Disney is experimenting with AI-powered robots designed to guide cars into parking spots at its theme parks, with prototypes modeled after characters from “Cars” and “Wall-E.”
The concept was shown off this week at Disney’s Accelerator Demo Day at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. A video from the event showed early versions of the robots, built in partnership with Irvine-based robotics company Field AI.
Gary Daniels, senior vice president of products and experiences at Disney Experiences Technology & Digital, described the idea during the presentation.
“Imagine if characters from ‘Cars’ or robots from ‘Wall-E’ direct you where to park when you arrive,” Daniels said. “The work we are doing now is a great way to see how the robots function, and as important, how people respond.”
Disney used the event to preview in-progress projects from five AI companies: Promise, OpenArt, Field AI, Physical Intelligence, and Simile.
Ali Agha, founder and CEO of Field AI, framed the company’s broader approach to the partnership.
“We’re building a future where humans lead and robots follow, and we’re expanding the capacity of every single human being as we are entering this new era of robotics,” Agha said.
Disney has not said when, or if, the parking robots will actually be deployed at its properties.
The company has leaned into visible robotics in recent years, including a free-roaming Olaf robot at Disneyland Paris and Star Wars droids that patrol Disneyland in Anaheim. Disney has also filed patents for AI-powered characters designed to interact with and form bonds with park guests, a move that has raised concern among some fans about the technology eventually displacing the costumed actors who work the parks.
The parking robot concept arrives as Disneyland prepares a major expansion of its parking capacity in Anaheim, Orange County. A new structure planned for the park will add 6,000 parking spaces along with shuttle and rideshare areas and dedicated traffic access from Disney Way. Construction is expected to run through 2029.
