Disney World testing new AI-assisted tool to simplify vacation planning
Walt Disney World is preparing to test a new AI-assisted vacation-planning experience designed to make planning and booking a Disney trip easier.
Disney showed us a preview of the new experience during a media event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Sept. 9. The demonstration was billed as “Simplifying the Planning & Booking Experience,” with Disney saying the new Walt Disney World vacation-planning experience, which in part uses artificial intelligence (AI), will enter beta testing soon.
The new vacation-planning experience combines flexible search tools with AI-powered features to help guests sort through Walt Disney World Resort hotels, tickets and vacation packages. Guests can search broader date ranges, find the best available rates, compare resorts and describe their vacation preferences in their own words.
The experience can then provide personalized information and answer follow-up questions using information from official Disney sources.
Disney’s relationship with AI
Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro addressed the challenge of planning a Walt Disney World vacation during the company’s third-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings call in August, specifically identifying artificial intelligence as one way Disney could make vacation planning easier.
D’Amaro said Disney is exploring how AI could reduce the complexity of planning and booking vacations while providing recommendations personalized to individual guests. Disney has also discussed using the technology to help families optimize their time in the parks and create smoother experiences before and during a trip.
Disney already uses artificial intelligence elsewhere in its consumer-facing businesses. The Disney Store introduced an AI-powered personal shopping assistant earlier this year that allows shoppers to describe what they are looking for conversationally and receive personalized merchandise recommendations.
The upcoming Walt Disney World beta test represents another step in Disney’s efforts to simplify the digital side of a vacation.
Courtesy of Walt Disney World
How Disney’s new vacation planning experience works
The new experience combines traditional vacation-planning tools with AI-powered features designed to help guests narrow down their options. Guests can search across flexible date ranges, compare Disney Resort hotels, and automatically see the best available offers for their trip.
Courtesy of Walt Disney World
Not every new feature relies on AI. Searching dates, checking availability and finding eligible offers use more traditional technology, while AI comes into play when interpreting a guest’s written preferences, creating personalized resort summaries and answering follow-up questions.
What the beta test includes
The initial beta will focus primarily on Disney Resort hotels, theme park tickets and vacation packages. A new pricing and availability calendar will help guests compare dates and rates, while a map shows resort locations and transportation options in relation to the theme parks. Guests can save searches, compare resorts side by side and share vacation options with other members of their party.
Courtesy of Walt Disney World
Dining information may appear in the experience, but dining reservations and Lightning Lane planning will not be included initially, and multiple-room bookings are also outside the scope of the first beta.
Who can use the beta?
The new vacation-planning experience will not be available to everyone when testing begins. Disney plans to make the beta available to a limited number of randomly selected guests in the United States and Canada, then expand access in phases as it gathers feedback and refines the experience.
Guests can still plan without AI
Guests will not be required to use the AI features, and Disney’s existing resort and ticket booking tools will remain available. The AI portions only use Disney’s own information as their knowledge base, with additional guardrails designed to keep responses focused on Walt Disney World vacation planning and reduce inaccurate answers. AI conversations will not initially retain memory between sessions, although guests will be able to save searches and vacation options.
Disney cast members at the contact center will also remain available, and the new experience can direct guests to cast member assistance when their needs fall outside what it can handle, such as if a guest asks for something just not available. For example, if a guest asks the AI to help them find a hotel near a location outside of Disney World, a cast member may need to explain to them why it’s not finding what they are looking for.
Disney World AI vacation planner: Quick facts
- Uses AI to personalize some resort recommendations and answer trip-planning questions
- Searches flexible travel dates to help guests find lower prices and available offers
- Compares Disney Resort hotels, pricing, transportation and other vacation options
- Initially focuses on resorts, tickets and vacation packages, not Lightning Lane or dining reservations
- Beta access will begin with randomly selected guests in the U.S. and Canada
- Disney has not announced when beta testing will begin
The new experience is still in its early stages, but it appears Disney hopes a little help from AI could mean a little less work before the magic begins.
More Attractions Magazine stories
Follow us:
Whether you’re ready for your next Disney Destinations vacation or your first, our trusted partner Mouse Fan Travel will handle the planning so you can focus on the memories. They offer free vacation-planning services and have nearly 20 years of experience creating memorable Disney vacations. Visit Mouse Fan Travel for a fee-free, no-obligation quote today.
