+? Are you excited for it? Are you weary about it? Why? Let us know in the comments!
