Disneyland makes surveillance palatable – and profitable

Stormtroopers interact with attendees during the unveiling of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Walt Disney Co.'s Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, California, U.S., on Wednesday, May 29, 2019. The 14-acre project is the largest-ever addition to the park and the most hotly anticipated new attraction to open at the resort in decades. Disney designers aimed to build a place where Star Wars fans can walk into their own intergalactic adventure. Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg

We’re in the heat of the summer blockbuster season, when Walt Disney Co is taking over theatres with releases like Toy Story 4 and live-action versions of Aladdin and The Lion King. There’s another aspect of the season Disney is effectively capturing: summer vacations – and reams of data on the things you do inside its amusement parks. 

With the recent opening of the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge theme park at California’s Disneyland, the company continues to mine its portfolio of franchises and boost its US$20bil (RM82.20bil) resorts business. Last week, Disney announced the opening of another Star Wars extension at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, a follow up to its massive Avatar annex. And next on the schedule is a slate of Marvel comics-themed attractions from Hong Kong to Paris.