Disney’s California is getting its Marvel themed land and it’s supposed to open in relatively short order. Although Disney plans to invest $24 billion into their parks over the next 5 years, it is safe to assume that not a lot of that will be going to California Adventure. Disney Studios in Paris is getting a major expansion, to include Marvel Land, as well as Star Wars and Frozen; and Epcot is undergoing a major transformation. The space currently slated for Marvel in Disney’s California Adventure is relatively small, but it will include a variety of guest experiences.
Avengers Global Initiative
In the age where every new theme park announcement has to be a “first”, the marvel news is no exception. There are currently Marvel attractions at Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, and California Adventure. The plan going forward is to build immersive lands that are part of one interconnected world. In Paris there is an Avengers based roller coaster that may be looked at for clues of what could come to California in the distant future. The interactive shooter Ant Man Nano Battle in Hong Kong, could provide clues about what to expect in California Adventure in Phase one. Although, hopefully not.
In this new California based Avengers campus, Stark Industries is working with Pym Technologies, S.H.I.E.L.D. Masters of the Mystic Arts, and Worldwide Engineering Brigade (WEB) to bring up new recruits to become the next generation of Earth’s mightiest heroes.
Recruitment Begins 2020
We know quite a lot about the new land themed to Marvel. It will open in Phases starting as early as late summer 2020. The initial phase will feature a Spiderman ride that is:
- suspended
- a dark ride
- 3D
- interactive
- swings
The attraction will fuse what we’ve already experienced in other attractions with something new. In this case, the swinging element. It will use screens and it will probably involve web shooters.
Phase one will also include a gift shop and a quick service location that will apparently have two levels and feature a “micro” brew (Think Ant Man) on the second level.
The area will include many Marvel characters and entertainment including a Jedi Training type show featuring Doctor Strange. Not much is known about the second phase other than another ride and another shop.
Manage Your Expectations
2020 is almost here. Disney took years to develop Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge for its first phase. The work on Marvel land construction is not very impressive, so far. The first ride will be made to fit into an existing show building and the Doctor Strange show will likely be lifted from the same experience on the Disney Cruise Line. The story surrounding the section of the park is fun, and the rides will surely entertain, as will the characters; but it’s not going to contain the groundbreaking type of immersion we all have come to expect from the newest park attractions.
This sounds like fun.