Data Solutions for Magical Experiences: Hitachi’s Lumada Helps Enhance Operational Efficiency at Disney Parks

Business Challenge

Create Data-Driven Insights for Enhanced Operational Efficiency
As technology grows in sophistication, so do the attractions at Disney Parks. The latest attractions generate huge volumes of data daily. Disney wanted to use this data to anticipate maintenance needs, thereby maximizing availability and supporting the guest experience.

A key challenge was that different attractions utilize different electromechanical, industry control and drive systems, whose data outputs need to be analyzed, all in the same place. This meant that any new solution had to offer an open ecosystem.

“Hitachi’s vision of ‘Powering Good’ by optimizing guest experiences through enhanced operational efficiency, is a perfect fit for Disney; we’re building on our legacy of bringing unique experiences to our guests through the power of technology.”
– Michael Tschanz, Director of Technology and Analysis, Design and Engineering, Disney Parks Experiences and Products

Solution

Greater Insights Help Deliver Great Guest Experiences
The team at Disney chose to implement Lumada solutions for IoT, data management and analytics at several attractions, choosing to work with this technology for its potential to provide high-value operational insights in real time. The flexibility and openness of the platform was a key factor, helping Disney continue to innovate with data and build on their legacy of bringing immersive storytelling experiences to life through technology.

Disney also recognized Hitachi’s vision of Social Innovation, which is to help customers extract more value from their data while powering good for our society.

The first step was the deployment of tens of thousands of IIoT sensors on rides at Walt Disney World Resort, including favorites like Slinky Dog Dash, Toy Story Mania! and Alien Swirling Saucers, as well as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

The resulting data is fed into Hitachi’s Lumada platform, where Disney performs a range of analytics to reveal an array of insights pertaining to attraction operations. This approach then generates a real-time alert to the relevant service engineers. It enables them to address needs before operations are impacted, facilitate maintenance and ensure that attractions are running as efficiently as possible.

The Lumada solution also includes digital twins, which are a virtual software model that replicates how an attraction works. This feature allows engineering teams to optimize ride performance and enhance the guest experience via further predictive maintenance to maximize attraction availability.

Outcome

More Magical Experiences for Disney Guests
The primary outcome for Disney? Increased attraction availability, high customer satisfaction and reduced operating costs. “Working with Hitachi Vantara and its portfolio of technologies, we’re able to incorporate new solutions that will not only work for us today, but also grow with us tomorrow as we continue to deliver amazing experiences and adventures for our guests,” said Director of Technology and Analysis, Design and Engineering, Disney Parks Experiences and Products, Michael Tschanz.

Future Vision

New Vistas of Attraction Analytics as Disney Guest Experiences Reach New Heights
The strategic alliance between Hitachi Vantara and Disney Parks Experiences and Products will bring data-driven operational intelligence to additional shows and attractions. Their joint efforts will further enhance efficiency and availability and continue to bring magical experiences to guests.