Intel and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts are collaborating on an innovative new holiday experience that will take place at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida over the holiday season.
Using all-new Intel Shooting Star drones, the “Starbright Holidays – An Intel Collaboration” show will paint colorful images across the sky at the Disney Springs shopping, dining and entertainment district.
“Starbright Holidays – An Intel Collaboration” marks the first time a show-drone performance of this scale has ever been performed in the US. It will feature 300 Intel Shooting Star drones in a choreographed aerial performance set to holiday-themed music.
The show also marks the US public debut of the Intel Shooting Star drone – a new type of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) specifically designed for entertainment purposes such as festivals, air and light shows.
“We are excited to work with Walt Disney Imagineering to bring a fresh and innovative approach to its world-renowned light shows,” says Josh Walden, senior vice-president and GM of Intel’s New Technology Group. “Together, we worked to tackle a new frontier in entertainment, picturing the sky as our canvas and flying lights as ink.”
The “Starbright Holidays – An Intel Collaboration” light show will invite guests to Disney Springs to look up to the sky this holiday season and make a special wish. Overhead an aerial ballet of holiday-themed animations will sparkle in the night sky using Intel Shooting Star drones. The performance will be accompanied by a specially orchestrated score of seasonal classics.
When combining the technology from Intel and the creativity from Disney, the two companies were able to rethink what’s possible and create an amazing new entertainment experience.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Intel on this exciting entertainment experience,” says Jon Snoddy, Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development studio executive. “By combining our technological capabilities, we will be able to light up the sky this holiday season.”
Designed to be lightweight, the Intel Shooting Star drone is composed of a Styrofoam body and plastics and weighs in at just 280 grams, or less than the weight of a volleyball. The purpose-built quadcopter show drone is also equipped with LED lights that can create over 4-billion colour combinations and easily be programmed for any animation. With the improved software and interface, a light show can now be done in a matter of days, instead of weeks or months. Additionally, all 300 Intel Shooting Star drones can easily be controlled by one computer.
