Amazon’s Alexa Coming to Disney World Hotels
“Hey, Disney!” is a new Alexa service by Amazon that’ll be used in hotel rooms at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort. This post covers details about the new voice-activated assistant, which promises to help guests order amenities, speak with Cast Members, get answers to common questions, plan park days, and more. (Updated April 15, 2022.)
Later this year, guests staying at Walt Disney World resorts will find a “Hey, Disney!” equipped Echo Show 5 in their rooms. The assistant can answer questions, like when Magic Kingdom opens, where to get a meal, or what time the fireworks happens. They can also use the “Hey, Disney!” assistant to make specific service requests, or use the assistant to play personalized messages from favorite characters.
While details about “Hey, Disney!” are vague, here are relevant portions of a technology press release from Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products…
As we kick off the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort, we’re excited about the ways that technology will add to our celebration — and beyond. Today we announced a project with Amazon called “Hey, Disney!” With it, we’ve created our own custom assistant, using Disney stories, characters and more — all built on Amazon’s Alexa technology.
Whether you’re at home or in one of our Walt Disney World Resort hotel rooms, soon you’ll be able to use an Echo device to interact with your favorite Disney, Pixar or Star Wars characters.
“Hey, Disney!” will make your vacation easier, more meaningful and more fun … and it will entertain and delight you when you’re at home, too. It raises the bar for immersive storytelling with authentic character voices, unique audio environments inspired by our films and destinations, and more than a thousand magical interactions to discover — so you can expect a few surprises!
We’ll have more to share soon about “Hey, Disney!” and other ways that technology and innovation will continue to help us make magic and create the Disney Difference — setting ourselves apart in the world of dream vacations, renowned family entertainment, and innovative products and experiences around the world.
In addition to this press release, USA Today interviewed Dan Soto, Vice President of Technology and Digital for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products and Aaron Rubenson, Amazon’s vice president of Alexa Voice Service & Alexa Skills. That offers some additional insight into how “Hey Disney” will work and what it’ll offer to guests of Walt Disney World–and consumers at home.
“Hey, Disney!” was designed to enhance the Alexa experience with things like jokes, interactive trivia for families, personal greetings from characters, soundscapes, and more. It will include authentic character voices, original recordings, unique audio environments inspired by films and parks, plus over 1,000 interactions.
The experience as a whole will be guided by something called the “Disney Magical Companion.” Essentially, this companion will be a Disney re-skinned (perhaps re-recorded is the better term) version of Alexa.
It’s a custom voice that Disney itself developed to guide users through the “Hey, Disney!” experience. While the companion’s voice has not yet been revealed, Disney used a voice actor to create the sound.
Additionally, “Hey, Disney!” will available for customers to access on Amazon Echo devices in Walt Disney World hotel rooms. Since the original announcement, the company revealed that “Hey, Disney!” is also coming to Disneyland Resort.
“Hey, Disney!” is expected to roll out sometime in 2022, but no word on when the devices will be installed in resort rooms.
Following this announcement, we had the chance to see “Hey, Disney!” at a technology showcase during Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary. The voice and visuals look and sound good, but what matters is how all of this actually works in practice. If you request fresh towels or more coffee, does it actually get delivered? Will the planning features actually be useful? Is more information offered than what’s already displayed on resort TV?
Those are all unknowns until “Hey, Disney!” actually launches and can be used in-room by real guests.
More recently, we had the chance to use the D3-O9 Logistics Droid aboard Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. This character interacts with you via an panel on the wall.
While the interface is different, D3-O9 seems a bit like the “Hey, Disney!” Alexa service on steroids. This logistics droid has the ability to brief guests on mission elements, details, and more. If “Hey, Disney!” is even remotely similar to this, it has a lot of potential–both as a practical assistant and a “storytelling” device that can add some personality to the in-room hotel experience.
Resorts will offer additional “Hey, Disney!” features through Alexa for Hospitality.
You’ll be able to ask “Hey, Disney!” things like park operating hours, where certain cuisines are served, and when the next bus departs from the resort to various parks. Additionally, “Hey, Disney!” will offer some functional services like order more blankets or towels to the room.
Disney is looking at ways to access things like itineraries and that other ways to integrate the Disney Genie service into “Hey, Disney!”
We’re skeptical that’ll actually happen, as the Disney Genie itinerary building features barely work to begin with. (See our Review of Walt Disney World’s Free Genie Itinerary Creator.)
Presumably, the device will also offer the core Alexa functionality found in the Echo Show 5, meaning you can hear the news, ask for sports scores, play music, and more.
Customers can now order the new Mickey Mouse inspired OtterBox Den Series stand for Echo Show 5, available for pre-order today for $24.99 by clicking here.
As privacy concerns are likely, Disney and Amazon have preemptively addressed those by indicating that resort customers will have to opt in, not opt out, to use “Hey, Disney!” Echo microphones in hotel rooms can also be manually turned off.
The in-room experience at Walt Disney World is designed with privacy in mind and so no audio is stored by default. Visitors will not log in with their own Amazon accounts to use the experience–meaning no personal information is transmitted or known when interacting with “Hey, Disney!”
In case you’re curious, Alexa for Hospitality is aimed at simplifying tasks for hotel occupants: playing music, getting the weather forecast, calling the front desk, ordering room service, controlling in-room temperature or lighting, and checking out.
Amazon pitches Alexa for Hospitality to the industry as “voice immersive experiences to help your property increase revenues, reduce costs, and improve guest satisfaction.” Alexa for Hospitality is already utilized by several hotel chains; as with most hospitality innovations, that’s particularly the case in Las Vegas. (Here’s an interesting Wynn Las Vegas case study about Alexa for Hospitality.)
In terms of commentary, my main reaction to this “Hey, Disney!” news is skepticism.
Setting aside privacy concerns, I have full faith in Amazon’s ability to deliver on its promises with Alexa for Hospitality. Opinions vary on Amazon, but I don’t think anyone would claim the company isn’t incredibly savvy and capable when it comes to efficiency and solutions.
In the right circumstances, Alexa for Hospitality is probably is a great service that provides consumers with increased convenience and comfort while in-room. Given ongoing labor shortages, there’s probably tremendous value–for consumers and hotel chains alike–in technology like this.
We’ve stayed at Las Vegas and other convention-centric hotels that leverage technology, automate aspects of the stay, and improve the overall experience. It is worth noting that many of these rooms were built or remodeled with smart technology in mind, and thus can leverage it to its fullest potential.
My skepticism is aimed at Disney. I have considerable doubts that Walt Disney World will take advantage of these opportunities to add value for visitors, at least from the perspective of improving efficiency, convenience, and stay quality.
We stay at a lot of Walt Disney World hotels, and just calling the front desk–which is actually an off-site call center–to request towels, blankets, or literally anything tends to be a frustrating experience. It’s tedious, time-consuming, and the likelihood of “success” (as measured by getting what you requested) is 50/50.
Beyond that, most of Walt Disney World’s recent technology initiatives that would tie into this–like bus wait times in My Disney Experience–no longer work reliably. If the core product interfacing with “Hey, Disney!” doesn’t work, the service on top of it won’t, either.
I don’t doubt that “Hey, Disney!” will be able to state park hours or perform the simplest of tasks–basically anything that the in-room television can do when turned on. However, if that’s all it can do, it sort of begs the question of what “Hey, Disney!” will actually offer.
Ultimately, I think “Hey, Disney!” will be a worthwhile service when it comes to trivia and interacting with (what I assume will be) a Mickey Mouse voice. Families and kids will probably enjoy it. Basically, I think “Hey, Disney!” will be a solid addition when judged only from the perspective of “a fun thing for kids.”
My doubts revolve entirely around the utility and convenience it’ll offer in-room at Walt Disney World resorts. I don’t have much faith in how Disney operates services at its hotel, and I don’t think that’s something that can be fixed with a new user interface. (I don’t have a ton of privacy concerns–I’ll take what Amazon and Disney said at face value–but I’m sure others will.)
I’d love to be wrong about this. Walt Disney World has made some tremendous strides with technology in the last couple of years, with some innovations that have truly improved the experience for customers and efficiency for the company. So I’m not totally ruling out the possibility that this will be another win. Rather, given Disney’s track record with hotels and technology, I think “skepticism” is the more pragmatic default position here.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of the “Hey, Disney!” Alexa assistant? Excited for this to come to Walt Disney World or would you prefer to not have an Amazon device in your hotel room? Think this will be helpful and improve the resort experience, or are you likewise skeptical? Interested in how Walt Disney World will implement the new system? Agree or disagree with our assessment? Other thoughts or concerns? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
I feel like this is a missed opportunity of using “oh toodles!”
It is a very good thing that it can be unplugged. Otherwise, I’d have to shove it in my suitcase under all my clothes and HOPE I remembered to put it back out before we checked out of our room. Alexa is not welcome in our home and she certainly won’t be welcome on our vacations.
This sounds totally useless and a huge invasion of privacy. Everyone knows you have to be wary of Alexa listening in to private conversations. Noneya business Disney! Bring back actual perks for us long time guests and early DVC members that you’ve made a fortune off of for the last 30 years!
Another thing that I find sort of weird about this is saying “Hey, Corporation!” instead of some character name. It adds a wholly unnecessary creep factor that “Hey, Goofy!” or “Hey, Edna Mode!” or “Hey, Figment!” wouldnt’ve had.
To all the commenters complaining that this money should have been spent elsewhere, we shouldn’t assume that this was a major line item in the resort division’s capex budget. Note that “Hey, Disney!” will be for sale to a broader audience, on Amazon. The in-room devices are basically experiential ads for a consumer product that Amazon expects to make a ton of money from. I recall a New York Magazine article from a couple of years back with the headline, “Amazon Could Give Away the Echo Dot and Still Make Money.” It’s not impossible that Amazon actually did give these devices to Disney. Notice, also, that guests using these devices will eliminate the need for cast members in Disney’s housekeeping call center – ongoing cost savings! This perfectly fits into the ongoing trend…so many of Disney’s recent announcements provide the company enhanced consumer tracking and CM cost cutting under the guise of “improved guest experience.”
Unnecessary. There are so many different ways that money could have been spent that would have made a trip better. I love Disney, love going there, but at this point I’m so disgusted with everything happening there. I am sad to say I doubt my family will go back again. Disney needs to rethink their priorities and bring back the magic.
Legoland has echo dot’s. I didn’t find them useful. It will be interesting to see if these are capable of more.
Abso-freaking-lutely NOT!
I have young children and I’m not interested in this at all. I’m glad that you can unplug it. I have strong privacy concerns but in addition to that, I doubt that it will make service any better. I agree fully with Tom’s point that, “just calling the front desk—which is actually an off-site call center—to request towels, blankets, or literally anything tends to be a frustrating experience.” I was really disappointed when I realized that when you call the front desk you get an call center. On a recent trip to CBR I actually went to the front desk to ask for a shower cap for my wife and they said they didn’t have any at the front desk but they would contact housekeeping…more broadly, I see this as part of (what I think of as) “Bob Chapek’s war on humanity.” He’s purely driven by numbers, not guest experience, not return guests. So anything that eliminates a labor cost, i.e., cast members, he’s loves. Mobile ordering, AI Photopass, Amazon Echo, getting rid of streetmosphere. There is a theme here but it’s not magical. I love WDW but I’m counting the days until he is gone.
Its not just Chapek thats the problem… JOSH D’AMARO who is “CHAIRMAN, DISNEY PARKS, EXPERIENCES AND PRODUCTS” and also JEFF VAHLE, who is “PRESIDENT, WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT” are both MAJOR players in these decisions.
I’m not so sure that Chapek being replaced with make a major difference to the way the parks are currently run.
I keep telling myself that the pendulum with start to swing back, but things just continue to get worse.
Not sure when we’ll ever come back at this rate. Its so sad.
Disney customer service lines are being overwhelmed with calls from guests who are giving a lot of negative feedback about many things. This Alexa is something we don’t have at home and sure don’t need on vacation! Tone deaf response from leaders. We’d rather have FastPass return instead!
Will they be able to turn this ship around or let it crash? I don’t see it happening
the serious concern for privacy alongside the desire for individuals to achieve widespread internet attention is one beautiful example of our many ironic internal contradictions, isn’t it?
Pass.
Check into hotel. Unlock door and go in. Crank thermostat down to 66 or so. Unplug Alexa device. Unpack.
I hope it uses the alarm clock feature to wake us up to either Disney music or a Disney character voice.
@ Drew
That’s exactly what popped into my head. Other than maybe ask it the theme park hours, an echo dot in my room doesn’t really “move the needle” for me. It certainly wouldn’t factor into my decision of on/off site, I’d much prefer to save money! This just seems like somehow, somewhere, Disney and Amazon must have found a way to make money/associate with Disney
@Pocahontas you nailed it!
Legoland NY has Google assistant in their hotel. It performs very similarly
This sounds cool and all, but before adding this in hotel rooms, I wish they would add Disney+ in their rooms. Personally, I think a complementary (with limited options) version would work and probably be a great marketing tool. However, as a Disney+ subscriber, I would also love the option to sign in to my own account, like other hotels allow for Netflix, etc.
My niece and nephew were SO confused as to why they were at Disney World, but couldn’t watch their Disney+ at night.
I just wish Disney would allocate the time & money they’re spending on this gimmick, to hire a couple of phone operators at each resort hotel to actually answer the phone at the front desk when the remote won’t work or there’s a burned out lightbulb.
I assume the goal here is saving money rather than spending it, as that’s what Amazon advertises on its Alexa for Hospitality page.
With that said, I wouldn’t be surprised if Disney eats the up-front costs and never saves a dime because this doesn’t end up working as intended.
Could I say any bigger MEH! Park hours? Anyone of a half a dozen of their channels give you this 24/7. Yeah…..like Emily said, I’ll just unplug it.
I’ll just unplug it. Not a very exciting announcement.
Does this mean we don’t need Genie or Genie+? Next Disney will provide a service where people can be carried to the monorail & buses from their hotel rooms for a fee.