In 2017, Tokyo Disney Resort (TDR) decided to speed up the process of digitizing the theme park. The main concern for the Guests, with 32 million visitors, was the congestion in the park. Additionally, with Japan experiencing a decline in the workforce and an aging working population, it was an ideal moment to embark on a new chapter for this 35-year-old theme park.
The initial action taken was to launch the official mobile application. (Surprisingly, TDR did not have an app until 2017). The ver. 1.0 was made available in July 2018, incorporating key features like maps, wait times, ticketing, restaurant reservations, hotel check-in, and digital keys.
The app was designed with a focus on simplicity with minimum functionalities in contrast to the US Disney Parks apps, serving as the initial digital point of contact for all TDR Guests of all ages.
Other fun features are digital maps in 3D that has a both day and night versions.
Digital Attraction Access
The digitalization of Fastpass was highly anticipated and finally launched in July 2019. Instead of having to physically go to each attraction to obtain paper-based Fastpasses, guests could now check the app for available Fastpass times directly. The launch had a significant impact on the guest experience, with long queues completely disappearing from popular attractions on the first day. The in-park utilization of the TDR app also soared to 80%, transforming the theme park into a truly digitally-empowered destination.
