The resort of the future will be interactive

Image: DisneyWith regards to Star Wars Land’s immersion, it’s a telling sign of another coming trend. During the 21st century, businesses have discovered that customers prefer experiential products over most other options. In the internet era, you can buy virtually anything online, but an experience is something that’s difficult to replicate. Escape Rooms are perhaps the most famous example, but the D-23 Expo is one that all Disney fans appreciate. Everyone would love to attend one at some point…for the experience.

Well, the goal for Star Wars visits is create that sort of feeling. Disney’s aim for Batuu is to build a sort of role playing character experience. When you enter the land, you take a side in the ongoing conflict between the Jedi and the Sith. Bob Chapek, the Chairman of Disney’s Parks & Resorts division, promises that “the story will touch every single minute of your day.” Also, “it will culminate in a unique journey for every person who visits.”

Image: DisneyWhile Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the guinea pig for this sort of interactive engagement, Disney’s trained for this since the opening day of Disneyland. Walt Disney always stressed the importance of theming. Modern technology merely affords Imagineers with a new avenue to disseminate a themed experience. You shouldn’t expect this interactivity to reside solely in a galaxy far, far away. The future of a Disney theme park experience should include a kind of real-life version of the Disney Magic Kingdoms app where you unlock special options at the resorts during your visits. Star Wars Hotel is merely the first step down that path of interactivity.

The resort of the future will have better amenities…for a price

Image: DisneyLook, there’s not a polite way to say this, and it’s the touchiest subject for Disney fanatics. We live in a society of the haves and have nots. Park planners must target all of their customers, some of whom have larger budgets. The dreaded upcharges that have proven so controversial aren’t going away. They too are an integral part of the Disney resort of the future.

Recently, we’ve seen a couple of hints about this future. One of them is at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Disney Vacation Club members at this resort may have a pay-to-play concierge service available in future months. Our friends at DVC News reported that the Reunion Station building currently closed for renovation will return with upsell experiences available.

DVC members would pay a daily fee to receive lounge access. Said lounge would have special food and drink options. Guests would also have access to premium experiences, and those would cost an additional amount beyond the initial concierge service fee. Yes, Disney will ask some DVC members to pay twice to get special offerings that aren’t available to non-paying guests.

Image: DisneyAlong those lines, Disney also recently introduced Minnie Van transportation to and from Orlando International Airport. While that sounds like great news on the surface, regular folks shouldn’t get excited. The cost borders on prohibitive at $150 one way.

Even if the price doesn’t scare you off, you cannot buy the service unless you’re staying on the concierge/club level at certain Deluxe Resorts. These properties are already the most expensive on the Walt Disney World campus. The concierge and club levels cost that much more, meaning that Minnie Van airport service is only available to those guests willing to spend at least $600 per night on a hotel room.

We may not like it, but the future of Disney resorts also includes some troublesome elements. Most of them involve a silent form of class warfare wherein regular theme park tourists don’t have the same amenities available as the one percent club. Overall, the future of Disney resorts is extremely bright, but this one element will deservedly receive a lot of negative headlines. Disney’s a business, so they have to do it, though.