Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining has upped its tech-forward ante this year with a brand-new app.
Designed as a companion to the official Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining website, which in recent years has incorporated various filters allowing users to search for venues by criteria such as location or cuisine, the app looks to level up the experience by adding even more convenience.
“The app is incorporating AI,” Visit Orlando president and CEO Casandra Matej told the Orlando Sentinel. “And so, literally, you can say, ‘I’m looking for a restaurant where I can see fireworks. Tell me the restaurants where I can hear live music.’ And the app will serve that up.”
Additionally, users can filter choices, same as with the website, searching by neighborhoods, types of food or which menus — $40 or $60 — they’d like to consider.
What’s more, the app was developed internally, which Matej says kept dollar investment low.
“It was really our enterprise application team that created it,” she says. End to end, it cost $6,000.
“People gave feedback during its development, but it was all in-house. And I think it’s phenomenal, really intuitive.”
The app not only helps users narrow down their choices, but keeps track of where they’ve been, “and the AI-powered magical match features personalized recommendations based on the user’s preferences.”
It’s conversational, she notes. And when users who create an account check in at participating restaurants, there are gaming features they can enjoy, earning badges and appearing on leaderboards for where they’ve been, how many places they’ve been to. It’s an opportunity, she forecasts, for contests or prizes in future versions. This is just the start.
“We’re not there yet, but there are a lot of fun possibilities,” she says. “It’s evolving.”
And always, for a cause.
Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining app is available on the App Store or via Google Play.
Magical Dining’s 21st year begins Aug. 14 and runs through Sept. 30.
Find me on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter or Instagram @amydroo or on the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com, For more foodie fun, join the Let’s Eat, Orlando Facebook group.