Droid Depot has been a staple of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge since the land opened, giving guests a hands-on way to assemble a custom astromech inside Black Spire Outpost. Beginning November 17, 2026, the shop adds a new category of companion: the Batuu Adventure Buddies, a trio of interactive plush-style toys with animated eyes and character sounds. This guide covers how each experience works, what you can buy, and how the virtual queue at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is set up.
What Droid Depot Is and Where to Find It
Droid Depot sits inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at both Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida and Disneyland park in California. The shop is themed as a cluttered workshop on the planet Batuu, filled with spare parts, circuit boards, technical manuals, and shelves of droids pulled from across the Star Wars saga. Some models are easy to identify, while others take a closer look to place.
Guests visit for two main reasons. The first is the build-a-droid experience, which has been available since opening day. The second, starting in November 2026, is the chance to adopt one of the new Batuu Adventure Buddies.
Meet the Batuu Adventure Buddies
The Batuu Adventure Buddies are interactive companions available at Droid Depot in both Galaxy’s Edge locations. Guests can choose from three characters: an Ewok, a Huttlet, and Grogu. In the story of Batuu, these toys were produced by a small team of Anzellan builders, the same tiny species seen tinkering with ships in the Star Wars films.
Each Buddy features LCD eyes, motorized facial expressions, and a set of sounds that includes giggles, laughter, and character chatter. They respond to touch, react when accessories are added, and can recognize when another Buddy is nearby. They can also interact with the custom astromech units sold at Droid Depot, which opens up some fun moments for families who own both.
How Each Buddy Reacts
Every character has its own set of triggered animations. The table below highlights a few of the reactions described by Disney, though additional interactions are listed on each toy’s packaging and some are left for owners to find on their own.
| Character | Interaction Name | How to Trigger It | What Happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ewok | Endor Dance Party | Triple tap on the head | Rhythmic eye animations with Ewokese chanting and drumming; nearby Ewoks may join in |
| Ewok | Forest Call Chain | Quick double tap on the belly near other Buddies | A scout call that prompts nearby toys to respond in their own languages |
| Grogu | Snack Surprise | Feed with a food accessory, then double tap the belly | A belch sound effect followed by a satisfied sigh |
| Grogu | Force Play | Triple tap on the head | Expressive Force-themed eyes; other nearby toys react with excitement |
| Huttlet | Appetite Echo | Double tap on the belly | Giggling, slithering eye animations, then a low Huttese laugh |
| Huttlet | Cunning Deal Maker | Triple tap on the head | Mischievous eyes that shift into a wide grin with a coin animation |
Gear Packs for Batuu Adventure Buddies
Owners can further personalize their Buddy with optional gear packs, sold separately for an additional fee. Each pack is themed to a location from the Star Wars galaxy. The food, tools, and toys in these sets attach to the character’s left hand and trigger their own animations, sounds, and reactions, so the accessories add play value beyond looks.
| Gear Set | Included Items |
|---|---|
| Endor Gear Set | Spear, Horn, Grilled Fish, Endor Issue Poncho |
| Mandalore Gear Set | Mythosaur Axe, Nummies, Beskar Chest Armor, Shoulder Cape |
| Batuu Gear Set | YT-1300 Freighter Model, All-Kit Tool, Ronto Wrap, Bantuuan Poncho |
Fans who eat their way through Galaxy’s Edge will recognize the Ronto Wrap as a nod to Ronto Roasters, while the Nummies in the Mandalore set reference the treat Grogu enjoys in The Mandalorian.
What to Expect When Adopting a Buddy
The Batuu Adventure Buddies experience takes place at a dedicated wall bay inside Droid Depot. The process is straightforward:
- A cast member greets you at the wall bay and helps you choose your character.
- You select any optional gear sets you would like to add.
- Your Buddy goes through a short activation moment, bringing it to life for the first time.
- You head back into Black Spire Outpost with your new companion.
Virtual Queue Details at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Walt Disney World is using a virtual queue to manage demand for the Batuu Adventure Buddies when they arrive on November 17, 2026. Guests planning to purchase one should keep these details in mind:
- Valid theme park admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is required.
- Requests to join the virtual queue open at 7:00 a.m. Eastern and again at 1:00 p.m. Eastern, and you must be inside the park to join.
- No standby line is offered while the virtual queue is active, though one may open after all boarding groups have been called.
- Parties are limited to two guests, and both must be linked in the My Disney Experience app.
- Both guests in the party are eligible to make a purchase.
- Joining the virtual queue does not guarantee the ability to buy a Buddy.
Because queue procedures can change after launch, it is a good idea to check DisneyWorld.com and the My Disney Experience app shortly before your visit.
Building a Custom Droid at Droid Depot
The original Droid Depot experience remains a popular stop for Star Wars fans. After checking in with a cast member, each builder receives a blueprint and a small metal basket for collecting parts. Only the designated builder is allowed to assemble the droid in the shop, so families should decide ahead of time who will take the lead.
The Four Droid Series
Builders choose from four droid models. Each one uses a different combination of parts, which you pick from a conveyor belt that carries pieces in a range of colors.
| Droid Series | Parts Needed | Similar To |
|---|---|---|
| BB-Series | Dome, dome connection plate, body sphere, motivator | BB-8 |
| R-Series | Dome, body, center leg, set of R side legs | R2-D2 and R5-D4 |
| C-Series | Dome, body, center wheel, set of C side legs | Astromech with a wheeled base |
| A-LT-Series | Dome, body, set of A-LT side legs | Utility-style astromech |
This is where personal style comes in. Some builders recreate a droid from the films, such as a red and white R-Series modeled after R5-D4 from A New Hope, while others simply pick their favorite color combination.
Step by Step Through the Build
- Check in with a cast member and receive your blueprint and basket.
- Decide which of the four droid series you want to build.
- Collect your colored parts from the conveyor belt.
- Bring your parts to a build station and assemble your droid.
- Press the “Alert Tech” button when finished so a cast member can help with activation.
- Watch your droid power on for the first time.
Upgrades and Add-Ons After Activation
Once your droid is running, the shop offers several ways to customize it further. Available items include droid personality and voice chips, accessories, droid-making kits, pre-made droids, and premium droid options. A new personality chip, for example, changes the sounds your droid makes and how it responds as you walk through Black Spire Outpost.
Droid Factory Figures and Other Shopping Options
Guests visiting the Disneyland Resort have another place to shop for droids. Star Wars Trading Post in the Downtown Disney District sells Droid Factory astromech units along with other Star Wars merchandise. Starting November 17, new R-Series Droid Factory action figures are also available, featuring lights and sounds activated by pressing a button on the canister.
Keep in mind that these smaller Droid Factory figures are separate products from the larger Droid Depot Custom Astromech Units. Only the larger custom units built at Droid Depot can interact with the Batuu Adventure Buddies.
Interactive Spots Around Galaxy’s Edge
Both the custom droids and the Batuu Adventure Buddies respond to select locations throughout Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Carrying your companion near places like Ronto Roasters or the A-Wing can trigger reactions, as if your droid or Buddy is sensing what is happening around Batuu. Walking the land with your new companion turns into a small scavenger hunt, and repeat visits can turn up new responses.
Disneyland.com and DisneyWorld.com also offer instruction manuals and care information to help keep your droid or Buddy in good working order once you get home.
Planning Tips for Your Droid Depot Visit
- Check DisneyWorld.com for current reservation availability at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, since requirements differ from Disneyland, where reservations are no longer required.
- Choose your designated builder before you arrive, as only one person can assemble each droid.
- Set an alarm for 7:00 a.m. Eastern if you hope to purchase a Batuu Adventure Buddy on a given day, and be ready to try again at 1:00 p.m. if needed.
- Make sure both members of your party are linked in My Disney Experience before joining the virtual queue.
- Budget for extras such as gear sets, personality chips, and accessories, which are sold separately.
- Plan for luggage space, since a boxed droid or Buddy takes up room on the trip home.
Final Thoughts
Droid Depot continues to offer one of the more personal souvenirs at Walt Disney World, and the arrival of the Batuu Adventure Buddies gives guests a new way to bring a piece of Galaxy’s Edge home. Whether you build an astromech in your favorite colors or adopt a Grogu, Ewok, or Huttlet, a bit of advance planning around reservations and the virtual queue will help your visit to Black Spire Outpost go smoothly.
Written by
Rachel Van Norman
Contributing Writer
Rachel fell deeply in love with all things Disney as a little girl. Now as a wife and a mother herself, she shares this Disney obsession with her son and everyone around her. From her love of princesses to eating all the Disney food, Rachel spends her time radiating Disney magic and keeping everyone up to date on Disney news.
