Amazon Echo Devices Get Their First Custom Alexa-Based Assistant
Amazon Echo users can now pay $5.99 per year to say “Hey, Disney!” and launch a Disney-themed alternative personal assistant.
“Hey Disney! marks the first time an Alexa Custom Assistant (ACA) is available on supported Echo devices for customers at-home and uniquely brings together an array of content featuring 20+ characters across Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and other beloved franchises,” the Amazon Developer Blog explains. “ACA is a comprehensive solution that made it possible for Disney to create an assistant with a custom voice (the Disney Magical Companion) and wake word (‘Hey Disney!’).”
Hey Disney! was previously made available to customers at Walt Disney’s resorts, and it has a unique voice and personality and features over 20 characters across Disney, Pixar, and Star Wars, including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Pluto, Olaf, Moana, Dory, Mater, Chewbacca, R2-D2, Fozzie Bear, and others. Like Alexa, Hey Disney! can be used to perform simple tasks like set alarms and timers, but it also provides thousands of custom Disney interactions like storybooks, soundscapes, and trivia.
To purchase and set-up Hey Disney!, customers can say, “Alexa, introduce me to Hey Disney,” or they just buy the Hey Disney! Alexa skill on the Amazon website. Then, they can say “Hey Disney, start the magic” for an introduction on how the Disney Magical Companion works alongside Alexa.