Star Wars Celebration: Disney's Imagineering and Live Entertainment Bring Galaxy to Life

Star Wars Celebration offered a thrilling glimpse into the future of Disney Parks experiences, and IGN had the privilege of speaking with Walt Disney Imagineering's Asa Kalama and Disney Live Entertainment's Michael Serna. They shared insights on the upcoming The Mandalorian & Grogu-themed update for Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run, the charming BDX droids set to enchant Disney Parks worldwide, and much more.

Kalama and Serna also provided a behind-the-scenes look at how they bring Disney magic to life, creating unforgettable experiences inspired by our favorite stories and characters.

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

One of the standout announcements from Star Wars Celebration was the upcoming The Mandalorian and Grogu-themed update for Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run, set to launch on May 22, 2026. Engineers will have the unique opportunity to care for Grogu aboard the Millennium Falcon, adding an exciting new layer to the attraction.

While the attraction's storyline diverges from the film, guests will join forces with Mando and Grogu on various missions. Engineers, in particular, will enjoy special interactions with Grogu, including communicating with him and deciding the mission's destination within the Star Wars universe.

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. "There may be times when Mando has to deboard the Razor Crest, leaving Grogu to his own devices, potentially causing some fun chaos on the control panel. We love the idea of these fun little vignettes where you're on the comm with Grogu."

The choose-your-own-adventure aspect allows guests to make critical decisions during the mission, steering the adventure toward destinations like Bespin, the Death Star wreckage above Endor, or the newly announced location of Coruscant. This new storyline revolves around Hondo Ohnaka uncovering 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 pursue 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 adorable BDX Droids, beloved by Star Wars fans worldwide, are set to make their way to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Tokyo Disney, bringing joy and new immersive experiences to guests.

Image Credit: Disney

These droids, which will also feature in The Mandalorian & Grogu, have been in development to enhance the storytelling at Disney Parks. "The goal of the BDX Droids was to explore new ways to bring characters to life in our parks, merging technology with entertainment and creating a unique backstory specifically for the parks," Kalama said. "They've appeared in games and other places, but we created an original story just for us and evolved it as we expanded to parks worldwide."

Serna added, "They have fun, childlike qualities and perform cute actions, much like people do. We've given each droid a unique personality, identified by color, which makes them more engaging and allows us to expand their world. Just as fans connect with R2-D2 and other droids, we believe guests will form attachments to the different BDX droid personalities."

The introduction of BDX Droids is part of a broader effort to evolve Disney Park experiences. Serna discussed how advancements in animatronics and robotics are influencing new character interactions and immersive experiences. "We're inspired by the amazing animatronics in attractions like Frozen and are thinking about how to bring similar experiences out of attractions and onto the streets of our parks," he said. "You'll see more of these unexpected uses of technology in our parks worldwide."

Kalama emphasized the importance of using technology in both unexpected and invisible ways to create a sense of disbelief and bring characters to life with emotion and personality. "Our work involves a unique technical challenge of infusing robots with character and emotion, far beyond what you might see in an automotive factory," he noted.

From Peter Pan and Star Tours to Creating the Future

Like many of us, Kalama and Serna were inspired by Disney Parks and specific attractions that fueled their passion to join the team creating new experiences for future generations. They shared their personal stories of how certain rides influenced their career paths.

"As a kid, riding Peter Pan was the most exciting thing for me," Serna recalled. "The feeling of flying in the vehicle blew my mind. Later, as a Star Wars fan, Star Tours changed my life by showing what theme parks can do. Peter Pan was a story from the past, but Star Tours brought a new Star Wars adventure to life, making me feel part of the story."

Kalama shared a similar sentiment, "My first visit to the park was when I was eight, and I was obsessed with science fiction, refusing to leave Tomorrowland. Star Tours was the attraction that truly immersed me in a fantasy world. That sense of magic and disassociation with reality is powerful for both kids and adults. When we do our jobs well, we transport guests of all ages into a complete fantasy."

Now, Kalama and Serna are shaping the future of Disney Parks experiences. 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.

Image Credit: Disney

"We noticed that people were watching fireworks in silence at Batuu, so we saw an opportunity to create a Star Wars-themed show," Serna explained. "We worked with Lucasfilm to develop a character as our storyteller and a droid as part of the experience, creating a performative piece. Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga uses the spires as a projection space, offering an immersive storytelling experience even on nights without fireworks."

Kalama emphasized the meticulous attention to detail that goes into creating these immersive experiences. "We have serious conversations about the type of screw head on a panel wall, because Phillips screws don't exist in the Star Wars timeline, or the receipt paper from purchases. These small details might seem insignificant on their own, but together, they create an authentic and immersive space."