Visit Orlando\u2019s Magical Dining has upped its tech-forward ante this year with a brand-new app.<\/p>\n
Designed as a companion to the official Visit Orlando\u2019s Magical Dining websit<\/a>e<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThe app is incorporating AI,\u201d Visit Orlando president and CEO Casandra Matej told the Orlando Sentinel. \u201cAnd so, literally, you can say, \u2018I\u2019m looking for a restaurant where I can see fireworks. Tell me the restaurants where I can hear live music.\u2019 And the app will serve that up.\u201d<\/p>\n Additionally, users can filter choices, same as with the website, searching by neighborhoods, types of food or which menus \u2014 $40 or $60 \u2014 they\u2019d like to consider.<\/p>\n What\u2019s more, the app was developed internally, which Matej says kept dollar investment low.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was really our enterprise application team that created it,\u201d she says. End to end, it cost $6,000.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople gave feedback during its development, but it was all in-house. And I think it\u2019s phenomenal, really intuitive.\u201d<\/p>\n Magical Dining: Record-breaking 188 restaurant roster includes 38 newcomers, 16 Michelin Guide-recognized<\/a><\/p>\n The app not only helps users narrow down their choices, but keeps track of where they\u2019ve been, \u201cand the AI-powered magical match features personalized recommendations based on the user\u2019s preferences.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s 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\u2019ve been, how many places they\u2019ve been to. It\u2019s an opportunity, she forecasts, for contests or prizes in future versions. This is just the start.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not there yet, but there are a lot of fun possibilities,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s evolving.\u201d<\/p>\n And always, for a cause.<\/p>\n Visit Orlando\u2019s Magical Dining app is available on the App Store or via Google Play.<\/p>\n Magical Dining\u2019s 21st year begins Aug. 14 and runs through Sept. 30.<\/p>\n Find me on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter or Instagram\u00a0@amydroo<\/a>\u00a0or on the OSFoodie Instagram account\u00a0@orlando.foodie<\/a>. Email:\u00a0amthompson@orlandosentinel.com<\/a>, For more foodie fun, join the\u00a0Let\u2019s Eat, Orlando Facebook group<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t