Amazon and Disney have unveiled ‘Hey, Disney!’, an entirely new kind of voice assistant that will work alongside Alexa at home and across Walt Disney World Resort hotel rooms.

Expected next year, ‘Hey, Disney!’ will let fans and guests interact with some of their most beloved Disney characters, simply by saying “Hey, Disney!” on supported Echo devices at home and at Disney Resort hotels.

“We’re bringing the worlds of Disney directly to Echo devices with ‘Hey, Disney!’,” said Dave Limp, Senior Vice President, Amazon Devices and Services. “By combining the strength of Alexa’s technology, with Disney’s unmatched storytelling expertise, we’re creating the next generation of immersive experiences to make guests’ vacations more memorable and giving our customers a way to make their homes a bit more magical too.”

“Our focus is to bring Disney storytelling to our guests wherever they are,” said Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. “Through Alexa technology, ‘Hey, Disney!’ will unlock new ways for guests to engage with our iconic characters and stories both at home as well as at our Walt Disney World Resort hotels.”

With ‘Hey, Disney!’, users will get access to interactive Disney storytelling experiences and entertainment, as well as fun and delightful content like jokes, fun facts, and special surprises featuring Disney characters. It enables users to go on interactive adventures with Mickey, Dory, and Olaf, or sit back and listen to their favourite Disney stories.

 ‘Hey, Disney!’ will even make everyday tasks more magical, such as setting timers and alarms, and checking the weather or time of day.

In addition to delighting customers at home, ‘Hey, Disney!’ and Alexa will also be available in Walt Disney World Resort hotel rooms as part of an upcoming integration using Amazon’s Alexa for Hospitality service.

‘Hey, Disney!’ and Alexa will work side-by-side to simplify your stay and make it a bit more delightful by answering questions, fulfilling special requests, and more. You can ask ‘Hey, Disney!’ for more blankets and towels, the fastest way to get to the park in the morning, and where to get your favourite food. With Alexa, you can hear the news, ask for sports scores, play music, and more.

Alexa for Hospitality makes it easier for hotel and hospitality properties to deploy Amazon Echo devices at scale, as well as create unique voice experiences and features such as customized screens on Echo devices tailored to their property and customer needs.

The ‘Hey, Disney!’ voice assistant was developed from the ground up by Disney, featuring original character voice recordings and audio, with over 1,000 magical interactions to discover, as well as a brand-new character created as a guide—the Disney Magical Companion.

‘Hey, Disney!’ will mark the first time an Alexa Custom Assistant will be available on Echo devices. Alexa Custom Assistant is a comprehensive solution that made it easy for Disney to create their own custom voice assistant tailored to Disney’s personality and customer needs, built on Alexa technology. Alexa Custom Assistants have unique wake words, voices, personalities, and capabilities, and can coexist and cooperate with Alexa.

Pricing and availability

‘Hey, Disney!’ is expected to be available for purchase in the US in the Alexa Skills Store for use on all supported Echo devices beginning in 2022.

‘Hey, Disney!’ will work alongside Alexa and can be accessed complimentary on Amazon Echo devices in Disney Resort hotel rooms at Walt Disney World Resort.

Customers in the US can bring even more Disney magic to their homes with a new Mickey-inspired OtterBox Den Series stand for Echo Show 5, available for pre-order for $24.99. – TradeArabia News Service