Role
Project Manager
Skills and Tasks
Visual Design
Interaction Design
User Testing
User Research
Tools
Figma
Duration
10 Weeks, Spring 2025
Team
Andrea Da Silva / UI Lead
Nikki Hahn / Illustration and Exterior Lead
Alana Watts / Branding and Visual Lead
Austin De Nijs / Animation and Interior Lead
Disney's Future In-Park Transportation Experience
DreamLine is a compact, self-driving, electric vehicle designed to enhance the in-park experience at Disney. Equipped with climate-controlled seating and an interactive table, it helps guests navigate, rest, and enjoy entertainment, dining, and shopping on the go. Personalization features and thoughtful accessibility make it a restful way for families to move through the park, empowering longer and more joyful visits.
My Role
As Project Manager, I ensured we met all deadlines, delegated tasks based on strengths and goals, mentored teammates in UX and visual design, and fostered a collaborative environment.
Within the production of Dreamline, my main focus was on the map and dining widgets for the interactive table. I explored designs from paper prototyping to high-fidelity UI, and created a map prototype to test how users will control and guide the vehicle.
Additionally, I actively contributed to research by interviewing and surveying Disney guests to ground our design in real needs.
Overview
Relax between park activities in DreamLine's themed interior.
The center of the Dreamline experience, the interactive table, lets you plan your route, shop online, and get entertainment while you ride.
Research
Surveying Families To Uncover Their Disney Experience
We surveyed 129 recent Disney visitors, with a focus on families with young children and those with mobility challenges.
Interviews To Understand Individual Experiences
Eight in-depth interviews revealed that kids often feel overwhelmed by the heat and the amount of walking, parents struggle to balance group needs, and older adults found it difficult to keep up with the group and find shaded rest areas.
On-Site Research at Disney
Our team visited Animal Kingdom, Disney’s largest park, and conducted impromptu interviews and ethnographic studies.
Interview Insights With Guests At The Park
We talked to people waiting in lines and resting in the shade to ask about their experience and if the heat and extensive walking caused exhaustion. While half who we asked were not strongly affected, we found older guests and large groups had the most difficulties.
Five Major Problem Areas
Solution
A Mobile Disney Experience
Based on our insights, we designed DreamLine, a themed, family-sized, self-driving electric vehicle that offers guests a restful, immersive way to travel through the park. It features climate-controlled, shaded seating and an interactive table for planning, shopping, dining, and entertainment.
Compact Self-Driving Electric Vehicle
The size of a golf cart, and travels at walking speed on dedicated lanes within the park.
Themed Around Favorite Character
An experience themed around the guest's favorite Disney character.
Wheelchair Accessible
Removable seats and ramps for wheelchairs.
Panoramic Windows
Allows guests to continue experiencing the park's atmosphere while en-route.
Interactive Table
Featuring park maps, scheduling tools, car controls, and entertainment.
AI-Powered Planning
Helps guests optimize their park route and reach attractions with the lowest wait-times.
Validating Demand
To gauge interest in this solution, we surveyed 87 members of our target audience. These results confirm that there is a strong demand for an accessible, enjoyable way to move through the park.
64/87
Interested in using the vehicle.
42/87
Find the vehicle helpful.
Dedicated Lanes
For the DreamLine to seamlessly navigate around the parks.
To preserve the park’s atmosphere and avoid turning Disney into a highway.
Advanced Safety
Interactive Table
The Heart of the DreamLine
Giving guests full control of their park journey, and the ability to plan routes, shop, order food, and enjoy entertainment in one seamless, themed interface. Real-time AI-generated routes optimize for preferences, wait times, and walking distance, enhancing accessibility and enjoyment for all.
Paper Prototyping
To explore free-form interaction patterns, we began with paper prototyping. This helped us refine the design, scale, and layout of widgets, and explore how physical interactions would translate across a horizontal surface.
Not Looking Consistent…
Our approach of modeling our UI from existing platforms quickly revealed an issue: each interface looked different and had their own navigation and in-depth features.
Aligning Our Visual Styles
We stripped down each feature for our interactive table to its essentials, created a visual moodboard for inspiration, and created style guides to ensure visual cohesion.
Mid Fidelity UI
High Fidelity UI
Evolution
Testing The Interactive Table With A Projector
We projected the UI design onto a tabletop for interactive testing. Participants navigated the interface in real time, opening widgets, scaling them, passing them across the table, and rotating or interacting with them independently. Feedback from testers confirmed the system’s intuitiveness and the delight of its features.
Testing The Map Prototype
Further rigorous testing focused on the map feature, one of the most complex flows. Testers found the map to be intuitive and flexible to their needs, allowing them to easily understand, rearrange, and start their route. Only minor feedback was advised, such as increasing touch targets and text sizes.
Car Development
Golf Cart Size Vehicle
Creating The Pod Design
We aimed to create a compact pod with an exterior design that seamlessly integrates into the Disney park environment. We drew inspiration not only from beloved characters but also from the worlds they inhabit and the surrounding landscape. While evoking a sense of magic and nostalgia, the vehicle’s sleek, futuristic form reflects the innovation of an autonomous EV, capturing both the wonder of Disney and the forward-thinking spirit of the park’s future.
Integration Into Disney
“CEO Bob Iger committed $60B to a 10-year expansion of Walt Disney World, including new attractions and park redesigns”.
Orlando Weekly
With the company investment to expand the park experience, there is an opportunity to invest in infrastructure updates, such as DreamLine lanes, charging docks, and themed integration points.
Dedicated Lanes
For the DreamLine to seamlessly navigate around the parks.
Charging Stations
Readily available within the parks for each DreamLine to easily recharge.
Parking Zones
Throughout the park to ensure any DreamLine has a place to stop.
Benefits
New Market Of Visitors
It makes the Disney experience more inclusive for people with limited mobility, young children, and older guests who before may have chosen not to come to Disney due to the physical strain.
Increasing Park Dwell Time
Reduces physical strain empowers families to stay connected, relaxed, and joyful, opening the door for longer, more fulfilling visits.
Increases In-Park Spending
Onboard access to food ordering, shopping, and special events may boost in-park spending, while improving guest satisfaction and retention.
Creates New Monetization Opportunities
Opens up upsell tiers for themed pods, exclusive character designs, in-app experiences, and parade participation.
Strengthens the Disney Brand Promise
Reinforces Disney’s reputation as a leader in magical, inclusive, and innovative experiences.
Extends Storytelling Beyond Rides
Transforms transportation into another touchpoint for IP engagement, with themed characters, games, and immersive content.
Meet The Dream Team
This team was incredibly driven, curious, and excited to create something truly magical. Click on their photos to see their portfolios!
