Tech Thursday : When it comes to the Disney theme parks & interactivity, what price is right ?

On the technology in the parks thing: I haven't been a child for a long time, but I've brought an iPod into the parks with me on occasion - if I'm standing alone in a badly themed queue *cough California Screamin' cough*, I appreciate having the distraction. And just about every adult and most kids have their cell phones on and ready; I'd love to have a dollar for everyone who calls or text messages or plays games on their cell phones in the parks (so would Disney, I imagine).

arrowyn, you've got a valid concern, but wouldn't it follow that a child with a Pal Mickey would most likely be there with a trusted adult? Just sayin'...

Personally, the thought of an AA "talking" to me or Pal Mickeys talking to each other doesn't appeal to me all that much. ET saying my name was cute the first couple of times, but after that it's more of a detraction from the show than anything else.

Let's remember that the primary DS market is kids, folks. Kids won't find these instructions complicated at all, and they'll enjoy the treasure hunt aspect. Remember, kids don't fear technology like adults do and, consequently, they're usually much, much better at using it.

Also, I've seen lots of kids waiting in the increasingly barren queue designs, playing their handhelds rather than swinging on the queue bars and staring blanky at nothing while they wait. Of course, I'd love to have more intricate and intresting queues like in the old days, but with the exception of Everest, they're just not too popular on the list of necessary parts of an attraction, I guess.

That said, after all is said and done and the family is back home, the kids now have some really neat, exclusive bragging rights to show their friends and tell the story of how they hunted for these unlockable/downloadable treasures at Disney. If those kids go back and start working on their parents, maybe it will lead to a few more folks heading to the Mouse that might otherwise have not.

Don't be so afraid of something just because it's not your cup of tea. Kids today - and younger generations in general - tend to like mixing their gadgets into their life and vacation experiences. I say let them...if you don't want to do the same, then it shouldn't be a problem to just not do it, should it?

The PDA thing that someone mentioned is a pretty good idea.  I know that the Palm line of PDA's have Bluetooth and wi-fi capabilities (at least the new ones do).  It would be pretty neat to get updates via your PDA, but I guess the drawback is carrying that thing around.

The problem that I found with Pal Mickey (or at least my daughter had) was that you could barely hear the thing talk after it vibrated to let you know that it was going to tell you something.  The other thing that I thought hurt Pal Mickey was that a brand new one was introduced that had enhanced features, and there were a LOT of the old versions floating around that couldn't take advantage of it.  What probably could have helped would have been an exchange program whereby the owners of the old versions were able to upgrade to the newer version for a nominal fee.  Disney could have taken those traded-in Mickeys and donated them to a childrens' hospital or perhaps loaned them out.

Here's what WDI should do.... (WDC, if you're reading, no charge. :)

Forget hardware.... implement what ever you're planning as software...

There's enough horsepower on most cell phones to do all of this...

So you write the thing in Java ME have it talk Bluetooth and have it

interact with ride elements and "hot spots"... predownload the sounds over the internet... even w/ the names...

Minimal charge for the visitor (paying for the internet download

of the app), minimal expense for Disney.

Not super easy to do, but all the components exist.

It’s really interesting that Jim chose to write this article at this time.  I didn’t really know about the “X-marks-the-spot” hotspots, but the past few days, I’ve been thinking about how many interesting and beneficial things Disney could do if they embedded their theme park passes with RF transmitters.  I know, some big brother fearing types are already totally opposed to this idea, but I’m sure they could work out the details well enough that you would feel your privacy was secure.  

In any case, the benefits would be amazing.  First, it would be a huge boost to the “living character initiative”, by allowing characters, rides, or anything else address people by name (or utilize any other info people were willing to store on their ID), without the need for a live performer.  

They could also use it to track people’s preferences.  An example would be, if a pattern forms where a person regularly orders the same beverage, the automated ordering machines, can make that item more easily accessible, or even ask, “Hi (insert name here), do you want your usual (insert beverage here)?”  This would be even more beneficial to annual pass holders, who would have time to really have their preferences learned.

The card could even store information like priority seating times and such, which would not only help the cast run this aspect of the park, but could work with other technology to remind the guest that they need to head for the restaurant, based on how far away they are and travel times. This would be especially important in Florida, where you might be in a completely different park.

Also in Florida, it would be a huge benefit for the bus system, as they would be able to track when people are waiting at a bus stop, as well as busses in transit and the amount of people on board, and adjust accordingly.

Behind the scenes, there would also be huge benefits.  It would allow for more accurately tracking guest movement throughout the park, and even allow for more automated ride systems that adjust to the number of people in line.  It would allow the time of wait signs to be far more accurate.  It could even help monitor if guest were doing stupid things that might get them, or someone else, hurt.

I guess what this all boils down to is, sure, these gimmicks aren’t doing so well, but the technology and applications could lead to some really incredible improvements both on the guest and cast side of things.  It may not make the mouse a lot of money, but it could save them money and improve guest experiences.

My big problem with this is the fact that when I take my family to a Disney Park, the whole point of it is to spend QUALITY family time together. In this hi-tech world, we seem to have lost so much of it already. We can't just take car trips and talk as a family... no, as soon as you get in the mini-van the DVD player has to come out so the kids can watch a movie. There are so many distractions now thanks to technology that aid in actually pulling the family apart.

So now Disney introduces this in the theme parks of all places, the place where Walt designed for families to bond and enjoy special time together. In order for my kids to use this technology they'd have to bring their video systems into the park with them. That also means, then that they'd want to kill time waiting in lines by playing their Nintendo.. and while waiting in restaurants for food. In other words, we risk all that family time and memories times that we get in the parks, as now the kids will have yet another place to play a video game. No thanks. Count me out. I have a hard enough time trying to get my kids off video games, the last thing I would want to do is encourage them to take in MORE places. Leave the video games at home.

First off, how many people own a Nintendo DS... probably quite a few, but then how many of those people bought a copy of "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" and on top of it how many of *those* people are going to remember to bring it with them to the park?  A small percentage.  I know I wouldnt want to tote mine around the park with me all day just so I could get a free download. Bad idea.

I think this interactive stuff at the oarks is very intriguing. This comming from a person who is still using windows 98 on a dial up connection! However I do wonder if WDI could improve the quality of their Imagineers buy requiring some reading before being hired or at least finishing the reading within a period of time and actually have everybody be tested on it as part of keeping their jobs. Why I say this is it seems that everybody is still figuring out what Michael Eisner would have done verses concentrating on what Walt would have done. Does anybody know if the company requires perspective employees to read the two recent Walt biographies or eveb better; to purchase and use the Computer CD that Walts family put out several years ago? I wonder if requiring WDI employees to do this would help people get a glimpse of the man whose shoes they are filling? Thus, they might end up with more sucsessful ideas?

Then again I'm just a wanna be Imagineer on the outside looking in.

dustindd: You're right, quite a few people own a DS. In fact, more than quite a few. Nintendo is cleaning up the video game market right now. DS is outselling PSP and Wii is outselling Xbox 360 (my personal favorite, though) and PS3. A LOT of people own a DS. To make this promotion effective, they need to market the heck out of it and expand it to other Disney titles.

However, Disney needs to look past the gamer market, because no matter how much money it makes it's a niche market. They need to look at devices that EVERYONE uses, such as portable music players and cell phones. A lot can be done with Bluetooth and many phones as well as Microsoft's Zune utilize that sort of technology. (Apple would be smart to include it in the next-gen iPod as well).

Universal's Harry Potter announcement (which has me totally geeking out, BTW) is a slap in the face to Disney. Come up with something cooler, guys!

Alex Dolce is right on this one folks.  when i read about this feature being offered, i immediately told my 15-year-old daughter.  we bought the game at Target on Sat. and stopped by the park on Sun. on our way home from The OC.   she brought the game and her DS with her, and she was able to download one of the three extras before we had to hit the road.  she never intended to play the game at the park, but she played it in the car on the way home and now she has the cool extras for anytime she wants.  we'll be back to get the other downloads another time.

All of these ideas suffer from similar problems.  When I go to the parks I don't even take a camera.  I don't want to carry around a plush doll or video game all day.  I'm there to enjoy the attractions!  And I don't want to interact with a box or a doll!  If the powers-that-be stopped thinking about this penny-ante stuff and got back to the sorts of Big Ideas that Walt had many decades ago they would get a better payoff.

Don't get me started!  Even when they do something big -- like putting in Disney's California Adventure next to Disneyland - - it's a watered down copy of a Six Flags park.  Where are the new Pirates of the Caribbeans or Haunted Mansions?  To be honest, the last decent new ride they opened at Disneyland was "Indiana Jones," and that was years ago.  A tepid Nemo ride will finally replace the original submarine attraction after a decade this summer... WHAT TOOK SO LONG?  (Yes, I know Jim already did a story on that.)  It's just... where are the BIG IDEAS??

Walt put the money on the table and it (eventually) paid off.  The timid folks at Imagineering and Disney Corporate are paralyzed and nothing happens but small stuff.  Adding music to Space Mountain.  Whoo-hoo.  I just hang on to a thin prayer that bringing in John Lasseter will kick start things.  My confidence, however, is not high.

Okay.  That's it.  Forgive me.  I apologize.  Rant over.  Taking a deep breath...

Well, I'm sure WDI had very little to do with this Nintendo DS/Pirates promotion at all.  

As an owner of a Nintendo DS and an avid gamer, I'm very aware of how these download "hotspots" work, and it's not as complex as you all may think.  Yes, I can see how the suits might be wandering around to see how well people are responding to it, but it's actually not very much effort put in behind the scenes.

All that is required is another DS system with a special game card that has the "bonus" content.  They turn that system on at the hotspot and it allows people to download the content to their own DS systems.  It's pretty low tech as far as the actual infrastructure goes.  There is no need for any WDI installed tech at all, which is why this promotion can be "free".  

Also, I can see the generation gap in these comments.  It's amazing how people look at technology when they don't understand it or use it.  The fact that somebody brings a Nintendo DS into the parks should not mean they are missing out on quality time.  It takes all of a few seconds to download whatever bonus content they are offering, and then you can save your game and turn off the system.  It's not like you have to sit there for hours playing your DS while you should be on attractions.  Nintendo does these kinds of promotions all the time.  Just this morning I was at the Nintendo World Store in New York City and pulled out my DS while waiting in line to pay for something, and checked for new downloads.  It took very little time at all.

I do agree that some people/kids need to play games in moderation, but I don't think they should be discouraged from playing or bringing their game systems to the parks.  When I've gone, there might be kids playing in line, but the majority of the time they are still enjoying themselves on attractions, shows, parades, etc.  I have yet to see a kid playing while actually riding.

Oh, and I have to say that you would be surprised at the actual demographic that owns and plays the Nintendo DS.  Many of you think it's for kids, but there are a lot of adults who play too.

I'm 27, and I'm thinking of buying a DS for "Brain Age" alone. :)

The Kim Possible idea is so good, but Disney is retarded for making people use some special device. Every kid ever now has a Nintendo DS. The DS can download software from the air and store it in resident memory. The technology is there, there is little up-front cost for the user, perhaps just a fee to play the game, hell they could even make it free if they wanted, and just limit it to X people per day.

Actually gurgitoy2 WDI had a lot to do with this. I don't understand what all the fuss is about, i think some of you need to do a bit of R&D before commenting. The nintendo DS is one of the hottest hand held gaming system on the market. I mean it outsold the PSP 6 to 1 last year. You guys need to stop judging and actually support the Disney company and the ideas behind what they do if you EVER want to see anything big and bold!!! I think the DS idea is brilliant. I mean kids waiting in lines can get annoying so giving them something interactive to do. . .it's a good thing. Yeah I know...why don't those kids enjoy the theming and atmosphere while waiting? Sorry to say but not all guests hold that to such high regards as some of us Disney Dorks. As for getting the word out to bring your DS and game into the park, if you actually support Disney and believe in the magic and bought the game, the back of the booklet has a big graphic reminding people to bring it into the park. Even if this concept fails like the others, I'm still supporting the idea and notion.