Since initially appearing at the Disneyland Resort in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in 2023, the BDX droids have become quite popular. Last year, the droids made a tour that spanned the globe. This saw the droids visiting Walt Disney World Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort, and even Disneyland Paris! In 2026, Shanghai Disneyland is getting a visit from these adorable droids.
BDX Droids at Shanghai Disneyland
In a post on social media, Shanghai Disney Resort revealed that the BDX Droids are visiting Shanghai Disneyland. The limited-time offer will be called Star Wars: Galactic Encounter with BDX Droids. Along with revealing the arrival of the droids, Shanghai Disney shared the premise of their visit, saying:
An interstellar explorer and the BDX droids have accidentally arrived in the human world. How will they get home? Maybe you can help!
This limited-time offering is billed as an interactive experience. It will be happening (weather permitting) on the following dates:
- February 25 – March 1
- March 4 – March 3
- March 11 – March 17
History of the BDX Droids
The BDX Droids first appeared at Disneyland as part of a play test. Months later, they debuted officially as a part of the 2024 Season of the Force offerings at Disneyland. They made regular appearances that charmed guests visiting The Happiest Place on Earth! As time went on, the droids would make other appearances, including last year at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.
The technology that brings these droids to life is nothing short of magical. They learn how to walk and interact via a virtual simulator. They then learn to walk physically, and each has its own distinct personality and name. The whole process really is incredible and was shown to Daps Magic on a visit to Walt Disney Imagineering in 2024. The droids continue to be modified and improved. Imagineers learn from their experiences to make these droids more durable, have more character, and be able to do more.
Kyle Laughlin, SVP, Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development, shared about the droids and Imagineering, saying, “BDX is a great example of our ethos in action: story first, technology in service of that story. What’s new here is the level of responsiveness, physicality, and charm we can now achieve in real-time, guest-facing environments. It’s not a trick or a one-off moment — it’s an evolving character platform. And we’re just at the beginning.”
The BDX Droids will be appearing later this spring in The Mandalorian & Grogu. What do you think about their arrival at Shanghai Disneyland? Have you been able to see them in person? What do you think of them? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
