There are a few more hot-button issues right now than artificial intelligence (AI). AI is at the center of debates in fields ranging from politics and the veracity of news to sports and entertainment. Recently, Disney announced a game-changing business move that is going to make them a major player in the space for years to come.
©Disney x OpenAI
In December 2025, Disney announced a massive deal with artificial intelligence juggernaut OpenAI that saw Disney acquire a stake in the company for a $1 billion investment. The two companies also signed a licensing deal that will allow users of OpenAI’s video creation platform Sora to create clips using iconic characters from Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars franchises in the form of “fan-inspired Sora short form videos” into which viewers can also insert themselves on Disney+.
The deal is a potentially revolutionary one for Hollywood. As The Hollywood Reporter put it, it “changes everything.” The publication went on to say, “Suddenly Darth Vader isn’t just a character that you watch — it’s one you create with. And with the deal, Disney+ is set to become not just a platform where you can dial up your favorite shows and movies, but one where you can drop yourself into the action or even rearrange it yourself, all with just a few prompts.”
©Disney x OpenAI
While the deal will clearly have massive and wide-ranging ramifications on Disney’s content production, many are also wondering if — or more likely when– the deal will impact the Disney theme park experience. Given how glowingly Disney CEO Bob Iger spoke about the deal, it seems likely.
At the time of the announcement, Iger said, “The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence marks an important moment for our industry, and through this collaboration with OpenAI we will thoughtfully and responsibly extend the reach of our storytelling through generative AI, while respecting and protecting creators and their works. Bringing together Disney’s iconic stories and characters with OpenAI’s groundbreaking technology puts imagination and creativity directly into the hands of Disney fans in ways we’ve never seen before, giving them richer and more personal ways to connect with the Disney characters and stories they love.”
©Disney x OpenAI
So how could Disney integrate AI into the parks? Character meet & greets seem like a safe bet for an early implementation. In recent years, Disney has shown off interactive motion-capture animated versions of a “live size” Tinkerbell and a Mickey Mouse who was able to tell us his favorite memories (“working alongside Walt”), his favorite Disney snack (churros or turkey legs or hotdogs, as it was “hard to choose”), his favorite ride (Space Mountain), favorite park (“Disneyland, because it’s where it all started”), and finally his pick for mayor of Toontown (“Scrooge McDuck” which was a… surprise). These types of meet & greets powered through generative AI could totally change the game when it comes to in-park entertainment.
Mickey CONVERSING!
From there, we can picture several possibilities. Perhaps guests will be able to turn over information to Disney, which can then be fed into an AI generator to hyper-personalize ride experience. Imagine being on Pirates of the Caribbean and the pirates calling you out by name, or having a whole backstory as the “Rebel Spy” on Star Tours, for example. Or maybe characters will be able to “follow” guests through the day, “learning” about them across the park. Maybe guests will even be able to insert themselves into the narrative of popular attractions. There are likely guests who would metaphorically die for (and literally pay for) the chance to be a ghost in the Haunted Mansion.
©Disney x OpenAI
While there’s no official word on how Disney’s deal with OpenAI will be integrated into the company’s theme parks as of yet, it seems like a bit of a foregone conclusion that AI will be part of the Disney Parks experience at some point in the near future. Stay tuned to DFB for more on this developing story.
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This. This is why we’re breaking up with Disney. There’s nothing good about Gen AI. I know Disney has always been an entertainment company, but they used to actually value artists and people. Their conservation mission message at Animal Kingdom used to mean something. You can’t value these things and then invest $1 billion into something that literally destroys the environment and people at the same time. Disney only values profit now. Period.