Last fall, visitors to Disneyland’s Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge were surprised to find a couple of new characters roaming around the theme park: mini free-roaming droids. But the two-legged droids were the intergalactic version of Punxsutawney Phil. They only appeared for one day. Starting tomorrow, they’ll be back for a much longer stay.
The BD droids will return to the California theme park on April 5 and will be making appearances regularly through June 24, the company told Fast Company.
It’s all part of the “Seasons of the Force” celebration at Disneyland, which will see a number of new offerings, including Ahsoka-themed “Star Tours” rides, updates to Space Mountain, and more.
The BD droids may be familiar to fans who have watched The Mandalorian or played the video game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. But even if you haven’t watched the show or played the game, it’s hard not to be charmed by the critters.
WOW!!!! NEW DROID characters at Galaxy’s Edge!!
— Disney Dan Becker (@DisneyDan) October 12, 2023
Check out these tiny little guys! What an amazing addition.
Hope they stick around. pic.twitter.com/TSZPmRVvWz
Technically robots, they have a personality that puts them more in the range of a Disney character. They can dance. They can express frustration or anger via their eyes turning red. They can navigate unsteady terrain without toppling over. And they’re the perfect height for young kids to identify with.
The BD droids were a fast build, even by Imagineering standards. Imagineer Moritz Bacher, who has helped create the BD droids, says it took less than one year to go from concept to experimental, but functional, droid.
“It’s not about robots, it’s characters we want to build,” he says.
The droids, which are exclusive to Disneyland for now, are just a small part of the massive theme park expansion Disney is in the process of rolling out. The theme parks are the profit center for Disney, so over the next 10 years, the company plans to spend $60 billion to fend off competition, expand its capacity and take advantage of IP it hasn’t fully exploited in its parks to date.
Another part of that plan is leaning into the public’s curiosity about how Disney creates the magic in its parks. The company has long had a popular series on Disney+ about the Imagineering story as well as a separate program sharing behind-the-scenes stories about popular rides. There’s even a more than 750-page book about the history of the division, which is responsible for everything from new rides and experiences in the parks to many of the characters you meet as you roam from ride to ride.
To lean further into that, Disney plans to launch a new YouTube series called “We Call It Imagineering,” to take its most ardent fans further behind the scenes. (The name of the show was taken from a quote by Walt himself.)
New, lovable droids and a YouTube series are just a start, though. Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be receiving experiences inspired by the Encanto and Indiana Jones films. The company has also discussed a “tropical Americas” theme with a variety of biodiverse areas.
Meanwhile, future expansion plans for Disney World’s Magic Kingdom are said to be the “largest ever for the park.” The area beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is being viewed for an expansion even bigger than Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Pandora – The World of Avatar. New attractions, restaurants and shows are all on the table. Many expect Disney to reveal more at its D23 Fan Event, which kicks off on Aug. 9.
The expansion comes as Universal Resort plans to open a new 750 acre park in Orlando in 2025, which could put pressure on Disney to keep fans hooked on its theme parks.