Star Wars Celebration offered a thrilling glimpse into the future of Disney Parks experiences, and IGN had the privilege of discussing these developments with Walt Disney Imagineering's Asa Kalama and Disney Live Entertainment's Michael Serna. They shed light on the exciting new updates, including a The Mandalorian & Grogu-themed addition to Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run and the introduction of the adorable BDX droids across Disney Parks worldwide. Both Kalama and Serna also provided insights into the creative process behind bringing Disney magic to life, ensuring guests can immerse themselves in their favorite stories and characters in unforgettable ways.
The Mandalorian and Grogu-Themed Update to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Will Let Engineers Take Care of Grogu
One of the major highlights from Star Wars Celebration was the announcement that Engineers will soon have the unique opportunity to care for Grogu aboard Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run. This update, set to launch alongside a film on May 22, 2026, promises a fresh storyline that diverges from the movie's plot. Guests will join forces with Mando and Grogu, but it's the Engineer's seat that's particularly enticing. Not only will Engineers interact directly with Grogu, but they'll also have the power to decide the next destination in the galaxy.
The Mandalorian and Grogu Mission Concept Art for Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run
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"Throughout the mission, we're going to be giving the engineers the opportunity to actually get to communicate with Grogu," Kalama explained. "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. So, we love the idea of there being these fun little vignettes and moments where you're sort of on the comm with Grogu."
Additionally, the adventure incorporates a choose-your-own-adventure element. "There will be a critical moment in your adventure where you are strapped for time and have to make a lightning quick decision about which of our particular bounties we want to pursue," Kalama said. This decision will lead players to destinations like Bespin, the Death Star wreckage above Endor, and the newly announced Coruscant. The narrative revolves around a new story where "Hondo Ohnaka catches wind of a deal on Tatooine between ex-Imperial officers and pirates, setting the stage for a high-stakes chase across the galaxy. Guests will team up with Mando and Grogu to track them down and claim a bounty in a dynamic, galaxy-spanning adventure."
The BDX Droids Will Be Traveling From Disney Parks Around the World Right Into Your Heart
The beloved BDX Droids, known for capturing the hearts of Star Wars fans, are set to make appearances at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Tokyo Disney. These droids, which will also feature in The Mandalorian & Grogu, have been developed to offer guests new immersive experiences within their favorite stories at Disney Parks.
Image Credit: Disney
"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," Kalama stated. "They've appeared in games and other places, but we created an original story just for us and we've sort of evolved that as we've moved on to sites all over the world."
"And they have lot of fun childlike qualities and do all sorts of cute things that people would do," Serna added. "So, we realized we kind of needed to identify each one of them with a personality. It made it much more interesting to engage with them and allowed us a lot of flexibility and a lot of ways to continue to expand that world. So, in the same way we love R2-D2 and other droids that we become connected to, we think you'll become connected to certain colors of the BDX droids. Each color is really a unique personality."
These BDX Droids are just one example of how Disney is enhancing park experiences. Kalama and Serna discussed their approach to making these interactions even more memorable. "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," Serna said. "So, we see those amazing animatronics in, for example, the Frozen attraction, and we start to think how we bring those out of an attraction and onto a street. I think you're going to see a lot more of those kinds of things in our parks around the world, which means using technology in ways you're not expecting when they are so close to you."
"I think that idea of using technology in both unexpected ways and invisible ways is really important to sort of how we approach all of this stuff," Kalama added. "I think we are very much in the business of creating that sense of suspension and disbelief, and oftentimes there's no other way to bring a character to life than through robotics. But one of the things that's incredibly unique to the work that we do, as compared to what you might see in an automotive factory, is 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 as a for instance. How do you get it to do that in a way that makes you feel something?"
From Peter Pan and Star Tours to Creating the Future
Like many of us, Kalama and Serna grew up inspired by Disney Parks and specific attractions, fueling their desire to contribute to future experiences that will similarly captivate new generations. During our conversation, they shared how their personal experiences with attractions like Peter Pan and Star Tours have influenced their work.
"As a little kid, riding Peter Pan was most exciting for me," Serna recalled. "To fly in this vehicle... I think it really blew my mind. I had no idea how it worked. I just thought, 'Oh my God, we're flying!' 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 as far as what I thought theme parks can do. Peter Pan was an amazing story, but it was sort of something from the past. However, seeing something that I love from the Star Wars films represented that way... I mean, if you remember back then, we were in an era of no new Star Wars stuff and this was a new adventure and I couldn't believe I was now in a Star Wars story myself."
"And so I think when we do our jobs well, we invite the entire family, regardless of how old you are right now, to feel truly transported and completely lost in a fantasy. I think that inspires me every day when I think about the work we do. It's not necessarily about what I want to do, but it's mostly what 10-year-old Michael really wanted to do. That's what I want to put out there for our guests. I feel like if 10-year-old Michael will love it, you're probably going to love it too, whatever age you are."
"I only had the opportunity to visit the park one time before I became a cast member, and I was probably eight years old and I was so obsessed with all things science fiction," Kalama shared. "I literally refused to leave Tomorrowland. So, the first time I ever encountered any of the other lands was as an adult. But again, for me, as Michael said, I have one vivid memory and it was Star Tours. That was the attraction for me. I mean, 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. I think that sense of magic of disassociation with reality and entering into this complete fantasy world is powerful, not only for kids, but I think it's just as important for adults. And so I think when we do our jobs well, we invite the entire family, regardless of how old you are right now, to feel truly transported and completely lost in a fantasy."
Now, with these inspiring rides as their backdrop, Kalama and Serna are shaping the future of Disney Parks experiences. They shared highlights of their achievements, with Serna discussing his role in bringing Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga to life at Disneyland.
Image Credit: Disney
"That was actually about a two-year process of looking at something that was happening in the parks daily, which was fireworks. People would sit in Batuu and watch the fireworks, but there was no music or anything. You were just sitting there in silence watching fireworks. So, we sort of looked at that as an opportunity to say, well, maybe we need to create something here and create it in the world of Star Wars."
"So, we worked really closely with Lucasfilm to sort of look at what would a fireworks type show be in Galaxy's Edge. We created a character that was our storyteller. We created a droid that was part of the experience. We created a whole sort of performative piece around it and that actually led us to our next stage. There are some nights when there aren't fireworks. What are you going to do those nights now? So, Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga is really looking at using the spires as a projection space and creating something immersive that we've never done in a theme park before. This is the idea of a storyteller who has traveled around the galaxy, who has heard the story of Anakin Skywalker, and has now created an experience for us to sort of learn that tale in a new way."
For Kalama, it's the attention to detail that makes the experience truly magical. "I think something that I hope is invisible to our fans, but something that they appreciate, is that there is just an obsessive level of attention to detail that we put into everything," Kalama said. "The number of very serious conversations we've had around the type of screw head that we should put on a panel wall, because... well... Phillips doesn't exist in the Star Wars timeline or the receipt paper that comes out of the printer when you make a purchase. 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."
