Disney World has been announcing and releasing some new technology features lately.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort Hotel Room
Many more spots are now available via Mobile Order; not too long ago Disney launched MagicMobile — turning your phone into your MagicBand in many ways, and recently we shared some details about a new service that’ll be available through Amazon Alexa in your Disney World hotel room and at home. Just how will this new Disney service through Amazon’s Alexa enhance your hotel stay? Today we got some updates on just that!
Recently, Disney announced a new service called “Hey Disney!” Disney has characterized this as a “custom voice assistant” that uses “Alexa technology for supported Amazon Echo devices.” The “Hey Disney!” voice assistant will work alongside Alexa and will respond to vocal prompts. There will be an at-home component to “Hey Disney!”, but for now we’re going to focus on what it’ll do while you’re in Disney World.
Hey Disney!
Access to “Hey Disney!” will be offered as an optional, complimentary feature during stays at Disney World’s resort hotels. It will start rolling out across the rooms at Disney World’s resort hotels in 2022, as part of the 18-month-long 50th Anniversary celebration.
©Disney
“Hey Disney!” is a “magical companion” that can introduce guests to Disney characters, set alarms (useful for those early morning wake-ups during vacation), answer questions, and even guide guests to surprises. While staying at a Disney World hotel, “Hey Disney!” will be able to make your vacation easier by answering your questions and even fulfilling certain requests.
Hey Disney!
You’ll be able to ask “Hey Disney!” for details about when the next bus to a particular park is scheduled to arrive at your hotel (Disney notes you’ll be able to ask: “Hey Disney! When does the next bus to EPCOT depart?”) and when the parks will open.
Hey Disney!
You’ll also be able to talk to “Hey Disney!” to request things like extra blankets or pillows (Disney notes you’ll be able to say: “Hey Disney! Can we have some extra towels?”), which will then by delivered by Cast Members.
“Hey Disney!” via Amazon Alexa will be available for free during Disney World Resort hotel stays beginning in 2022 (#DisneyWorld media event) pic.twitter.com/AvOoRRw6uU
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) September 30, 2021
©Disney
According to a Disney press release “‘Hey Disney!’ will make the services Alexa users know and love – weather forecasts, timers, alarms, etc. – magical with the help of popular characters such as Mickey Mouse, Olaf, C-3PO and many more.”
Hey Disney!
“Hey Disney!” features a new character, the Disney Magical Companion, who, according to Disney, “will help guests discover more than a thousand magical 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.”
©Disney
As we mentioned, “Hey Disney!” will be available for FREE during Disney World Resort hotel stays, once it starts to roll out in 2022. At home, fans will be able to purchase “Hey Disney!” once it is available through the Amazon Alexa Skills store.
Additionally, guests will be able to grab 2 new exclusive Mickey-inspired stands for the Echo Show 5. There will be one design featuring Mickey’s classic red shorts…
Amazon Echo Show
…and another inspired by Mickey’s 50th Anniversary celebration outfit. The one inspired by the 50th Anniversary outfit is the version guests will find in Disney World resort hotel rooms.
Amazon Echo Show
We’ll keep an eye out for more details about the “Hey Disney!” service, and we’ll let you know what we find!
Click here to see 9 Disney games you never knew you could play on your Amazon Alexa!
Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Details and Info
See Photos & Reviews of All of Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Eats and Treats
Check Out the 50th Anniversary Merchandise Released Online
Get a Look at Some of the 50th Anniversary Merchandise Released in the Parks
Click HERE for Your Guide to Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration
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Are you excited about this Amazon feature? Tell us in the comments!
Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend their media preview of various new things coming to Disney World, including the Hey Disney! service. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ
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Will this be available at the Swan & Dolphin?
Anthony, I’m not sure about that. We will update when the program is launched.
Let’s just hope this remains optional. I really don’t want Alexa in my hotel room…
Do you know when the platform is available for purchase on Amazon? We have 3 shows to do! Currently only Toy Story Aliens available, rather have mickey ears as well say Hey Disney rather than “Alexa.” Hoping they roll out soon!
Disney wants to track everything about you. You are forced to use your phone in the park (with permissions that track everything you do).
Now Disney needs to know everything you are doing in your room as well. No thanks, it’s time to stay off property (or just go to Universal).
Seriously, are you going to read the numerous pages allowing permissions (at check-in) or are you just going to sign it away (especially with kids in tow).
Disney 1984.
Did anyone take notice that Disney is not offering any room discounts to resort guest for the next few months?? They are only offering up to 25% for annual passolders. And nothing for the first part of next year??? That impacts our resort stay more than anything right now:(
Can you opt-out of having the device in your room? I mean they’re already making money off of me, why give them more intel on how to sell me…
Seems like a dandy little “intrusive” device…
Disney is all about Disney so what’s in it for them ???
Does anyone else find smart devices like this just intrusive and creepy? As long as it’s optional, I guess it doesn’t bother me as some people will enjoy it and make good use of it, but if I found one of these in my hotel room, I’d want it removed immediately, and doubly so given Amazon’s privacy record.
Is it possible to turn this off in your room. I do not want Google (or Disney) listening to me on vacation.
Do we know if they are doing things like wi-fi enabled lights or thermostats that work with the Hey Disney! Or Alexa system? At home, I have a Google Home display with many of the same features, but I can also control my lights/etc with no problem.
Is there anyway to disable this?
Wait, something will be free at Disney???
Hopefully we will be able to unplug this device once we arrive in the room. The privacy factor is an issue with this thing. It’s always listening. The reason why we won’t have Alexa at home.
Interesting… what is the home feature all about…?
Let us hope that this intrusive service is optional. Otherwise, it’s another excellent reason to stay off-Disney properties.
DFB Sarah: Thanks for answering my question the other day about The Chapeau! You rock!
Happy to help, Jim S.!
Cheryl, we’ll look into this when the devices are added to Resort rooms.
Heather, we expect you will be able to disable it (even if that’s just unplugging it). I’ve asked our reporters to check into it when it’s available.
Justin, we’ll have to see them in action. I haven’t heard either way on this.
WorryWart and other who’ve asked: AJ specifically inquired about this, and guests will be able to unplug them if they don’t want the devices on.
Hi! Do you know where I’ll be able to buy the blue 50th anniversary echo stand? I know Amazon and Otterbox has preordering available for the red one. Thanks!
I’m glad these are un-plugable as there’s no way I want anything listening in on me – I won’t have any listening devices in my home so deffo don’t want one when on holiday!!!
Nope, if there is one in my room, I will be walking down to front desk. We all know that these devises never stop listening to you.
Disney has been tracking you via your RFID armband for years. You want a completely immersive experience but refuse to relinquish your privacy is a complete contradiction. Geesh! 😁
Any update on the rollout? We are three months into 2022 and I haven’t heard of these popping up in any resorts just yet.
Thanks!
Any idea when they’ll roll out? I’m staying at Bay Lake Towers in March. I’ll be staying by myself so all it will be able to hear is me talking to myself.
Hi Carol! Disney has not yet released that information, but we will update as soon as they do.
Hi Ash! Disney has not yet released that information, but we are keeping an eye on it and will update as soon as they do.
So this could be a kind of room entertainment. I must have missed the reasoning behind it. Unnecessary expense that will be added to the price of the room, if not already. Eventually they will be a charge for it one way or another. It’s a gimmick. Just don’t take away the tv.