Could Amazon’s Newest Announcement Impact Your Next Disney World Hotel Stay?

Amazon just made a HUGE announcement, and it got us thinking – could it actually change how you experience Disney World?

If you’ve ever stayed at a Disney World hotel, you might have used “Hey Disney!” – the Alexa-powered voice assistant that helps with everything from setting alarms to getting park info. But now, Amazon has announced a major AI upgrade to Alexa which promises to be faster, smarter, and more conversational. While nothing has been confirmed by Disney, this upgrade has us wondering – what could this mean for your next Disney hotel stay? Let’s talk about it!

What’s Changing With Alexa?

Amazon is rolling out “Alexa+,” which is the first major AI upgrade since Alexa launched over a decade ago. According to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, this new version is powered by generative AI, meaning it won’t just answer your questions –- it’ll actually hold conversations, remember preferences, and even take actions for you.

The upgrade will be available as part of Amazon Prime or as a standalone subscription for $19.99 per month. But what about the Alexa devices already in use, like those powering “Hey Disney!”? Well, Jassy confirmed that most Alexa devices will be compatible with Alexa+, meaning “Hey Disney!” could see some serious improvements without needing completely new hardware.

What Could This Mean for “Hey Disney!”?

Disney introduced “Hey Disney!” as a magical assistant for guests staying at Disney World hotels. It can tell jokes, provide weather updates, and even answer some questions about the parks. But with Alexa+, we could imagine a major evolution in how it works.

Here are a few ways it could hypothetically change your hotel stay:

• • More Personalized Disney Recommendations: Right now, “Hey Disney!” gives you general info like park hours and weather updates. But with Alexa+, it could potentially start tailoring responses based on your previous questions. Imagine asking what to do at Magic Kingdom and getting a response based on your favorite attractions or dining preferences.
  • Better Dining Assistance: In his interview, Jassy mentioned that Alexa+ can now make restaurant reservations based on user preferences. If this feature were integrated into “Hey Disney!,” we could be looking at a system that doesn’t just list available restaurants but actually suggests ones that fit your tastes and books them for you.
  • More Engaging and Conversational Interactions: Amazon’s upgrade makes Alexa feel more like a real conversation partner. If “Hey Disney!” were to get this upgrade, it could mean more natural and engaging interactions with your favorite Disney characters. Instead of just asking for a joke, you might be able to have a full-on conversation with Mickey Mouse.
  • Expanded Smart Room Controls: Right now, “Hey Disney!” can handle basic hotel room requests like turning on the TV or setting an alarm. But with Alexa+, it might be able to adjust room lighting based on your mood, help coordinate wake-up calls with your itinerary, or even remind you of upcoming Lightning Lane reservations.

Would This Cost Extra?

Since Alexa+ is moving to a subscription model, one big question is whether guests would have to pay extra for an upgraded “Hey Disney!” experience. Right now, “Hey Disney!” is included with your hotel stay, but if it were to transition to the Alexa+ model, Disney could introduce an upcharge for the enhanced features. Given Disney’s history with extra fees, we wouldn’t be surprised if an upgraded version came at a cost.

When Could This Happen?

Amazon is rolling out Alexa+ for early access in March, so if Disney were to consider upgrading “Hey Disney!,” it could be something that happens down the road. There’s been no official word from Disney yet, but if they do make changes, we’ll be watching closely.

For now, “Hey Disney!” is staying as it is, but with Alexa’s big AI glow-up, it’s fun to speculate about how this tech could shape the future of Disney hotel stays. Whether that means more personalized trip planning or just a more talkative Stitch, only time will tell.

If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!

In the meantime, make sure to keep to following along with AllEars to stay up to date on all the latest Disney news!

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