Star Wars Experiences Come Alive at Disney Celebration

Star Wars Celebration unveiled exciting updates for Disney Parks, and IGN had the opportunity to speak with Walt Disney Imagineering's Asa Kalama and Disney Live Entertainment's Michael Serna about the upcoming enhancements. These include a The Mandalorian & Grogu-themed update to Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run and the introduction of the adorable BDX droids to various Disney Parks worldwide. Kalama and Serna also shared insights into the creative process behind bringing these magical experiences to life, allowing fans to immerse themselves in beloved stories and characters.

The Mandalorian and Grogu-Themed Update to Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run Will Let Engineers Take Care of Grogu

At Star Wars Celebration, it was revealed that the Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run attraction will receive a The Mandalorian and Grogu-themed update, set to launch on May 22, 2026. This update will allow engineers to interact with Grogu during the ride, setting them apart from other crew members who will team up with Mando and Grogu. The storyline will diverge from the film, offering guests a unique adventure where they can choose their destination in the galaxy, such as Bespin, the Death Star wreckage above Endor, or the newly-announced Coruscant. The narrative revolves around Hondo Ohnaka's discovery of a deal on Tatooine, leading to a thrilling chase across the galaxy where guests join Mando and Grogu to pursue a bounty.

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

Kalama highlighted the interactive element, stating, "Throughout the mission, we're going to be giving the engineers the opportunity to actually get to communicate with Grogu. So, we think it's going to be a ton of fun. There may be times when Mando has to deboard the Razor Crest and Grogu, left to his own devices, might get a little happy on the control panel." This feature adds fun, unexpected moments where guests can engage with Grogu over the comm system. Additionally, the attraction includes a choose-your-own-adventure element, where guests make critical decisions about which bounties to pursue, influencing the adventure's outcome.

The BDX Droids Will Be Traveling From Disney Parks Around the World Right Into Your Heart

The beloved BDX droids, featured in The Mandalorian & Grogu, will soon charm guests at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Tokyo Disney. These droids, developed to enhance guest immersion in Star Wars stories, have been carefully crafted to bring new experiences to the parks.

Kalama explained, "The goal of the BDX Droids was to look at how we bring characters to life in our parks in different ways, and this is really technology merging with this piece of entertainment and a backstory we created specifically for the parks." Serna added, "They have lot of fun childlike qualities and do all sorts of cute things that people would do. So, we realized we kind of needed to identify each one of them with a personality." Each droid, distinguished by its color, has a unique personality, allowing guests to form connections similar to those with iconic droids like R2-D2.

The teams at Disney are continually exploring how technology can enhance park experiences, as Serna noted, "The technology behind the animatronics is influencing how we're looking at robotics and character experiences and these up close experiences that continue to inspire us." Kalama emphasized the importance of using technology in unexpected and invisible ways to create a sense of suspension and disbelief, adding, "We have to figure out how to bring character, emotion, and personality to life. That's an entirely different technical challenge than just getting a robot to be able to balance on its own."

From Peter Pan and Star Tours to Creating the Future

Both Kalama and Serna shared how their love for Disney Parks and specific attractions inspired their careers. Serna fondly remembered, "As a little kid, riding Peter Pan was most exciting for me... And then, as I got a little older and became a huge Star Wars fan, Star Tours was really the ride that changed my life." He emphasized the goal of creating experiences that transport guests of all ages into a fantasy world, reflecting on how his childhood dreams influence his work today.

Kalama echoed these sentiments, recalling his first visit to the park and his obsession with Tomorrowland and Star Tours. He noted, "The suspension of disbelief was through the roof and I fully believed that I was on a star speeder and that I had traveled through the galaxy." Both creatives aim to craft experiences that allow families to feel truly transported and immersed in fantasy.

Serna highlighted his work on Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga at Disneyland, a projection show at Galaxy's Edge that enhances the nightly fireworks with a Star Wars narrative. He described the development process and the introduction of a storyteller and droid to create a performative piece that continues even on non-firework nights.

Kalama focused on the meticulous attention to detail that enhances the authenticity of the park experiences, stating, "The number of very serious conversations we've had around the type of screw head that we should put on a panel wall... We really go above and beyond to think about what are all of the small infinitesimal details that might not seem all that important on their own, but when they add up together they make the space feel truly authentic and immersive."