Let’s Look into the Future of Disney Theme Parks
This, too, shall pass.
We’re all so focused on Coronavirus right now that we’ve stopped wondering about Tomorrowland and Future World.
Imagineers don’t think that way. These folks are still plotting a better park experience for guests.
Thanks to some recent patent filings, we have a decent idea of what they have in mind. Let’s grab Leota’s crystal ball and peer into this future.
Credit: https://hauntedmansion.fandom.com/wiki/Madame_Leota
Here are a few innovations we can expect at Disney parks in the coming years.
Facial Recognition Entry
Let’s start with something that might not be far away from debuting.
During the first quarter of 2021, Disney has tested facial recognition software at the parks.
The technology works just like your phone. Your face works as your passcode, verifying your identity and allowing you entry into the parks.
Photo: Brooke Geiger McDonald
This seamless process is quick and effective. Nearly every time, the system will recognize your face and signal you have valid admission tickets.
On the rare occasions when it doesn’t work, you simply look at the screen again.
If you’re anything like me, you do this several times a day, especially during the pandemic face mask era.
Disney’s facial recognition software is so advanced that it recognizes people even when they’re wearing face masks.
Out of everything listed here, facial recognition seems likeliest to become official over the next calendar year.
Photo: Getty Images
Disney recently stopped testing, which means that they’re evaluating the data as we speak.
Expanded Gondola Service
I recently wrote a detailed evaluation of the Disney Skyliner. In it, I discussed the impact of COVID-19 on Disney’s future plans.
Photo: Disney
Realistically, gondola expansion is off the table for a couple of years. Disney’s struggling with its finances and cannot afford it right now.
However, the Disney Skyliner qualifies as one of the greatest success stories of the pandemic.
The open-air system and capacity limits on each tram guaranteed safe social distancing practices. Meanwhile, guests got where they were going on time.
From Disney’s perspective, the gondolas have proven much less expensive than monorails yet more reliable than buses.
I expect the Disney Skyliner to stretch across the entire Disney campus a decade from now, including stops at the water parks, the theme parks, and Disney Springs. Speaking of which…
Brightline Transportation
Disney has signed the paperwork for a Brightline station somewhere in the Disney Springs area.
When that place opens, guests can jump on a high-speed train at Orlando International Airport and ride straight to Walt Disney World.
You’ll no longer need to wait on a bus. And the train should arrive faster since it avoids traffic and moves somewhere between 79 and 120 miles per hour.
Disney is so confident with the prospect of Brightline transportation that it’s already canceled Magical Express service for 2022.
Photo: janshroder.com
The long-term, next-generation replacement is already under construction, although Disney suggests it may not be ready until 2025 or 2026.
Still, anything that reduces the number of bus rides during a Disney trip is welcome news, right?
Plus, high-speed rail service is pretty cool in and of itself. I suspect Disney has more transportation tricks up its sleeve over the next decade, too.
Photo Credit: Brightline Trains – https://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Robot Actors
Here, look at Baby Groot:
No, you’re not looking at CGI when the lil dude walks and dances. That’s a real robot that Disney has built.
Current plans call for the creation of several Audio-Animatronics that roam the parks, delighting guests with their shockingly realistic movements.
This kind of robot could prove to be the next form of character interaction at the parks.
You may remember Push the Talking Trash Can at EPCOT, among other attempts at the same premise.
Technology has advanced dramatically since then, allowing for animatronics that can reasonably pass for Disney characters.
We’re probably not that far away from a real-life Mickey & Minnie Mouse holding court at Disneyland!
Black Box Attractions
I’ve discussed this some in our monthly Disney Rumors updates.
The premise of the black box attraction fascinates me. Imagineers have created a system that allows for interchanging rides in one location.
In other words, you could go to the same place every Monday for a month. The first time, the ride might feature Moana-based theming.
The following week, Disney might recreate The Great Movie Ride. On the third Monday, it could deliver a Descendants premise.
Then, during the last week, the ride could connect to a new movie in theaters.
As a real-world example, imagine a Raya and the Last Dragon-themed ride debuting the same week that the movie did.
Back when Frozen opened in theaters, Disney fans would have gone nuts over that.
That’s the underlying premise here. A black box ride could swap out regularly, giving guests a reason to visit more often.
Putting it a different way, you like Journey into Imagination with Figment fine, right?
However, if Disney used that space to host twelve different rides a year, you’d want to go more, wouldn’t you?
The parks would guarantee exciting new attractions frequently, something that’s impossible with physical construction.
In their place, Disney would employ digital projection screens on walls and a trackless ride cart floor.
This technology sounds remarkable and incredibly valuable, which explains why rumors persist that several different parks will eventually feature black box rides.
Drone Light Shows
A few years ago, Intel did this:
Somehow, that odd display triggered an arms race, as several other companies/countries have attempted to break the world record.
Guinness has lauded this one as the largest drone display ever:
Russia and China have tried to break the record, too. Disney has already tested the waters on a nighttime drone light show.
However, it’s an open secret that the company’s tested something grander in scale and possibly even more permanent.
In future years, drone light shows might comprise an integral part of nightly visits to Disney theme parks.
More Personal and Interactive Experiences
This one enters a gray area for the privacy-concerned folks. Presuming that you don’t mind a little data mining, you’ll love it, though.
Presuming that you opt in to this service, you would wear a scannable device like a MagicBand or a readable sticker/pin.
Disney would position eyes in the sky, small cameras that can read your scannable from a distance.
The system would relay this information to nearby devices and cast members, allowing them to know your name, likes, and dislikes.
Imagine standing in a large crowd, only for Daisy Duck to walk over and say hello to you while using your actual name.
Photo: Paul Hiffmeyer/Disney Parks
Alternatively, think about the final scene in It’s a Small World that says goodbye to you in a foreign language.
This premise represents that small-scale implementation writ large. You’d get a much more personalized park visit each time.
Photo: Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort
So, if you love the Hitchhiking Ghosts, you might receive a message from them during your visit.
If you’re more of a Marie fan, she may learn this and find you in the park rather than vice versa.
The possibilities here seem endless. Disney possesses a treasure trove of data about you across your various accounts like Disney+, ShopDisney, and My Disney Experience.
Image: Disney Plus
The company could use that information to cater a park visit to your vacation desires, adding the magic moments you desire.
It’s a Small World demonstrates the potential power of the idea. However, that’s barely scratching the surface of the potential here.
