Disney World Adds Virtual Queue for New Batuu Buddy Toys Nov. 17

Disney will start selling all three Batuu Adventure Buddies, a new line of interactive plush toys, on Nov. 17 at Droid Depot in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, according to the Disney Parks Blog. Families can pick an Ewok, a Huttlet or Grogu.

At Walt Disney World, buying one will take planning. Guests at Hollywood Studios must join a virtual queue through the My Disney Experience app, and Disney says a spot in that queue does not guarantee a purchase.

What it means for families visiting Hollywood Studios

Starting Nov. 17, 2026, guests with valid theme park admission can request to join the virtual queue at 7:00 a.m. EST, or at 1:00 p.m. EST once they are inside the park. While the virtual queue runs, there is no standby line. Disney says a standby line may open after all boarding groups have been called.

Each party is capped at two guests, and both must be listed in the My Disney Experience app. Both can buy a toy. A family with several children who each want their own buddy cannot add more people to one party under this limit.

Disney has not published prices for the toys or the add-ons in its announcement. It directs guests to DisneyWorld.com for details.

How the toys work

Each buddy has LCD eyes, motorized facial expressions and a set of sounds such as giggles and chatter. The toys respond when a child taps the head or belly, and they react to one another when brought close together. A double belly tap on Grogu after “feeding” him an accessory, for example, produces a burp and then a sigh, according to Disney. The buddies can also interact with other droids sold at Droid Depot and with certain spots around Black Spire Outpost, including Ronto Roasters and the area near the A-Wing.

Three gear packs cost extra:

• Endor Gear Set: spear, horn, grilled fish and a poncho
• Mandalore Gear Set: axe, Nummies, chest armor and shoulder cape
• Batuu Gear Set: a freighter model, a tool, a Ronto Wrap and a poncho

The food, toys and tools attach to the buddy’s left hand and set off their own sounds and animations. At the store, a cast member helps each guest choose a character and accessories, and the toy is switched on for the first time in a short activation moment.

Droid building and reservations

The droid-building experience at Droid Depot continues alongside the new toys. Builders choose one of four models (BB-Series, R-Series, C-Series or A-LT-Series), collect colored parts from a conveyor belt and assemble the droid at a build station with help from a cast member. Only the designated builder may put the droid together in the shop. Voice chips, accessories and pre-made droids are sold separately.

Disney says reservations are no longer required for the build at Disneyland park. For Hollywood Studios, it tells guests to check DisneyWorld.com for available dates. If you are weighing which resort to visit, our comparison of how Disney World and Disneyland differ in size covers the parks at each.

Other options at Disneyland Resort

At Disneyland Resort, Star Wars Trading Post in Downtown Disney District also sells Droid Factory astromech units. New R-Series Droid Factory action figures with lights and sounds also launch on Nov. 17. Disney notes that these smaller figures are separate from the larger Droid Depot custom astromech units, which are the ones that can interact with Batuu Adventure Buddies.

Disney says instruction manuals and care information for the toys are posted on Disneyland.com and DisneyWorld.com.

Source: Disney Parks Blog