The Play Disney Parks App is Better Than Ever

November 5, 2018

In 1999, Walt Disney World first introduced the FastPass System. The goal of the FastPass system is to lessen Guests’ wait times in the queues by allowing them to reserve times to enjoy attractions, similar to making Disney dining reservations. And because Disney is dedicated to continually improving and bettering the Guest experience in the parks, the FastPass system has evolved into the FastPass+ system with even more features and perks. But Guests wonder how to make the time go by faster when they don’t have a FastPass+ for an attraction—especially Guests with small children. What can you do to make time spent waiting in the queue feel less like punishment and more like family time?

Enter the brand-new Play Disney Parks app. It was first unveiled on June 30 of this year—the same day Toy Story Land opened to the public, and it has been very successful. Not only does it turn wait times in the queue into play time and game time, but Disney has just recently announced two new interactive experiences coming to the Play Disney Parks app. The first is the “Stories of the Enchanted Gallery” that Guests can play while they wait to check-in at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. This new experience will make art on the resort walls come to life in a way only Disney can. The second experience called “The ACE Guide to Pandora: Valley of Mo’ara Edition” will allow Guests at Animal Kingdom to join the Alpha Centauri Expeditions (ACE) on spectacular journeys. You will be able to use the app to learn all about Pandora, and you’ll even be able to scan your surroundings in search of exotic life, create music and more. This will be especially helpful in passing the time in the queue for the Avatar: Flight of Passage attraction, which often sees very lengthy stand-by wait times.

If you haven’t been to the parks since June 2018, the app is probably completely new to you. Here are some important things to do and know to get the most enjoyment from the Play Disney Parks app.

The app turns wait time into game time.

The whole concept behind the Play Disney Parks app is to make time spent waiting for an attraction not so humdrum and boring. The app was created to give families the opportunity to enjoy quality time together while playing interactive games with each other. The app includes interactive trivia, games, music and more that was created to be explored and enjoyed together. Don’t try to play alone—the app wasn’t made for alone time. Group play is the theme here.

There are a few things you’ll need to do first.

In order to use the Play Disney Parks app, you’ll need to download it for your Apple or Android smartphone. It’s free to download and free to use. Once you download it, open the app, and it will ask you to turn on your location on your phone and allow the app to access your location. The app only works if it has your location information because you must be in the parks to use it. The app uses your location information to launch the different games in the queues. You’ll also need to enable your Bluetooth capability on your phone.

Queue games in the app complement attractions, but only operate when you’re in the parks.

Sadly, you can’t play the Play Disney Parks app games away from the parks. The games in the app were made specifically for wait times in the queue. Each of the games is inspired by the attraction for which you’re waiting in line. In the queue for Toy Story Mania, you can play a game called “Playset Party.” In the queue for Peter Pan’s Flight, you can play “Off to Neverland.” “Rocket Race” is the game you can play in the queue for Space Mountain, and at Slinky Dog Dash, you can play “Andy’s Board Game Blast.” Standing in the queue is what “unlocks” the games. This is why enabling your location is necessary.

You’ll need to sign in to your online Disney account.

Guests ages 13 and up can set up a Disney account online. Once you have an account set up, you’ll want to sign in to that account before you start to play the games in the Play Disney Parks app. Doing so will allow you to earn digital awards inside the app.

The app is very simple to access and use.

The Play Disney Parks app not only makes time in the queue more fun, but it is also very user-friendly. To use the app, just follow these easy steps:

-Download and open the app.
-Enable your location and your phone’s Bluetooth connectivity.
-Choose Disney World as your location.
-Indicate which of the theme parks you’re enjoying at the time.
-Click the Mickey head in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.
-Sign in to your Disney account.
-Add players to your account.
-Enjoy the games!

The Play Disney Parks app has some hidden extras!

In addition to offering Guests fun games and trivia to enjoy while they wait to experience an attraction, the app also has great music in store for Guests. Access Apple Music from inside the app and you will have access to playlists inspired by the different themed lands in the parks.

The app will continue to grow and expand.

We don’t have all the details yet, but we do know that the Play Disney Parks app will continue to expand and grow as new attractions and lands are added at the parks. The app will become even more valuable once Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens in 2019. It will enhance Guests’ adventures in the new land and make the experience more immersive and interactive.

Have you used the Play Disney Parks app yet? Tell us about your experience in the comments section below!

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