Disney tests Physical Intelligence and FieldAI for their theme park robots

Key takeaways

• Physical Intelligence and FieldAI presented their Disney work at the 2026 Disney Accelerator Demo Day on 3 November.
• Physical Intelligence is working with Walt Disney Imagineering on robots that handle and arrange 3D glasses for cleaning between shows.
• FieldAI is exploring robots for park parking operations, and its navigation work may inform future character robots.

Theme park robots are moving closer to everyday use at Disney. Physical Intelligence and FieldAI have spent four months building robotics projects with Disney teams through the company's accelerator programme.

Both startups presented the work at the Disney Accelerator 2026 Demo Day, held on 3 November 2026 on the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, California. They were two of five companies in this year's cohort, which Disney named on 31 July.

What the theme park robots will do

The two projects target very different jobs. Physical Intelligence is focused on small, repetitive tasks behind the scenes, while FieldAI is working outdoors at park scale.

Disney said the aim of the backstage work is to give Cast Members more time for the guest interactions that matter most. The parking work is intended to improve conditions for staff and give visitors a more consistent arrival.

Physical Intelligence and the 3D glasses task

Physical Intelligence builds general-purpose AI models that let robots carry out physical tasks from visual and language inputs. At Disney it has been working alongside Walt Disney Imagineering, the group that designs the company's parks and attractions.

The first practical example is the 3D glasses used in many attractions. The teams are exploring how the startup's models can pick up and arrange glasses so they can be cleaned between shows. It's a dull, high-volume job that a robot can repeat all day.

FieldAI brings navigation to theme park robots

FieldAI develops robot intelligence designed to move machines safely through environments that keep changing. It works with Disney Experiences Technology and Walt Disney Imagineering R&D.

Their joint project looks at robots that support parking operations across uneven ground and in unpredictable weather. Disney said Imagineering R&D is also studying how FieldAI's situational awareness and navigation could shape future character-based robots in its parks.

Leadership on the programme

Bonnie Rosen is General Manager of the Disney Accelerator, a role she has held since 2021. She first went through the programme herself in 2015 as part of FEM Inc., a video personalisation company later acquired by Nielsen Gracenote. Before Disney she co-led the Techstars Space Accelerator and spent six years at Viacom.

Rosen said, "This year's cohort brought advanced domain expertise, but even more importantly, grounded every conversation with a clear point of view on how these technologies can work responsibly for people."

She added, "It's been a privilege to help these collaborations take shape, opening real paths for these technologies to address meaningful operational priorities across our businesses, enable seamless guest experiences, and serve creativity."

Inside the Disney Accelerator

The Disney Accelerator is now in its 12th year and has worked with more than 60 companies. Each cohort is small, usually around five growth-stage, venture-backed businesses.

Participants receive investment from Disney, space on its creative campus and mentoring from senior executives. Disney does not disclose the amounts it invests. Past participants include Epic Games, Kahoot! and ElevenLabs.

This year's group combined robotics with other AI work. Promise and OpenArt tested generative tools with Walt Disney Studios and Disney Music Group, and Simile worked with Disney Experiences on guest research.

Investment in robotics keeps rising

Disney's interest comes as money flows into the sector. Robotics startups raised $13.8B in 2025 and $18.8B in the first half of 2026 alone, according to Crunchbase data.

Physical Intelligence and FieldAI are among the best-funded companies in that wave. Both are building software that aims to work across many types of robot, which makes a large, varied operation like a theme park a useful place to test it.

What comes next for Disney's theme park robots

Disney described both projects as explorations. It has not said when, or whether, robots will appear in park car parks or backstage areas, and it has not named which parks are involved.

The company said it plans to keep working with this year's cohort after the programme ends.