Over the past 20 years, the Walt Disney Company has spent billions acquiring the world’s most recognizable intellectual properties, including Star Wars, Marvel, and Pixar. It’s not just putting those assets to use on the big screen. Increasingly, those properties are an ever-larger part of the company’s theme parks, including Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida.
Last August, Disney announced an expansion of its parks, and now, at the annual South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin this month, Disney has provided more details about new experiences and rides coming to those parks—and yep, the upcoming theme park experiences are all about Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar. Here’s what to expect.
Fly like Iron Man at Stark Flight Labs
Disney’s most valuable property in recent years has been Marvel. One of the cinematic franchise’s most popular and recognizable characters is Iron Man, made famous by Robert Downey Jr’s portrayal in numerous films.
It’s no wonder then that Disney is getting ready to launch a new Iron Man-themed experience at its Avengers campus in Disney California Adventure Park. The new experience is called Stark Flight Lab, and it will allow people to try out some of Iron Man’s toys.
Walt Disney Imagineering reveals newly unclassified details for the new Stark Flight Lab attraction, inspired by Tony Stark's beloved robotic friend DUM-E, setting up shop in Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure. 🦾 https://t.co/Wkvnq0C01X pic.twitter.com/lvrz1qDnJO
Part of the experience will see guests “sit in ‘gyro-kinetic pods’ and roll along a track before stopping in front of a giant robot arm,” says Disney. “This robot arm will hoist you into the air where you’ll make several high-speed maneuvers inspired by Iron Man and some other Avengers.”
Mandalorian and Grogu movie tie-in
One of the biggest Hollywood tentpoles of 2026 is expected to be The Mandalorian & Grogu—the first new Star Wars film in nearly seven years by the time it debuts on May 22, 2026. Disney, never one to miss a cross-promotional opportunity, will also launch a new experience at its Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run attraction in Disneyland.
JUST ANNOUNCED! The new Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run adventure featuring Mando and Grogu will debut May 22, 2026 at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney Parks! https://t.co/RRNZ9lsYBm 💫 #SXSW pic.twitter.com/SYY9aO23pE
While details were scarce, Disney said the attraction will be based on scenes from the film. “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,” Mandalorian & Grogu director Jon Favreau said.
Pixar’s Cars and Monsters get new rides, too
Finally, Disney previewed two new Pixar-themed experiences at its parks. First up is a Cars attraction coming to Disney World that the company first announced last August. The company showed concept sketches of some of the race cars that will be part of its off-road racing ride.
A closer look at early concept sketches and new race car personalities designed by @Pixar for the brand-new Cars attraction coming to Frontierland at @WaltDisneyWorld. https://t.co/RXOT36XOod #SXSW pic.twitter.com/2hGdhQXJBp
But perhaps the most exciting for amusement park thrillseekers is the new ride based on Monsters, Inc. The ride, based on one of Pixar’s most popular films, will feature a first for Disney theme parks. “The upcoming door ride will feature the first-ever suspended coaster at a Disney Park, and the first-ever vertical lift,” the company said in a blog post.
Walt Disney Imagineering shares a new look at the Monsters, Inc. coaster loading area and first-ever vertical lift that will hoist riders in the air like never before as they zoom into the door vault! https://t.co/9Rwf0YtRGX 🚪🎢 #SXSW pic.twitter.com/fnTaDIA6AR
While Disney previewed the experiences above at South by Southwest, it has not announced a release date for any of the above attractions besides the new Mandalorian and Grogu experience, which opens in May 2026.
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