Sidley represented longtime client Amazon in its partnership with Disney to introduce Hey, Disney!, a new custom voice assistant based on Amazon’s Alexa Custom Assistant solution. Hey, Disney! is tailored to Disney’s personality and customer needs and will work alongside Alexa, both at home and across Walt Disney World Resort hotel rooms, to unlock new ways for consumers to engage with Disney’s iconic characters and stories. The launch is part of an upcoming integration using Amazon’s Alexa for Hospitality service, and to celebrate Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary. Announced September 28, 2021, the Hey, Disney! rollout is expected to begin in 2022. Hey, Disney! is designed to combine the strength of Amazon’s Alexa technology with Disney’s storytelling expertise to create the next generation of immersive experiences. Forbes noted that Hey, Disney! “will bring more information to guests at Walt Disney World hotels in an easy and familiar way, especially if they already use the Alexa voice assistant at home.”
The Sidley team was led by partner Stephen Fronk (San Francisco) and included associates Rachelle Soderstrom (San Francisco) and Valerie Truong (Palo Alto), as well as Sidley alumna Anne Sutton (Chicago).
