Disney Just Dropped Its First Interactive Ewok at Droid Depot — and Two More Companions Are Coming

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge just got its most talkable new toy in years. Starting today, August 13, 2026, guests at Disneyland can buy an interactive Ewok inside Droid Depot — the first of three new “Batuu Adventure Buddies” that giggle, chatter, make motorized facial expressions, and even react to the droids you build in the same shop. According to Disney’s official announcement on the Disney Parks Blog, the Ewok lands first at Disneyland ahead of D23 this weekend, with two more companions to follow and the full collection eventually rolling out at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Below, we break down the three biggest stories across the Disney and Universal parks worlds from the last 48 hours: the Ewok debut, Universal’s expanded Halloween Horror Nights hotel takeover, and a splashy Disney travel-gear collaboration that sold out fast.

Disney’s First Interactive Ewok Arrives at Droid Depot

The headline: Disney has launched a brand-new interactive companion line, and the debut character is an Ewok. Per Disney’s official post, the Ewok features expressive eyes, motorized facial expressions, and a mix of signature giggles and chatter. Tap its head in specific patterns and it triggers special animations with names like “Endor Dance Party” and “Forest Call Chain,” and it reacts to the custom astromech droids sold in the same store.

Disney is calling it the first of three Batuu Adventure Buddies. You can also outfit yours with add-on themed gear packs — an Endor set (spear, horn, fish, poncho), a Mandalore set (axe, armor, cape), and a Batuu set (freighter model, tool, poncho) — each sold for an additional fee. Disney had not published a price at launch; for context, Droid Depot’s build-your-own astromech droids run about $120, so plan accordingly.

We’ve watched the build-your-own droid line snake out the door on every recent Galaxy’s Edge visit, and an interactive plush-style companion at a lower likely entry point could be an even bigger draw. If you’re deciding between Disneyland and Walt Disney World for this, note the order of operations: Disneyland gets the Ewok first, and the collection reaches Disney’s Hollywood Studios later. Source: Disney Parks Blog.

Universal Spreads Halloween Horror Nights Into Nine Hotels

Universal Orlando is pushing its Halloween fog further off-property than ever. This week Universal detailed nine resort hotels that will carry a named Halloween Horror Nights lounge or lobby experience for the 2026 season, including three brand-new concepts.

The new-for-2026 additions: Loews Royal Pacific Resort transforms Jake’s American Bar into the “Universal Monsters Laguna Lounge,” a mid-century tiki hideaway for the classic monsters; Universal Stella Nova Resort turns its Nova Bar into a hazmat containment-breach scene; and Universal Terra Luna Resort reimagines its Luna Bar as an alien territorial battle. Six returning experiences round out the lineup at Portofino Bay, Hard Rock, Sapphire Falls, Aventura, Cabana Bay, and Endless Summer.

The perks matter if you’re staying on-site: Universal confirmed hotel guests get priority event entry from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and access to the in-event Keyholder Bar, with discounts advertised up to 30% off five-night stays. Halloween Horror Nights runs select nights from August 28 through November 1, 2026. We’ve checked into Loews Royal Pacific during past HHN seasons, and the on-site early-entry window is genuinely the difference between one house and four before the crowd wall hits. Details via Universal Orlando.

Disney x BÉIS Mickey Travel Collection Sells in Limited Quantities

For the trip-planners: Disney and travel-bag brand BÉIS launched their first-ever collaboration on August 12. According to ABC News’ Good Morning America, the collection spans 28 pieces of luggage, bags, and accessories built around retro Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and classic Disney nostalgia — BÉIS’s first line ever anchored to a character IP.

Prices run from $28 for bag charms up to $378 for the largest checked bag, with retro character patches, neutral plaids, and a playful Disney doodle print across totes, backpacks, kids’ minis, and park-ready packables. It dropped online in limited quantities at 6 a.m. PT / 9 a.m. ET across BÉIS, Bloomingdale’s, and the Disney Store. If a coordinated carry-on is on your Disney packing list, this is the rare licensed line built by an actual luggage company. Source: ABC News (Good Morning America).

The Bottom Line

The Ewok is the story of the week, and it drops the same weekend as D23 — if a Disneyland trip is on your radar, our complete Disneyland planning guide covers how to fold Galaxy’s Edge into a smart, low-stress day.