I was in awe yesterday as I watched the young Groot robot come to life during an interactive dance testing session at Disneyland Park. Having seen the beginning stages of this project a few years ago, I couldn’t believe how far this robotic character has come. It made me wonder where the limit for an idea like this would be and if, one day, we might see all of our favorite animated characters come to life in the parks where human cast members can’t represent them.
It was clear that this had to be the question we discussed this weekend. I want your thoughts on the ultimate character that could be created from this new robotic technology to visit the parks with. For me, the answer is simple. Olaf.
Can you imagine rounding the corner in Magic Kingdom‘s Fantasyland and having Olaf babbling away to himself, greeting guests as they walk by? Even the thought of it is enough to make me smile. Olaf could be singing or dancing (as we saw Groot doing); he might even be interacting with Sven as they roam through the park together!
I can’t wait to see where this innovation can take the immersive nature of Disney storytelling within the theme parks. What would be your character if you could choose one to visit while in the parks?
Zoë Wood is a travel writer from Sydney, Australia. Since her first visit to Disneyland at the age of 6, she has spent her years frequently visiting Disney Parks and traveling around the world.
Join Zoë as she lets you in on all the tips, tricks, anecdotes, and embarrassments that arise from her family adventures.
