Disney's World-Building Future Unveiled at SXSW

The SXSW panel titled "The Future of World-building at Disney" was packed with thrilling insights and teases about the future of Disney Parks. Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro and Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman led the panel, highlighting the collaborative efforts between their teams to create unforgettable experiences at Disney Parks. Here's a comprehensive look at the major announcements and reveals from the event.

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

The panel confirmed that The Mandalorian and Grogu will enhance the Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run experience at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, coinciding with the release of The Mandalorian & Grogu movie on May 22, 2026. Jon Favreau, along with Imagineers Leslie Evans and Asa Kalama, provided insights into this new story, which will not retell the movie's plot but rather immerse guests in a parallel event occurring off-screen. They showcased concept art depicting iconic locations such as a Jawa's Sandcrawler on Tatooine, the Millennium Falcon and Mando's Razor Crest flying toward 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

3 Images

Favreau emphasized that scenes for this new story were captured directly from the set of The Mandalorian & Grogu, promising an authentic experience. 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, an Anzellan named Otto, will occasionally appear on a BDX needing a tune-up, adding a delightful twist. These droids will also feature in The Mandalorian & Grogu movie.

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

A new Monsters, Inc. Land is on its way to Disney World's Hollywood Studios, featuring a groundbreaking themed roller coaster—the park's first-ever suspended coaster with a vertical lift. Guests will experience the thrill of soaring through Monsters, Inc.'s door vault. Disney provided a first glimpse of the load area, designed to set the tone for this exhilarating new attraction.

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 unveiled new details about the forthcoming Cars-themed attraction at Magic Kingdom. Hundgen highlighted the goal of creating an emotional experience, necessitating the invention of a new ride vehicle. This vehicle, designed to convey feelings during the ride, was developed after Imagineers took real-world data from off-road adventures in the Arizona desert. The new ride will simulate a thrilling rally race through the mountains rather than taking place in Radiator Springs.

To perfect the vehicle, the team collaborated with a motocross company to build and test a dirt track. These customized production vehicles, equipped with sensors, will have unique personalities, names, and numbers, blending Disney and Pixar magic seamlessly.

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

Disneyland's Avengers Campus is set to introduce two new attractions, with Avengers Infinity Defense being one of them, where guests will team up with Avengers to combat King Thanos across multiple worlds. The highlight, however, was the reveal of Stark Flight Lab, where Robert Downey Jr. reprised his role as Tony Stark. Downey Jr. shared that this attraction encapsulates the essence of Stark Enterprises, focusing on curiosity, passion, and inventiveness.

In Stark Flight Lab, guests will experience high-speed maneuvers in "gyro-kinetic pods" manipulated by a giant robot arm, inspired by Iron Man and other Avengers. Chief Creative Officer for Walt Disney Imagineering Bruce Vaughn explained that this attraction uniquely showcases the technology as part of the story, drawing inspiration from Tony Stark's robot, DUM-E. To achieve realism, Imagineering utilized dancers and motion capture technology to bring these robots to life.