ANAHEIM, Calif. — Cutting-edge robotics are descending upon the Disneyland Resort.
With new droids arriving at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge this month — and some of the most lifelike characters ever created coming later this year to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure — the Walt Disney Co. this year is elevating the wizardry that is theme park engineering.
Walt Disney Imagineering, the company’s typically secretive arm devoted to theme park development, hasn’t been shy regarding the testing of bipedal droids that can hop in place, bow their heads and nudge humans like robotic pets. A trio of them, known as BDX droids, made their one-day debut at Galaxy’s Edge late last year, a surprise appearance that went viral among Disney and “Star Wars” fans. Knee-high, the “droids in training,” as they were labeled by Imagineering, possess a wobbly cuteness.
They’ll be returning to Disneyland starting this week, and appearing throughout the resort’s spring “Star Wars” promotion known as Season of the Force, which lasts through June 2. Their temporary appearance fulfills a long-held promise to bring more robotic life to Disneyland’s space fantasy franchises.
The droids, and their ability to dance, coo and generally steal the hearts of guests, were shown to media on Tuesday at an event that highlighted current and upcoming Imagineering technology — all part of embattled Chief Executive Bob Iger’s promise to “turbocharge” Disney’s investment in its parks. Disney has pledged $60 billion over the next 10 years in its experiences division, with at least half of that total dedicated to parks and resorts, according to a recent SEC filing.