At SXSW, Disney offered a captivating glimpse into the future of its Parks during the "Future of World-building at Disney" panel. The event was packed with exclusive announcements and sneak peeks, revealing how beloved characters and groundbreaking innovations will shape upcoming attractions across Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and beyond.

Hosted by Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro and Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman, the session highlighted key collaborations between Imagineers and filmmakers that are pushing creative boundaries to deliver unforgettable guest experiences.

We’ve compiled all the biggest reveals from the panel below:

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

Exciting news for Star Wars fans: The new story experience featuring Din Djarin and Grogu aboard the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will debut alongside the release of *The Mandalorian & Grogu* film on May 22, 2026—both at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort.

Jon Favreau, along with Imagineers Leslie Evans and Asa Kalama, shared fresh concept art teasing scenes inspired by the upcoming movie. Among the visuals revealed were a Jawa Sandcrawler on Tatooine, the *Millennium Falcon* and Razor Crest flying toward Cloud City on Bespin, and a dramatic view of the second Death Star wreckage above Endor.

Favreau clarified that the experience won’t retell the film’s plot but instead lets guests participate in events happening just off-camera, enhancing immersion in the galaxy far, far away.

In addition, the popular BDX droids currently seen at Disneyland will soon expand their reach to Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris. A new variant—featuring Otto, an Anzellan character similar to Babu Frik—will occasionally appear on a droid in need of a tune-up.

And for even more BDX excitement, these charming droids will also make appearances in *The Mandalorian & Grogu* film itself.

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

Monsters, Inc. Land is set to open soon at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, bringing with it a thrilling new roller coaster. This attraction will be Disney Parks' first-ever suspended coaster and the first to feature a vertical lift.

Disney gave a first look at the load area and initial lift sequence, setting the stage for an immersive journey through the iconic door vault from the film. While details about the full land and ride experience are still emerging, this early tease has already generated significant buzz.

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

During the panel, Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter and Imagineer Michael Hundgen unveiled exciting updates about the upcoming *Cars*-themed land coming to Magic Kingdom.

Hundgen emphasized that the goal was to create an emotionally engaging experience, which required developing a completely new type of ride vehicle.

"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 perfect the design, the team conducted real-world testing in the Arizona desert, riding off-road vehicles over rocky terrain. They later partnered with a motocross company to build their own dirt track, gathering valuable data to refine the ride mechanics.

The final product will be a customized production vehicle equipped with sensors to capture motion dynamics. Each ride car will also feature its own unique personality, name, and number—adding a personal touch to the adventure.

Robert Downey Jr. Joins Disney's SXSW Panel to Share Details About Avengers Campus Attractions

Disneyland’s Avengers Campus is getting two major new additions, including *Avengers Infinity Defense*, where guests team up with heroes to battle King Thanos across multiple worlds.

However, the highlight of the panel came when Robert Downey Jr. appeared to discuss *Stark Flight Lab*, an attraction where he reprises his role as Tony Stark.

"These new experiences are the living embodiment of the Stark Enterprises mission statement—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."

In the attraction, guests will board “gyro-kinetic pods” before being lifted by a massive robotic arm, performing high-speed aerial maneuvers inspired by Iron Man and other Avengers.

Bruce Vaughn, Chief Creative Officer for Walt Disney Imagineering, explained that this innovative integration of robotics and storytelling is unlike anything seen before in theme park attractions.

"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. 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."

The robotic arm draws direct inspiration from DUM-E, Tony Stark’s friendly helper bot. To bring the machines to life, Imagineers collaborated with dancers and motion capture specialists to ensure fluid, lifelike movement.