There’s a surprising new star at one Disney theme park— a talking trash can.
Disney has long been at the forefront of experimenting with robotics and immersive technology, often introducing cutting-edge concepts that captivate audiences. Over the years, the company has showcased a variety of robotic innovations, though many of them were short-lived or never fully realized in the parks.
Credit: Disney
From the early days of Lucky the Dinosaur, a free-roaming Audio-Animatronic dinosaur at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, to the robot Judy Hopps that was teased for Shanghai Disney Resort’s Zootopia land, Disney has consistently pushed the boundaries of interactive entertainment.
There was also beloved PUSH the Talking Trash Can, which interacted with guests in parks around the world and exemplified Disney’s commitment to adding a unique touch of magic through technology. Though not all experiments have stuck, these robotic ventures have contributed to Disney’s ongoing exploration of blending technology with storytelling to create one-of-a-kind experiences for parkgoers.
However, at Hong Kong Disneyland, the spirit of PUSH lives on in a new talking trash can that has captured the hearts of park-goers. Recently, videos of the talking trash can have gone viral, with the robot rolling around the park and dramatically “crying” for food — or rather, garbage.
In one video shared by Luckystarry_hung, the trash can says in Mandarin, “I want to eat garbage,” and asks a guest, “Sister, do you have any garbage?” After receiving trash, the trash can happily exclaims, “Aah, there it is. Yum yum yum!”
Guests have been enchanted by the trash can’s antics, with many online expressing how much they love its quirky personality. One fan commented, “Omg cute bebe don’t cry I will buy stuff to throw in you,” while another added that the robot had “better social skills than me.”
View this post on Instagram
However, not everyone is pleased with the trash can’s choice of language, as some guests in Hong Kong expressed confusion over why the trash can speaks Mandarin instead of Cantonese, the dominant language in the region.
Despite the viral attention, the talking trash can isn’t the main draw at Hong Kong Disneyland. The park still offers a wide variety of attractions, from classics like The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and “it’s a small world” to thrilling rides like Hyperspace Mountain and Iron Man Experience. For younger visitors, Toy Story Land offers fun attractions like Slinky Dog Spin and Toy Soldier Parachute Drop, while World of Frozen allows fans to explore the world of none other than Anna and Elsa.
Hong Kong Disneyland also boasts unique experiences like Mystic Manor, an award-winning attraction that blends innovative effects with storytelling, and Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars, a rollercoaster experience that combines immersive theming with thrilling rides.
Do you think Disney should bring back more of this kind of interactive, atmospheric entertainment?
