When Is the "Hey, Disney" Device Listening in My Hotel Room?

Over the past few years, Disney has added a new virtual assistant tool to all its hotel rooms called Hey, Disney!. The Hey, Disney! device is powered by Amazon Alexa, so it works the same as most smart home devices but with a little extra Disney magic. While this technology is free to use, not everyone is interested in Disney’s voice assistant experience.

Bed at Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter

In order for Hey, Disney! to work, the device must listen for the special “wake words.” This prompts the question, when is Hey, Disney! listening? We’re here to break it all down.

If you opt to keep the Hey, Disney! microphone turned on during your stay in a Disney World hotel, the device will technically listen for as long as it is turned on. Disney explains that the Hey, Disney! device will only respond to your questions when the device detects that someone has said “Hey Disney” or “Alexa” (the “wake words”).

“Hey, Disney!”

Then, once the device hears your question or request, “it will listen to your request and send it to Amazon for processing in the cloud.” But the only way for the device to hear those “wake words” is for the device to sit and listen for someone to say “Hey Disney” or “Alexa.”

Hey, Disney!

If the blue bar on top of the device lights up, that means Hey, Disney! is listening. You can also use the touch screen to “wake” the device.

Room Phone and “Hey Disney!”

So, what happens if you do NOT want Hey, Disney! to listen? It’s easy! There is a microphone button on the top of the device, and all you have to do is turn it off. If you see a red bar, you will know the microphone is muted. You can mute and unmute it at any time using the ⊘ button. Disney also states that if you have any other questions or concerns, you can call the Front Desk.

Start and Volume Control Buttons

Further, if you make a request via Hey, Disney! (you can use the device to request extra towels, pillows, and more!), Amazon will send your requests (but not the voice recordings) to Disney.

At the Polynesian Resort

Don’t forget, Hey, Disney! is completely optional! Just don’t forget to mute the device if you don’t want any assistance from Alexa. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.

You Can Have Your Own “Hey, Disney!” at Home — Here’s How!

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Have you ever used this service? Let us know in the comments!