The Best Disney Parks Phone Apps
By Lisa Robertson (from Clever Girls Collective) on June 3, 2011
Walt Disney's dream for Disneyland was to create a place where his guests could escape the outside world and enter a world of fantasy and imagination. In today's day and age of cellular phones and social media, it's hard to not stay connected with what's happening no matter where you are. While many Disney Parks' guests still choose to disconnect from reality while visiting Mickey in California or Florida, others use the outside world's technology to enhance their theme park visits. 
Phone apps have changed the way many guests visit Disney Parks by allowing them to make the most of their time. There are apps to help park guests with pretty much anything they could imagine. As a Disneyland expert and Walt Disney World fan, I have researched, tested and discovered what I think may be some of the best Disney parks apps available. Save Time at Disneyland and Walt Disney World
By far, the best apps for Disney parks are those that help guests make the most of their precious vacation time, and among the best time savers are those apps that feature attraction wait times. While these services are great, their one flaw is that those wait times are dependent upon the goodwill of the other app users accurately timing and entering their waits in a timely manner. The general rule of thumb is the more app users, the more accurate the wait time data.
On the top of my list for Walt Disney World is Disney World Maps, an uncomplicated app that uses GPS to help its users find the attractions closest to them. The app provides attraction wait times at all four of the resort's parks and allows users to learn more about the restaurants and attractions through its interactive mapping system. Although this app does not provide hours of operation or show times, the apps' maker VersaEdge Software offers the Disney World Park Hours app, which provides operating hours and show times for the parks. Both of these iPhone apps are available for free with ads. Without ads, the Disney World Park Hours app is 99 cents and Disney World Maps is $2.99. The apps are available through the App Store or iTunes.
Over on the west coast at Walt Disney's original creation, I recommend using Walkee iGuide to Disneyland. This app, created by Welcome to SoCal magazine, provides up-to-date wait times and a load of innovative features, including a FASTPASS text reminder, show times, Tummy Tester information for those who get motion sickness on rides, and a "Done That" check-off option to keep you on track. Walkee also offers users a list of locations where they can plug in their iPhones. Most important, the app provides users a large amount of information in an easy-to-navigate fashion, which makes it ideal for families who have their hands full. Walkee is available on iTunes or the App Store for $3.99. A basic version that does not include the application's premium features and interactive GPS map is available for free.
Plan and Conquer Disneyland and Walt Disney World
The Lines app works in conjunction with the website Tour Plans and together they have changed the way many guests visit Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Resort. The experts at Touring Plans have broken attendance and guest flow through the parks down to a science and provide subscribers with in-depth information on expected attendance. The site also allows its users to create plans (schedules) for when to visit which attractions and shows based on the attractions they are interested in visiting, whether or not they have children, and so on.
Once inside the park, the Lines app takes over. The app allows users to access their touring plan and attraction wait times. Unlike other wait-time apps, Lines does not solely rely on its users for wait time data; it combines user wait time information with its own ten years-worth of data. Lines is available for all web-enabled smartphones and has specific apps for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry, and is available through touringplans. Separate apps and subscriptions are necessary for Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Subscriptions are available for $6.95 per year for Disneyland and $10.95 per year for Walt Disney World. A free version of the app is available, but only gives very limited information and does not provide wait time information for all attractions or touring plans.
Disney's Official Phone App for the Disney Parks Mobile Magic is Disney's official phone application and is only available to Verizon Wireless subscribers. Mobile Magic provides its users with the latest information and tools for visiting both Walt Disney World and Disneyland through the same subscription. Like the nonDisney-owned apps, Mobile Magic uses GPS to pinpoint your location and display what is close by, attraction wait times, and FASTPASS information. Because Mobile Magic is Disney's official parks app, it can offer a number of services other apps can't--including resort transportation information, the ability to track down your favorite characters, trivia, games, and more. Mobile Magic costs $1.99 and is available at http://mediastore.verizonwireless.com.
If you are still yearning for official Disney content but don't have a Verizon phone, the Disney Parks mobile websites (m.disneyworld.com and m.disneyland.com) provide attraction information and wait times, dining information, park hours, character information, entertainment schedules, and the weather.
What are your favorite Disney Parks apps?
===================================================================Clever Girls Collective is a social media marketing agency founded by women who wanted to use their deep marketing experience and broad social network relationships for good. We know that women who engage in social media are some of the most authentic, connected, trusted, and vocal influencers -- not only online, but "in real life." Lisa Robertson is a Disneyland expert and author of the
book, Babes In Disneyland: The ultimate
Disneyland Resort guide for families with young children (available at Amazon.com
and Lulu.com).
Lisa worked at the Disneyland Resort as a tour guide and then writer for five
years and regularly works directly with Disney to provide her website and blog readers with up-to-date
information and videos about the Disneyland Resort. In addition to being a Disneyland Resort expert and mother
to three small boys, Lisa is a freelance writer and communications
consultant.
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