Disney's World-Building Future: SXSW Panel Highlights

The SXSW panel, titled "The Future of World-building at Disney," was brimming with thrilling updates and tantalizing glimpses into the future of Disney Parks. Attendees were treated to news about how The Mandalorian and Grogu will embark on a new mission aboard Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run, the innovative plans for a new type of ride vehicle with emotion for the upcoming Cars ride at Magic Kingdom, and a sneak peek at the load area and lift off for the new Monsters, Inc. attraction.

Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro and Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman hosted the event, showcasing the synergy between their teams and how their collaboration results in groundbreaking new experiences at Disney Parks. The panel was packed with exciting announcements, which we've compiled below for a comprehensive overview.

The Mandalorian and Grogu Will Join Smuggler's Run in a New Mission at the Launch of The Mandalorian & Grogu Film

It was previously announced that The Mandalorian and Grogu would feature in a new narrative on Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Disney confirmed that this new adventure will coincide with the release of The Mandalorian & Grogu movie on May 22, 2026.

Jon Favreau, the creator of The Mandalorian, along with Imagineers Leslie Evans and Asa Kalama, provided more details about this upcoming story and unveiled concept art showcasing iconic locations. The art includes scenes such as a Jawa's Sandcrawler on Tatooine, the Millennium Falcon and Mando's Razor Crest soaring towards Cloud City on Bespin, and a visit to the wreckage of the second Death Star above Endor.

The Mandalorian and Grogu Mission Concept Art for Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run

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"This isn’t going to retell what happens in the movie – it’s more like participating in something that’s happening just off-camera from what you see in the film," Favreau explained. The new story's scenes were captured directly from the set of The Mandalorian & Grogu, promising an authentic experience when it launches.

Additionally, the beloved BDX droids, previously seen at Disneyland, are set to expand to Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris. A new variant featuring an Anzellan character named Otto, similar to Babu Frik, will occasionally appear on a BDX needing maintenance.

Image Credit: Disney

Furthermore, these droids are slated to make an appearance in The Mandalorian & Grogu film, adding to the excitement.

Here's a Sneak Peak at the Load Area and Lift Off of the New Monsters, Inc. Attraction at Disney World

Monsters, Inc. Land is on its way to Disney World's Hollywood Studios, featuring an exciting new themed roller coaster. This will be Disney Park's first-ever suspended coaster and its first with a vertical lift. The new attraction aims to transport guests through Monsters, Inc.'s door vault, providing a dream-come-true moment. Disney shared a first look at the load area, setting the tone for what guests can expect.

While many details about this new attraction and the surrounding land remain to be revealed, this sneak peek is a thrilling start.

Pixar and Imagineering Reveal a New Type of Ride Vehicle Had to Be Made for Magic Kingdom's Upcoming Cars Attraction

Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter and Imagineer Michael Hundgen shared new insights into the upcoming Cars attraction, which will be part of a new Cars-themed land at Magic Kingdom. Hundgen emphasized the goal of creating an emotional experience for guests, stating, "For this *Cars* attraction, we need to invent a new type of ride vehicle. No one builds these in a factory because it has to do so much more than just carrying you from one place to another. We have to create a car that conveys a feeling when you ride in it."

To gather real-world data, the team ventured into the Arizona desert to experience off-road vehicles over rocky terrain. The new ride will feature a thrilling rally race through the mountains, rather than being set in Radiator Springs. Collaborating with a motocross company, they built a dirt track to race on, using the data to develop the ride vehicle.

"We’re using a customized production vehicle,” Hundgen continued. “It has sensors all over it, and we’re taking it for test drives on our dirt track to gather data on how the vehicle responds to different terrain. This is where we turn that feeling we want into real-world engineering."

Each ride vehicle will also be infused with Disney and Pixar magic, featuring its own personality, name, and number.

Image Credit: Disney

Robert Downey Jr. Stops by Disney's SXSW Panel to Help Share More About the New Avengers Campus Attractions

Image Credit: Disney

Disneyland's Avengers Campus is set to introduce two new attractions. The first, Avengers Infinity Defense, will allow guests to team up with Avengers members to battle King Thanos across various worlds. However, the spotlight was on the second attraction during Disney's SXSW panel, as Robert Downey Jr. made a special appearance to discuss Stark Flight Lab.

Downey Jr. will reprise his role as Tony Stark for this attraction, which takes guests into Tony's workshop to explore new technology. "These new experiences are the living embodiment of the Stark Enterprises mission statement," Downey Jr. said. "The curiosity, the passion, the inventiveness, the occasional flair for the dramatic, most of all a drive to put something good out into the world to make life better, at the minimum more fun by a mile. It’s the privilege of a lifetime to be invited to participate."

Guests will ride in "gyro-kinetic pods" and be maneuvered by a giant robot arm, inspired by Iron Man and other Avengers. "Transferring from a track to a robot arm and then back again – nothing like this has ever been done before in a theme park, and we’re so excited about it,” said Chief Creative Officer for Walt Disney Imagineering Bruce Vaughn. "Usually, we hide all the tech behind the scenes so you can focus on the story. Here, the tech IS the story, so we’re putting it front and center."

Imagineering is emphasizing the robotic arm, drawing inspiration from Tony Stark's robotic assistant, DUM-E. To achieve realistic movement, the team worked with dancers and used motion capture technology.