Over the last decade, Walt Disney World apps have become an integral part of the Disney theme park experience, with everything from tickets and hotel entry to shopping, dining, Lightning Lanes, showtimes, and Mobile Order to merchandise checkout, dining reservations, and walk-up waitlists all running through the app. However, as is prone to happen with technology, things are evolving.
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In fact, we’re just days from a MASSIVE Disney app change that would have felt unimaginable back in 2019. The Play Disney Parks app will be retired on September 16th! Beginning on that date, users will no longer be able to log in, and the app will be removed from both the Apple and Google Play app stores.
First introduced in 2018, the app was created by Disney in response to the rise of mobile gaming, giving the company its OWN game-related app to encourage guests to play in queues. In addition, Disney would tie the app into real-world physical experiences at the parks. This app was home to a variety of games and features that can be used depending on your location on Disney World or Disneyland Resort property, including an option to play some games at home.
@Disney
The DuckTales World Showcase Adventure in EPCOT also used the Play Disney Parks app to take guests on guided scavenger hunts through a few different World Showcase countries, and it includes many interactive in-park elements. It’s unclear what the exact future of the experience will be, as Disney currently lists it as “currently under refurbishment and may be available in a limited format.”
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Further games that will be lost when the app shuts down include Off to Never Land in the Peter Pan’s Flight queue, Playset Party in the Toy Story Mania! queue, Rocket Race in the Space Mountain line, Soarin’ Challenge at Soarin’ Around The World, and even general park trivia you can play at home.
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However, the biggest ramifications of the app closing will hit a galaxy far, far away. The app was a major part – – and a heavily pushed element – – of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge when those Disneyland and Hollywood Studios lands opened back in 2019. When it comes to the Batuu Bounty Hunters game, the in-park screen elements around Galaxy’s Edge will still be accessible with the use of MagicBand+, but the Play Disney Parks element of the scavenger hunt will be removed.
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In addition, the popular Star Wars: Datapad feature that’s available in Play Disney Parks will retire with the app.
Star Wars: Datapad
Disney’s app ecosystem is going to change massively on September 16th, when the Play Disney Parks app is set to shut down for good. Stay tuned to DFB for more on Disney’s changes.
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What about the 50 Anniversary quest
I’m disappointed. I play those games with my family. It has great trivia!!! We always play before we go on our Disney trips.