Disney Plans to Use AI to Transform Theme Parks: New Deal in the Works
Disney is looking to integrate more artificial intelligence systems into its theme parks.
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As Walt Disney himself stated, the Disney theme parks will never truly be completed, but they will always be constantly evolving and changing. This is exemplified by the numerous changes and expansions currently taking place at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts, with several new rides and attractions in the works.
However, Disney also has a keen interest in technology, with the company looking toward artificial intelligence to improve and fundamentally change the theme park experience for all of its guests.
Self-Driving Cars Coming to Disney Parks Soon?
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Officially launched in 2014, the Disney Accelerator program is Disney’s personal tech startup hub. With the Accelerator program, Disney invests in over 60 companies that seek to push the limits of tech, offering capital in exchange for access to new and exciting technological breakthroughs, specifically within the service industry.
Among these companies is Nuro, a company that specializes in autonomous vehicles.
Initially founded in 2016, Nuro has grown exponentially in the public eye thanks to increased exposure on social media.
“Nuro has the potential to improve daily life for millions of people by delivering safer streets, a healthier planet, and more equitable access to goods,” reads the company’s official website, and according to new reports, Nuro’s AI tech could soon make its way into the Disney theme parks.
Per the DisneyExaminer, The Walt Disney Company is currently in talks to see if there’s a way to incorporate Nuro’s self-driving, AI-powered delivery vehicles into the Disney theme parks.
These vehicles could deliver goods like merchandise to guests’ hotel rooms or even take guests themselves to and from the theme parks.
“For the last ten years, the Disney Accelerator has been connecting Disney with technology companies that have the potential to transform the media industry. That transformation has happened on a larger scale than any of us could have ever imagined,” said David Min, Disney’s Vice President of Innovation. “Through collaborations with more than 60 global companies like Epic Games, Sphero, Attentive, and Kahoot!, we’ve created a program centered around relationships, teamwork, leveraging each other’s strengths, and dreaming big.”
It’s unclear how far off autonomous cars are from entering the Disney theme parks, but artificial intelligence is a well that the The Walt Disney Company has returned to time and time again in recent years.
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In 2023, Disney deployed an artificial intelligence-powered device called “Hey Disney” at its theme park hotels. Like Amazon’s Alexa, “Hey Disney” is a robust voice-assisted service guests can use to customize their stay at the Walt Disney World Resort.
With “Hey Disney”, guests can:
- Wake you with a message from Mickey Mouse and pals
- Order you more towels
- Tell you jokes, play you stories or host a game of Disney trivia
- Bring you into the worlds of favorite Disney, Pixar, Star Wars and The Muppets for interactive experiences
While Disney may still be years off from adding self-driving cars into the Walt Disney World Resort, artificial intelligence is undoubtedly a key focus for the company, and as such, guests should expect Disney to continue to innovate and incorporate new tech at its theme parks.
AI-powered tech is not just limited to Disney theme parks. Earlier this year, Universal Destinations & Experiences, Comcat’s division responsible for Universal theme parks in Florida, California, and beyond, filed a patent that would implement AI into a ride or attraction’s operation procedures.
Specifically, this new patent will allow a camera to interpret a ride operator’s gestures to begin, stop, or pause a given ride of attraction.
Would you let a self-driving car take you to your Disney World hotel room?
