Disney Bans Pokémon GO from Parks Including Star Wars Land
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — Sorry, Pikachu, but not everyone is feeling the Pokémania sweeping the nation. In an unprecedented move, Disney has banned the record-breaking Pokémon GO app from Disneyland Parks and Walt Disney World Resorts.
In a company statement, CEO Bob Iger mentions security concerns as the chief motivation behind the new restrictions.
“We can’t have mobs of people wandering around uncovering dead bodies here and there, especially if it’s an experience we’re not monetizing. That’s simply not a good look.”
As part of the comprehensive Pokémon GO ban, Disney is installing special app blockers within parks and re-programming Disney MagicBands to help with policing efforts. According to sources, the smart bands will report Pokémon GO usage immediately, and players will be warned before having their accounts blocked. Repeated violations within a 4-hour period will result in park visitors being asked to leave.
This is Disney’s second run-in with Pokémon GO in as many days. Yesterday, upon hearing that Disney parks were coveted Pokéstops in the augmented reality scavenger hunt game, Disney attorneys contacted Nintendo and Niantic, the developers of the app. As a result, Disney parks have since been removed as Pokéstops, but the company is taking additional steps to ensure their parks are not overrun with millions of Pokémon hunters.
FSW insiders claim the real reason for the drastic park change is a fear of Nintendo’s mobile juggernaut overshadowing Disney’s own IP on their home turf. While this may seem farfetched, consider this: only Disney mobile apps, including Tsum Tsum, and a wide range of Star Wars-based games, will continue to work seamlessly for park visitors.
Let’s hope Disney’s Pokémon GO ban is temporary and doesn’t set a precedent for other theme parks.
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