Disney is testing a new merchandise mobile checkout system at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
This new system allows guests to use either the Disneyland or Walt Disney World mobile app to scan merchandise items as they shop. They can then pay for the items online.
This system is being trialled at the World of Disney Store in Downton Disney, according to The OCR. The Disney Food Blog also reports that this new process is on offer at Mouse Gear in Epcot, Walt Disney World.
Scan merchandise as you go
Under the ‘Order Food’ button in the app, a new ‘Shop in Store – Now Testing’ button has appeared. Clicking on it opens up a page in the app that explains how the process works. This information is also available on signs that are posted around the two shops.
The app shows guests which stores offer this mobile option. At the entrance to the shops offering this new system, there are special mobile ordering shopping bags. Guests can scan the barcodes of merchandise items using the app as they walk around the shop. These items then appear in a virtual shopping bag in the app.
Once the guest has finished shopping, they click the ‘checkout’ button. This takes them to a payment page where they can use a card to pay for the items online. Annual passholder discounts are applied at this point.
Once payment has been made, the guest is given a QR code. This is shown to a cast member when you leave the shop. The cast member will then take off any security tags on the items or wrap any breakables.
Increasing Disney app usage
The Disney app already features a mobile food ordering system. The OCR reports that this has increased from 9% of food sales to 84% since the pandemic began. This is not surprising since using mobile apps allow guests to practice social distancing in the parks and reduce contact between guests and cast members.
This mobile merchandise ordering system has not yet been added to the Disney website as a feature of the app.
Head of digital and technology for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, Tilak Mandadi, has discussed his plans to use technologies to create a ‘theme park metaverse’.
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