We just got a sneak peek at what those levitating droids headed to Galaxy’s Edge might actually look like in action, and honestly? Very impressed.
The look came courtesy of the Imagineering: Horizons exhibit, which officially opened to the public on the first day of D23. While we didn’t see an actual droid working the counter this time around, we did get to watch Grogu bouncing around behind Hugo’s Sweets & Fizz…the snack cart Disney’s previously confirmed will eventually be home to these hovering little helpers.
Here’s what the demo actually showed: Grogu popping up and moving around behind the counter while fake burgers slid across it in front of him, almost like he was controlling them with the Force. Three different Galaxy’s Edge drinks did the same thing, and at one point even lowered below the counter through a trap door. It’s a small touch, but the kind of small touch that makes a themed space feel genuinely alive.
Quick refresher if you missed the original news: back in July, Bloomberg got an early look at some of the tech Disney’s been developing behind the scenes, and one of the standout projects was this series of floating droids designed to work alongside snack carts and add an extra layer of immersion to lands like Galaxy’s Edge. The carts themselves are inspired by the ones seen in this year’s The Mandalorian and Grogu film, which explains exactly why Grogu was the one manning the counter for this demo instead of a droid.
So how will these actually work once they’re up and running? The droids are designed to hover above a stationary food truck, treating it almost like a little stage. Guests will order a few different soda options through a mobile app, then head to the cart to pick them up, and the droids are apparently programmed to put on a small performance based on what you order. Buy just one drink, for example, and the droid might act a little lonely about it. Which, honestly, feels like exactly the kind of chaotic personality Disney would build into a robot.
Based on what we saw at D23, this Grogu preview lines up pretty closely with how the real droid experience is expected to feel…bouncy, theatrical, and a little bit mischievous.
Excited for these floating droids to make their way to Galaxy’s Edge? Let me know what you’re hoping they’ll do!
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