Disney Utilizing Virtual Queueing As Parks Reopen

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably been there: stuck in a two hour line, standing shoulder to shoulder with Guests in front of and behind you (and hoping they all showered). Arguably, this is the aspect of the Parks that presents the biggest challenge as they prepare to open after closing their gates in March.

We may be seeing indications of one way Disney plans to manage this issue, and actually it’s something we’ve already encountered in the recent past: virtual queues.

Bees and Elephants: Tech In Nature

A Google search of the word “technology” returns this definition:

the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry.

We tend to think of technology as things with circuit boards and operating systems. But at its core, technology very simply solves a problem. I’ve recently started through the Disney Insider series on Disney+ and had to write about Episode 3, which featured an amazing segment about Bees and Elephants.

WDW Radio: Things On Disney+ To Experience Disney Parks At Home

As we all know, we’re in a strange time where visiting Disney Parks is actually not possible. But as we’re waiting for the Parks to resume operations next month, we are also luckily living in a time where experiencing the Parks at home can be possible via Disney+.

That was the topic on this week’s WDW Radio podcast, which is also one of the first podcasts I ever listened to.

New Kingdom Hearts Content Is On The Way

In the absence of E3 this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re starting to see gaming companies release trailers and information for upcoming projects independently. The latest of these is a re-imagining of the well-known and much-loved Disney and Square Enix series, Kingdom Hearts.

Disney Testing Touchless Security Screening at Disney Springs

As we near Disney’s target date to start re-opening their ever-popular and usually-crowded theme parks, everyone on the outside looking in is wondering how they plan on completing routine things like security checks while maintaining safety and distancing measures put in place amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Well, if recent news coming out of Disney Springs is any indication, we may have our answer.

Getting Ready to Reopen

Well hey there! It’s been a little while. That was an unintentional little hiatus!

But in all reality, it’s probably a good time to get going again. As Disney plans to gear up to reopen numerous facets of its business, it’s probably a good time to get back into the swing of things here.

Technologically speaking, we’ve seen some interesting things happen at Disney over the last four or five months. And we’re going to continue to see interesting changes develop over the coming months.

We’re learning more about how a streaming world looks, with the likes of Artemis Fowl opening today on Disney+, even to less-than-stellar reviews. We’re seeing staples of the Parks and Resorts show up online as groups like the Voices of Liberty have taken to the internet to bring Guests at home a little bit of magic. And as the Parks get ready to reopen over the next month, we’re going to see them use reservation systems and more new processes to ensure the health and safety of those that are heading to the parks.

So we’ll have plenty to talk about when it comes to technology and Disney, and honestly there’s already plenty to discuss. I’m glad to be back behind the keyboard here, and I’m ready to start seeing what this new normal will look like for the time being.

Until the next post, see you real soon!

Digitally Disney: Adapting to Changes

It’s really quite amazing how much the world has changed in the span of just a few short weeks. At the beginning of this month, I was fully expecting to take my daughter to see Onward in the theaters. But I made the mistake of thinking I could wait for a week after it released.

Let’s take a look at what Disney has done since then to make the best of a bad situation.

Spaceship Earth Reimigining Starts This May

Besides being the ever-recognizable icon of Walt Disney World’s EPCOT theme park, Spaceship Earth is also a wonderful tribute to our shared human journey and the technology of communication.

As EPCOT journeys closer to its omega-overhaul, Spaceship Earth will be closing soon to begin its restoration. Today, we got some new concept art of what one particular scene might look like. Hit the “Read More” to learn more!

Tiger Bringing Back 90s Handhelds

I’m a child of the 80s and 90s. So naturally I love when I see that some toy or piece of electronics is being brought back for a nostalgia tour now that I’m in my thirties. Nintendo had my full attention with their classic mini consoles that launched a few years ago, which of course encouraged Sony and Sega to do the same with their consoles.

But even before I owned any game system by any of those companies, Tiger Electronics was my main go-to. Tiger made all sorts of handheld LCD gaming systems, each one only playing a single game. Now, Tiger has announced they’re bringing back four of these and they’re coming this fall!

If you’re curious what these are and what titles are coming, hit the “Continue Reading” below – but it’s a safe bet that at least one of them is a Disney title (winky face)…

“Come and Play” – Disney’s Video Game Strategy

Back in 2016, Disney officially shut down Disney Interactive Studios, effectively ending its run of creating video games in-house. But that obviously didn’t mean you would never see another Disney licensed character rendered on your consoles or mobile phones. Disney games have still had a pretty large presence ever since, and this past week Sean Shoptaw (Senior Vice President, Global Games & Interactive Experiences) discussed more of Disney’s video game strategy moving forward.

If you’re interested to see what this might look like, hit the Read More below!