Overview
- A continuation patent application published Sept. 10, 2026 expands Disney’s claims from themed, cladded drones to the underlying real-time adaptive show system.
- The filing describes drones with onboard show-effect devices, memory that stores multiple alternate scripts, and a controller that compares real-time position and timing to choose a backup or alternate 'B show' sequence.
- The new lead claim drops the earlier requirement that thematic cladding must enclose the drone chassis, shifting focus from costume-like shells to the software and hardware that control shows.
- The patent text also details safety and coordination features, including tracking nearby craft and the ability to block or scale back effects when drones or crews get too close.
- While the filing does not announce any new attractions, it builds on a 2019 large-drone demonstration and a 2025 patent and could shape future licensing, competition, and deployment at parks, cruise ships, or stadiums.