DLP on your mobile application launched

Adam · May 19, 2009, 03:29:32 PM

DLRP Times have reported that there is now an application available from Disney, with parade times, restaurant information, videos and more. It seems like they have developed the Bluetooth idea into a full app. However, it looks like the service is via mobile internet rather than Bluetooth, which is going to put people off.

They have also used QR Codes (which they are calling flashcodes), which is an interesting development. However, maybe a bit too high tech for most guests!

DLRP Times article

15yearsofMagic2008 · May 19, 2009, 04:31:46 PM

Does it have english language or just french ?

Joseph Carter · May 19, 2009, 06:35:29 PM

Will this application include Ride Wait Times???

never2old · May 20, 2009, 11:02:20 AM

Will it work on any network? I mean, is it only for French people, or can we still get it with a foreign number?

Agent Lex · May 20, 2009, 01:46:30 PM

Huh, this is news? I got one of those leaflets on my trip back in March :/

Quote from: "15yearsofMagic2008"Does it have english language or just french ?

The leaflet was in both English and French, so I imagine the application's in both (I didn't use it as it wouldn't be compatible with my phone).

Quote from: "never2old"Will it work on any network? I mean, is it only for French people, or can we still get it with a foreign number?

I doubty ou'd be able to send that SMS code from an international phone, but there were different instructions on the English side of the leaflet, so I imagine it's available on that. That said, it's still over mobile internet, so it wouldn't come cheap.

I'll see if I can find the laeflet when I get home. I don't have a scanner, though, so I'd have to take a photo of the English side.

never2old · May 20, 2009, 02:12:55 PM

Thanks Agent Lex, that would be great!

Adam · May 20, 2009, 02:42:32 PM

It should work with all phones capable of installing the app, as non-French customers should be able to dial the number normally in France or add +33.

Anthony · May 20, 2009, 05:43:26 PM

This should be pictured next to the word "Useless" in the dictionary. Why would you ever use that?

The Bluetooth thing was a better idea but still too complicated. Would it not be possible to just have a kind of park Wifi intranet taking you straight to attraction queue times, etc? So you just launch the browser on your phone and it takes you straight there?

ICHAPMAN · May 20, 2009, 07:52:01 PM

Quote from: "Adam"It should work with all phones capable of installing the app, as non-French customers should be able to dial the number normally in France or add +33.

But after the initial SMS this looks like a Data application - which is going to cost anyone without a French SIM a small fortune to use.

It not like that small fortune is going to go into the finances of EDL either.

bigrossco · May 20, 2009, 11:16:16 PM

Quote from: "Anthony"This should be pictured next to the word "Useless" in the dictionary. Why would you ever use that?

The Bluetooth thing was a better idea but still too complicated. Would it not be possible to just have a kind of park Wifi intranet taking you straight to attraction queue times, etc? So you just launch the browser on your phone and it takes you straight there?

i agree Anthony a WiFi system would be so much better, and after all alot of new mobile phones now come with the WiFi built in already

Adam · May 21, 2009, 12:01:29 AM

I would imagine that Disney decided to go with a mobile internet version rather than a wifi or Bluetooth version, as it is easier for them. They don't have to cover the parks with routers and maintain them. Instead, they can utilise the mobile phone network.

Anthony's idea of the wifi intranet would work, as would a Bluetooth network. Wifi would be better, as it has got a better coverage concept and would work better with an app.

However, an ideal solution would be to work with Lo-Q, who have made the Q-Bot for Legoland and other parks, which is a little device to see times and book Fastpass-type tickets. They have now got a Text-Q, which uses text messaging, so I would have thought they could easily create a hybrid of the two to work in a mobile app.

never2old · May 21, 2009, 01:23:32 PM

Maybe soon they're release an iPhone app. I've seen there are some for the US parks...

Agent Lex · May 21, 2009, 02:32:15 PM

Quote from: "never2old"Maybe soon they're release an iPhone app. I've seen there are some for the US parks...

Even if they did, the app would use the mobile phone network the same as this app, and cost international visitors a small fortune.

I ended up really busy last night, so I couldn't check for that leaflet. I'll check tonight, honest...

king_spoon_ian · May 25, 2009, 01:34:35 PM

This seems silly.

Getting the times by Bluetooth was fine - all they needed to do was expand the range, so I could get the times while I'm in my hotel, or in a queue for a ride, or something (rather than in Studio 1, when I'm fairly near to a notice board anyway). Also, the Bluetooth was free, and how many people's phones don't have Bluetooth?

It's all well and good suggesting Wi-Fi, or iPhone apps, but the percentage of people who have access to those is (currently) going to be incredibly slim - slimmer still when compared to Bluetooth.

QuoteHowever, an ideal solution would be to work with Lo-Q, who have made the Q-Bot for Legoland and other parks, which is a little device to see times and book Fastpass-type tickets.

Of course, they cost extra. Those Q-Bot things are the most annoying things in the world. If I've paid to get into a theme park, I don't want to be expected to pay more to actually get on some rides. Offering a different experience for those willing to pay more just alienates the rest of the customers - you should see the reaction some of the Q-Bot using parents get at Legoland from the rest of the "plebs". It isn't pretty.

Fastpass is fair - everyone can have it, if they get there in time. Q-Bot just creates a two tier system that's fair for no-one.

CafeFantasia · May 25, 2009, 04:20:06 PM

QuoteEven if they did, the app would use the mobile phone network the same as this app, and cost international visitors a small fortune.

Um, a quick correction. iPhone apps use whatever network is available to them. They use either a 3G network or a Wi-Fi network, and switch between them invisibly and automatically. If a Wi-Fi network is available, the iPhone will always use it in preference to a 3G network. But as soon as you go out of range of Wi-Fi, it switches automatically over to 3G.

So a Disneyland Paris iPhone app could make use of both. Disney would have to fill their parks with Wi-Fi routers though, to provide a free Wi-Fi network to all guests with valid tickets.