Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, reported at the Disney Investor Conference yesterday on some innovative technology and systems being developed to improve guest experience, crowd management, and overall profitability at Disney Parks.
Called The Next Generation Experience by some commentators, this bundle of innovations will help Disney to improve the less enjoyable experiences for guests, including long ride and attraction lines, missing out on theme park time due to checking in at the resort, and “feeling uncertain” of how to navigate Disney parks and resorts.
Staggs is likening these improvements to creating a FASTPASS for your vacation, allowing guests to create a personalized itinerary for their whole visit before they even leave their home.
Guests will be able to reserve times for their favorite attractions and character interactions… secure seats at our shows and spectaculars…make dining reservations… and pre-book many other favorite guest experiences – all before even leaving their house. We also plan to simplify the check-in process so that guests will arrive at the resort with room key in hand.
Staggs also reported on developing better means to manage guest traffic in the theme parks, mentioning an opportunity to “use entertainment experiences, characters, and other forms of Disney magic to help improve the flow of guests during peak periods… and drive increased utilization as a result for our parks.”
Changes won’t be implemented for quite a while, but Disney has already begun in-depth planning and has several patents pending for the upcoming technology.
