It’s no secret that Disney has had some trouble getting guests interested in its various interactive offerings over the years. Though interest in previous offerings like Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom and A Pirate’s Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas was high when these interactive attractions were initially opened, Disney never really continued promoting them after their debuts, and with low replay-ability for those who have already experienced these unique attractions, they’ve simply fallen off the radar for most guests.
However, with Disney’s latest interactive game effort, the Play Disney Parks app, some real effort is going in to trying to increase awareness and engagement of this new interactive offering. And in the past few weeks, Disney has announced some new features that are now available for guests who download and use this app at Walt Disney World
1. Interactive element now active in Toy Story Mania queue
Guests who are in line for Toy Story Mania attraction inside Toy Story Land can now unlock a special surprise after completing all of the different levels of “Playset Party” a special game where guests progress through a series of mini-games to help assemble the Toy Story Mania! playset.
After completing all the mini-games, guests can bring to life an interactive show effect involving the villainous Stinky Pete, from “Toy Story 2,” is outta his box and joining some favorite pals in the Toy Story Mania! queue. Be on the lookout for The Old Prospector near the end of the queue inside a wild west-style jail cell that Andy has constructed. You can see this new effect in action in the video above.
2. New game themed to Splash Mountain now available to play anywhere at Walt Disney World
Image: Disney
Splash Mountain fans can now play a new mini-game while they wait: Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Day. This new game includes a series of Splash Mountain-themed mini-games featuring some woodland pals from the attraction. After completing these whimsical challenges, guests are rewarded with special photo frames to help them capture their memories. Unlike some other Play Disney Parks challenges, this game is not locked to this attraction and can be played anywhere at Walt Disney World Resort!
3. Scavenger Hunt now available to play at World Showcase
Image: Disney
Though most of the interactive content in the Play Disney Parks app consists of trivia and mini-games, a brand new type of challenge has been added: a scavenger hunt! The Disney Kidcot Puzzle Hunt challenges guests visiting Epcot to embark on an interactive world tour to find physical jigsaw puzzle pieces throughout the Kidcot Fun Stops in all 11 World Showcase pavilions. After completing a pavilion’s puzzle hunt through the app, guests are rewarded with digital jigsaw puzzles and special photo frames themed to each pavilion to commemorate their journey around the world. You can check out a video of both this new feature as well as the aforementioned Splash Mountain game here.
Though these are the only three new additions, Disney has said that they are planning on adding new challenges and achievements periodically to try and keep guests playing this app while visiting Walt Disney World. However, only time will tell if their latest interactive effort inside the park will be a success, especially as guests don’t seem too interested in this app, even though it has already been out a full year! Still, with content coming when Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens later this year, perhaps guests will finally start paying attention to Play Disney Parks!
