Disney Research Working on Augmented Reality Costumes for Theme Park Guests

Matthew Soberman

Disney Research Working on Augmented Reality Costumes for Theme Park Guests

Guests may soon be able to take photos in the outfit of their favorite Disney character…without ever having to put on a costume.

Disney Research, the company’s technological development network, has released a study that allows guests to wear a costume using augmented reality (AR) for photo opportunities. The application could allow guests to see themselves wearing a perfect-fitting outfit based on their favorite princess, Jedi, or even Avenger, almost instantaneously.

The idea of turning this into a selfie was deliberate, according to the report stated: “Imagine taking a selfie and magically wearing your favorite character or hero’s suit. While we did see digital cloth added onto people in the past, it was often with a depth camera such as a [Microsoft] Kinect, which is not always reliable in outdoor conditions, and is not as widespread as monocular cameras on mobile devices.”

The applications could extend even beyond the ultimate selfie or PhotoPass shot. Guests could soon see theme park shows using AR goggles, where performers can portray Disney characters looking more realistic than ever.

This study is just the latest in a long line of new technology designed to give park guests a more immersive experience than ever.

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