Amazon and Disney have joined forces to bring a sprinkle of Disney magic into homes across the U.S. with the launch of “Hey Disney!” a voice assistant built on Alexa technology.
This new assistant, also known as the ‘Disney Magical Companion,’ is now available for purchase in the U.S. as an annual, auto-renewing subscription in the Alexa Skills Store. It is also included in the Amazon Kids+ subscription. This announcement was on Amazon’s Device Makers Blog on 15 June 2023.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone as it’s the first time an Alexa Custom Assistant (ACA) is available on supported Echo devices for customers at home. The ACA is a comprehensive solution that allowed Disney to create an assistant with a custom voice and wake word, “Hey Disney!”.
The Disney Magical Companion is not just a voice assistant; it’s a new way to experience Disney’s rich storytelling. It offers a range of content featuring over 20 characters from Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and other popular franchises. According to Amazon’s blog post, the Disney Magical Companion provides magical responses to everyday requests like weather updates, timers, and alarms and entertainment like Disney trivia, storytelling, and interactive adventures with characters.
Setting up “Hey Disney!” is as simple as saying, “Alexa, introduce me to Hey Disney.” Once the purchase is made and the experience is enabled, customers can say, “Hey Disney, start the magic,” for an introduction to how the Disney Magical Companion works alongside Alexa.
Mark Yoshitake, GM and Director of Alexa Skills expressed his excitement about the collaboration, saying, “Hey Disney! represents the art of what’s possible when two major companies marry their creative and technical expertise.” He added that this new experience uniquely brings Disney storytelling to life for fans of all ages on their Echo devices.
Featured Image Credit: Photo by “Gui Avelar” via Unsplash
