Josh D'amaro on IGThe Disney Parks have learned to adapt throughout this last year as the ongoing pandemic affected so many. So, when looking to the future, what will Disney do to continue a great Disney Guest experience?
Well, Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, sat down with CNN to talk about what they have in store for the future — He called the experience “fresh” and “technology-ridden”.
When discussing the future of Disney Parks and Resorts, D’Amaro told CNN:
“It’s going to be fresh, it’s going to be technology-ridden. It’s going to be incredibly relevant to guests all around the world. Every single day, these parks are changing.”
D’Amaro then went on to talk about how he wants to ensure they protect the legacy of Walt Disney moving into the future:
“First I’d say we’ve got a long legacy here. Again, at Disneyland, Walt walked these streets. I want to make sure that we protect that legacy, that we make sure that we continue to be that magic that people expect of us.
At the same time, we’ve got an opportunity to pivot and invite brand new guests into our world, and infuse brand new character and intellectual property heading to our parks. Look at new technologies that will make the experience even better than it was before we went into the pandemic.”
Related: Did Josh D’Amaro Just Confirm That Disney Is Moving to All Virtual Queues?
As D’Amaro mentioned, he thinks the future of the parks will be “technology-ridden”, so when talking about specific technology Guests will see moving forward, he told CNN:
“We have a new reservation system in place and that’s done phenomenally well during this Covid situation. We have mobile order, [which means] people are having a much easier time finding places they want to eat and have experiences that allow them to then spend more time in the parks and with their families.
You’ll see, ultimately when we open Avengers Campus, the way that we’ve layered technology into the attractions and the merchandise and the food venues.”
The new reservation systems that D’Amaro was referring to are the Disney Park Pass system, implemented at the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks since July 2020, and the new reservation system that will be implemented once Disneyland reopens on April 30.
In 2020, the Chairman of Parks, Experiences and Products indicated that the newly implemented Park Pass system at Walt Disney World is a “new normal” that isn’t going away anytime soon, if ever, so it is no surprise that he mentioned the new system in his recent interview.
Related: D’Amaro on Reopening Disneyland: “We Know the World Is Watching”
He also mentioned Mobile Order, which allows Guests to place an order before even arriving at the location! Then, once Guests arrive, they click a button and Disney will begin preparing their order — Making meal planning extremely easy and efficient for families.
And lastly, D’Amaro mentioned Avengers Campus, which we just found out is opening on June 4, 2021! When Avengers Campus opens to the public later this year, it will start with the first phase, where Guests will experience a Spider-Man attraction called WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure, a Doctor Strange section of the land called Sanctum, an Ant-Man and the Wasp restaurant called Pym Test Kitchen, and a Marvel character stunt show. Additionally, the existing Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout attraction, which took over the Tower of Terror, will also be part of this new land.
For more information, visit our website here.
Related: Josh D’Amaro Went Park Hopping Around Walt Disney World Resort!
When discussing how the new technology and how it helps with the enjoyment of Guests, D’Amaro explained how it allows Disney to tell stories in a new way:
“It extends the existing footprint of our parks in ways that there’s no cap on. It allows us to tell stories that are incredibly relevant to the specific person we want to talk to.
You can think about a digital overlay on any single land, any single attraction, any single merchandiser or food facility that we have, that can be constantly changing in a way that makes it feel completely new and different to a guest that visited just the day before. If you think about our physical footprint and being able to essentially make that new every day, the possibilities here are unending.”
Related: Josh D’Amaro and Bob Iger Spotted at Downtown Disney
But, one of the most important things to note is that this pandemic was unexpected and the world was not ready for this. However, D’Amaro said that when looking to the future, although the world is constantly changing, Disney Parks have proven to be able to adapt and change, while still giving a great Disney Guest experience:
“I think every single day the world is changing around us. Every single day we’ve demonstrated that we’ve been able to adapt and change and still create this great Disney guest experience that we’re known for.
Like I said before, I’m incredibly proud of what this team has done and what we’ve been able to do during these relatively difficult times. As that world changes and guidelines change, we’ll edit our operations and continue to accelerate into the future.”
For the full interview, visit CNN’s website here.
If you are thinking of visiting Disney Parks in the future, there is a lot to look forward to, including the fact that Disney World will be celebrating its 50th anniversary beginning October 1, 2021 — and the celebration will last for 18 months! Additionally, Disneyland will be opening both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure on April 30 for the first time in over a year.
Are you excited for the future of Disney Parks? Let us know in the comments below.
If you want to book a trip to the Disney Parks in the future, start planning today!