At SXSW's The Future of World-building at Disney Panel, attendees were treated to an array of thrilling updates and sneak peeks into the future of Disney Parks. Key highlights included the integration of The Mandalorian and Grogu into a new mission on Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run, the development of an innovative ride vehicle for Magic Kingdom's upcoming Cars attraction, and a first look at the load area and lift off for the new Monsters, Inc. attraction at Disney World.

Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro and Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman spearheaded the panel, emphasizing the value of collaboration between their teams in crafting unforgettable park experiences.

Below, you'll find a comprehensive rundown of the major announcements and exciting reveals from the event:

The Mandalorian and Grogu Will Join Smuggler's Run in a New Mission at the Launch of The Mandalorian & Grogu Film

It was previously announced that The Mandalorian and Grogu would feature in a new narrative on Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Disney has now confirmed that this new experience will coincide with the premiere of The Mandalorian & Grogu movie on May 22, 2026.

Jon Favreau, the creator of The Mandalorian, along with Imagineers Leslie Evans and Asa Kalama, offered insights into the new story. They also unveiled concept art depicting iconic locations such as a Jawa's Sandcrawler on Tatooine, the Millennium Falcon and Mando's Razor Crest approaching Cloud City on Bespin, and a glimpse of the wreckage of the second Death Star above Endor.

The Mandalorian and Grogu Mission Concept Art for Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run

Favreau clarified, "This isn’t going to retell what happens in the movie – it’s more like participating in something that’s happening just off-camera from what you see in the film." The authenticity of this new story is enhanced by scenes captured directly from the set of The Mandalorian & Grogu.

Additionally, the beloved BDX droids from Disneyland will expand their presence to Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris. A new variant featuring an Anzellan named Otto will occasionally appear on a BDX needing repairs.

These droids will also feature in The Mandalorian & Grogu film.

Here's a Sneak Peak at the Load Area and Lift Off of the New Monsters, Inc. Attraction at Disney World

Monsters, Inc. Land is set to open at Disney World's Hollywood Studios, featuring a new themed roller coaster—the park's first-ever suspended coaster with a vertical lift. This attraction promises to immerse guests in the dream of flying through Monsters, Inc.'s door vault. Disney offered a first glimpse of the load area, setting the stage for the adventure to come.

Pixar and Imagineering Reveal a New Type of Ride Vehicle Had to Be Made for Magic Kingdom's Upcoming Cars Attraction

Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter and Imagineer Michael Hundgen shared new details about the upcoming Cars-themed land at Magic Kingdom. Hundgen stated, "Our primary goal is creating an emotional experience for our guests. For this *Cars* attraction, we need to invent a new type of ride vehicle. No one builds these in a factory because it has to do so much more than just carrying you from one place to another. We have to create a car that conveys a feeling when you ride in it."

To achieve this, the team conducted real-world research by driving off-road vehicles in the Arizona desert. The new ride will take guests on a thrilling rally race through the mountains, requiring a vehicle that feels authentic to the setting. Collaborating with a motocross company, they built a dirt track to test and develop the ride vehicle.

Hundgen added, "We’re using a customized production vehicle. It has sensors all over it, and we’re taking it for test drives on our dirt track to gather data on how the vehicle responds to different terrain. This is where we turn that feeling we want into real-world engineering."

These vehicles will also incorporate Disney and Pixar magic, each having its own personality, name, and number.

Robert Downey Jr. Stops by Disney's SXSW Panel to Help Share More About the New Avengers Campus Attractions

Disneyland's Avengers Campus is set to introduce two new attractions. One, Avengers Infinity Defense, will see guests teaming up with Avengers to battle King Thanos across multiple worlds. The other, Stark Flight Lab, was highlighted by Robert Downey Jr. himself at the SXSW panel.

Downey Jr. will reprise his role as Tony Stark for Stark Flight Lab, where guests will enter Tony's workshop and experience his latest technological innovations. He described these new experiences as "the living embodiment of the Stark Enterprises mission statement."

"The curiosity, the passion, the inventiveness, the occasional flair for the dramatic, most of all a drive to put something good out into the world to make life better, at the minimum more fun by a mile," Downey Jr. elaborated. "It’s the privilege of a lifetime to be invited to participate."

The ride itself will feature guests seated in "gyro-kinetic pods," with a giant robot arm performing high-speed maneuvers inspired by Iron Man and other Avengers. Chief Creative Officer for Walt Disney Imagineering Bruce Vaughn explained, "Transferring from a track to a robot arm and then back again – nothing like this has ever been done before in a theme park, and we’re so excited about it. Usually, we hide all the tech behind the scenes so you can focus on the story. Here, the tech IS the story, so we’re putting it front and center."

The robotic arm, drawing inspiration from Tony Stark's DUM-E, will be brought to life with the help of dancers and motion capture technology, enhancing the realism of the attraction.