Disney’s App Just Got Smarter, and It’s Part of Something Much Bigger
Disney World has upgraded its Find Merchandise feature in the My Disney Experience app, making it available to all park guests. Initially tested last November, this feature now allows users to search for specific items directly within the app, enhancing the shopping experience. Guests can easily look up merchandise by keyword, helping them find collectibles, apparel, or toys without wandering through the parks. Enjoy your trip with this convenient update!
How It Works in The App
To access the Find Merchandise page in the app, simply open it and tap on “Start Searching.” When you use this feature for the first time, a pop-up will appear informing you that it’s still in the testing phase. Keep this in mind, as some features may change as Disney continues to make adjustments.
Once you’re on the page, you can search for a specific item, browse through the Top Products, or look at what’s Trending if you’re unsure of what you want. When you select an item, you’ll see its price and a button labeled “Check Shop Availability.” By tapping this button, you can find out if the item is currently in stock.
At the moment, this feature only checks availability at one location: the World of Disney store at Disney Springs. If you’re looking to check stock at shops in Magic Kingdom or EPCOT, this tool won’t assist just yet. We hope this feature will expand to include more locations in the future, but it’s a great starting point for now.
Interestingly, Disney attempted a similar feature years ago, linked to shopDisney and the Disney Store. However, it didn’t last long because maintaining accurate real-time inventory proved to be quite challenging. The return of this feature suggests that Disney has likely improved its stock tracking capabilities since then.
This Fits Into a Bigger Picture Too
My Disney Experience has been getting a lot of updates lately. Resort check-in got streamlined, you can book park reservations right in the app now, and Disney Gift Cards can be stored in the MyDisney Wallet too.
All of this is part of a much bigger plan Disney has for the app, which includes a major AI-powered search upgrade. The goal is to fix the app’s search function, which has honestly been a pain point for a while. Type in something simple like “ride in space” and you should eventually get a clean answer pointing you to attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind or Space Mountain instead of a confusing mess of links.
That said, the bigger AI rollout has already run into a few hiccups, including an error message that briefly went live on Disney’s website by mistake. So it kind of makes sense that Disney is keeping Find Merchandise labeled clearly as a test instead of rolling it out like it’s finished and perfect.
What This Means for Your Next Trip
For now, if you’re shopping at Disney Springs, Find Merchandise can save you a walk if something’s sold out. It’s not perfect yet, and it only covers one store, but it’s a nice step toward making Disney shopping a little less of a guessing game.
