The Future of World-Building at Disney Panel From SXSW: Everything Announced

The SXSW panel titled "The Future of World-building at Disney" was brimming with thrilling updates and sneak peeks into the future of Disney Parks. Highlights included the integration of The Mandalorian and Grogu into a new mission on Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run, the development of a new type of ride vehicle with emotional depth for Magic Kingdom's upcoming Cars attraction, and a tantalizing glimpse of 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 led the panel, emphasizing the value of collaboration between their teams to create innovative and exciting experiences at Disney Parks. The panel covered a wealth of information, and here are the most significant announcements and reveals:

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

It was previously known 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 has now confirmed that this new experience will launch in sync 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 insights into the new story and unveiled concept art showcasing iconic locations. The art includes a Jawa's Sandcrawler on Tatooine, the Millennium Falcon and Mando's Razor Crest approaching 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 authenticity of the new story is enhanced by scenes captured directly from the set of The Mandalorian & Grogu.

Additionally, the beloved BDX droids, previously seen at Disneyland, will expand their presence to Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris. A new variant, an Anzellan named Otto, will occasionally appear on a BDX in need of maintenance.

The BDX droids will also feature in The Mandalorian & Grogu, adding to the excitement.

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 World's Hollywood Studios, featuring a new themed roller coaster. This will be Disney Park's first-ever suspended coaster and the first with a vertical lift. The attraction aims to immerse guests in the dream-come-true experience of soaring through Monsters, Inc.'s door vault. Disney provided a first look at the load area, which sets the stage for the adventure ahead.

While much remains to be revealed about this new attraction and its surrounding land, this sneak peek is certainly exciting.

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 details about the upcoming Cars attraction, part of the new Cars-themed land at Magic Kingdom. "Our primary goal is creating an emotional experience for our guests," Hundgen stated. "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 ride an off-road vehicle over rocky terrain. The new ride will not be set in Radiator Springs but will instead offer a thrilling rally race through the mountains. They collaborated with a motocross company to build a dirt track for testing and developing 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."

These vehicles will also incorporate Disney and Pixar magic, each with its own personality, name, and number.

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, including Avengers Infinity Defense, where guests will join forces with the Avengers to battle King Thanos across multiple worlds. The spotlight, however, was on the second attraction, as Robert Downey Jr. made a surprise appearance to share details about Stark Flight Lab.

Downey Jr. will reprise his role as Tony Stark for this attraction, which will take guests into Tony's workshop to experience his latest technological innovations. "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, performing high-speed maneuvers 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."

The focus on the robotic arm, inspired by Tony Stark's DUM-E, is a key element in making the technology the star of the attraction. Imagineering collaborated with dancers and used motion capture to ensure the robots feel as lifelike as possible.