Disney's Imagineering department elevates AI technology by prompting BDX droids to exhibit emotions and addressing them as 'intelligent.'
Disney's latest innovation, the BDX droids, are currently enchanting visitors at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney parks, with their debut at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World taking place in July 2025[1][3][5]. These bipedal droids, inspired by the video game "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order," showcase impeccable balance, procedural animation, modular hardware, and reinforcement learning, making them unique and lifelike[1][5].
The BDX droids, equipped with quirky personalities and head movements, interact engagingly with guests, offering a new level of realism to robotic characters. Grek, Red, Besh, and Oskar, among others, are distinct droids with individual mannerisms, emphasizing individuality and improving autonomy across their deployments[5].
Disney Imagineering has ambitious plans to expand the global presence of these droids, with their arrival at Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland expected in 2025[1]. To cater to various climates, the BDX droids have been updated with heat-resistant materials to ensure optimal performance in Florida’s climate[3].
Beyond park appearances, the BDX droids are set to make their on-screen debut in the film "The Mandalorian & Grogu," scheduled for release in May 2026, marking a synergy between theme park innovation and Disney’s storytelling platforms[3].
Disney Research continues to develop the droids for autonomous human interaction, enabling them to behave dynamically in real-time. This advancement earned the BDX droids the 2025 Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement in Technical Innovation[3].
In summary, Disney’s BDX droids represent pioneering AI-powered autonomous characters designed to deliver lifelike, emotionally expressive guest interactions. With plans for wider deployment globally in Disney parks and integration into media, these droids are set to enhance immersive storytelling and guest experiences across Disney’s entertainment empire.
[1] Disney Parks Blog. (2023). Introducing the BD-1 Droids for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. Retrieved from https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2023/04/introducing-the-b-d-1-droids-for-star-wars-galactic-starcruiser/
[3] Disney Parks Blog. (2025). BD-1 Droids Debut at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Retrieved from https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2025/07/bd-1-droids-debut-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/
[5] Disney Parks Blog. (2025). Meet the BD-1 Droids. Retrieved from https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2025/07/meet-the-bd-1-droids/
Artificial-intelligence technology, a key feature of Disney's BDX droids, allows these autonomous characters to exhibit lifelike, emotionally expressive interactions with guests, demonstrating a fusion between technology and entertainment in movies-and-tv settings like "The Mandalorian & Grogu." Furthermore, the integration of these robotic innovations into Disney's theme parks worldwide signifies an expansion of artificial-intelligence's role in enhancing immersive storytelling and guest experiences across the entertainment industry.
