Disney Plans to Integrate Personalized Storytelling to Create a "Theme Park Metaverse"

The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions organization is hosting a virtual expo with keynote speakers from Disney.

©Disney

Earlier, we got an insider look at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, the vehicles for WEB Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure, and an approximate date for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. Tilak Mandadi, Executive Vice President, Digital and CTO for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, took the stage for a brief overview of what’s to come for Disney’s technology and the future of attractions.

Mandadi’s primary focus was the direction in which Disney will take with storytelling concepts. The goal is to enhance storytelling with digital, data, and interactive features that go far beyond what they’ve achieved in the past. Disney began storytelling in a linear fashion, displaying the story in front of you. This was used on attractions like Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room. The next step is using Interactive Storytelling, much like the experience guests have on Toy Story Mania. Then there is Immersive Storytelling, which we’ve seen used in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and the Play Disney Parks App.

Enchanted Tiki Room

The final step is Personalized and Social Storytelling. This is where images of Star Wars Galactic Cruiser were shown. Mandadi discusses that personalization and socialization storytelling will be accessible from guest’s phones and wearables. He stated that guests will be able to interact and enjoy attractions “as a community. Sometimes collaboratively, other times competitively, but always with joy and fun.”

Galactic Cruiser Cabin ©Disney

Mandadi described this phenomenon as the “Theme Park Metaverse” where Disney strives to connect guests, attractions, and experiences with digital elements. They are hoping to use their developing immersive technology to be built into more attractions and apps.

©Disney

Disney will continue to use augmented reality and artificial intelligence to enhance guest experiences inside and outside the parks. Mandadi notes that the future of technology may allow guests to enjoy elements of the parks from their homes and virtually meet characters. An example given was the Windows to the Wild experience that is still being prototyped. Guests put on pair of virtual reality goggles where they can take a peek into the wildlife of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

This is only the beginning of Disney’s vision for technology. It seems there are more exciting apps, experiences, and attractions that will implement the Theme Park Metaverse even further!