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Mobile Phone Apps

With the surge in popularity of smart phone applications (apps) and web enabled phones, it is natural that companies should start producing apps and web sites that will give you information on the theme parks and in particular real time queue lengths for all your favourite attractions. Quite a few of the apps, especially those officially released by the theme parks themselves are free and are generally available for both the iPhone and Android devices. Over the past 12 months, there have been literally hundreds of apps released for the Apple iPhones relating to Florida's theme parks.

If you are visiting Walt Disney World then there are several ways that you can get real time updates on wait times and Fast Pass availability without having to physically go to the attractions or in-park information boards.

To start with these applications relied purely on other guests using the same app to provide the latest information but now some of the major players have thrown their weight behind the whole idea.

Disney My Disney Experience Mobile Application

My Disney Experience Application Screens [© 2019, floridareview.co.uk, all rights reserved]
My Disney Experience Application Screens [© 2019, floridareview.co.uk, all rights reserved]

The official Walt Disney World® mobile app, My Disney Experience, gives you access to a host of features including GPS-enabled maps to enhance your visit to Walt Disney World plus access to FastPass+ reservations, the latest wait times, dining options and mobile food ordering.

My Disney Experience is the successor to Disney Parks Mobile Magic by Disney and Verizon and is the only official mobile app for Walt Disney World. Unlike the earlier Disney Parks Mobile Magic which covered both Walt Disney World and Disneyland California, the new My Disney Experience only covers Walt Disney World with Disneyland California being available in a separate app.

My Disney Experience is part of the “NextGen” project which includes the rollout of free Wi-Fi to all Walt Disney World Resort hotels and the parks and the enhanced FASTPASS+.

Disney Lines Mobile Application

Touring Plans mobile application screen shots
Touring Plans mobile application screen shots

As its name suggests, Disney World Lines from TouringPlans.com is all about wait times or rather it is all about avoiding wait times. Anyone who has read one of the Unofficial Walt Disney World guide books will be aware of Touring Plans and their web site. For the past 10 years, they have been gathering historical data about the crowd levels and wait times at Walt Disney World and publish a crowd calendar with estimated daily crowd levels.

Disney Parks Mobile Magic Mobile Application

Disney Parks Mobile Magic by Disney and Verizon is the only official mobile application for Walt Disney World and it is completely free. It is now available for Apple iPhone (but not iPod Touch), Android smart phones and some other Verizon phones but strangely it is only available in the US app stores. This is probably a legacy of the tie in with Verizon and in fact some features are only available to Verizon customers.

The Disney Parks Mobile Magic app has been discontinued and replaced by the Disney My Experience app

It covers both of the US Disney parks so when you start it up you have a choice between the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and the Disneyland Resort in California.

SeaWorld Mobile Application

SeaWorld mobile application screen shots
SeaWorld mobile application screen shots

SeaWorld has produced a free official mobile app for all their SeaWorld parks including Orlando. It is currently available for download from the iTunes Store and an Android version was released in December 2011.

Features of the SeaWorld mobile app include an interactive park map showing all the shows, rides, animal connections (exhibits), restrooms (including companion restrooms, restaurants, nursing facilities, first aid points, defibrillator locations, drinks and snacks, guest information points, lockers, ATMs and smoking locations.

Busch Gardens Mobile Application

Busch Gardens mobile application screen shots
Busch Gardens mobile application screen shots

Busch Gardens has produced a free official mobile app for both their Busch Gardens parks including Tampa. It is currently available for download from the iTunes Store and an Android version was released in December 2011.

Features of the Busch Gardens mobile app include an interactive park map showing all the shows, rides, animal connections (exhibits), restrooms (including companion restrooms, restaurants, nursing facilities, first aid points, defibrillator locations, drinks and snacks, guest information points, lockers, ATMs and smoking locations.

Great App for Disney World Mobile Application

Great Apps for Walt Disney World Mobile App screens
Great Apps for Walt Disney World Mobile App screens

The Great App for Disney World Wait Times, Hours, Maps and Dining is published by Apptasmic LLC and works on the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch platforms. An Android version is in the works.

At $3.99 (or local currency equivalent) it offers good value for money when looking for a Walt Disney World Resort park guide with maps and realtime wait times for both rides, shows and dining.

Legoland Florida Mobile Application

Legoland Mobile App screens
Legoland Mobile App screens

You can get official mobile apps for several of Florida’s theme parks and now Legoland Florida have released a Legoland Florida mobile app; free on both the iTunes and Android Stores.

Features include an interactive park map showing all the rides, shows, restaurants, shops, first aid centres, lost parents locations and ATMs. For each location it shows you its position on the park map and if you are actually in the park, tells you how far away you are.