Disney announced so much more Marvel this weekend at their D23 Expo convention, from movies and shows to theme park attractions at the Disney parks that now dot the globe. Here in Southern California, we're getting a new Marvel land: Avengers Campus, opening next year in the area formerly known as A Bug's Land. Here's a quick rundown of what to expect:
SPIDER-MAN RIDE
Despite negotiations between Disney and Sony falling apart when it comes to working together on future Spider-Man movies, Spidey will be starring in the first ride announced for Avengers Campus. It's housed at the Worldwide Engineering Brigade building -- aka "WEB." (We see what you did there, Disney, and we're cool with it.)
The setting is an open house at WEB, with aspiring inventors inviting visitors along for a test drive of a vehicle dubbed the "Web Slinger." You'll get to sling webs, get virtual superpowers, and help Spider-Man collect rogue Spider-Bots.
And what would a new ride be without a gift shop/chance for you to fork over your wallet in exchange for an endless supply of branded merchandise? We didn't get many details, but WEB Suppliers appears to be here for your Spidey merch needs.
FIGHT WITH THE AVENGERS
The campus is centered around an Avengers Headquarters, which will contain the land's second major ride. Much like with Disneyland's Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge ride Rise of the Resistance, this won't open until Phase 2 of the land's buildout. Once it does, you'll get to board an Avengers Quinjet and join in a giant battle that includes a journey to Black Panther's Wakanda.
They promise that you'll be facing one of the Avengers' most powerful villains -- we're putting our money on Thanos, but we'll have to wait to find out.
Disney also promises the ride will feature a new ride system that hasn't been used before -- concept art implies that your seat will be used as a sort of battle jet pack/weapons device, turning you into a combo of the Rocketeer and War Machine.
MEET YOUR HEROES
Doctor Strange lives in his Sanctum Sanctorum, but part of the Avengers Campus will be a California Sanctum (we missed that one in the movies). You'll be able to explore this sanctum's ruins, and he'll also be part of a live-action show featuring the "mysteries of the Multiverse," according to Insider.
Characters available for meet-and-greets throughout the land include the Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange, Ant-Man, the Wasp, other superheroes from both Wakanda and Thor's Asgard, and both Iron Man and Black Widow -- I guess the park is featuring ghosts? (OOPS, Endgame spoilers, sorryyyyyy.) The Avengers will also appear in person along the rooftops of Avengers HQ.
As far as the food, the big restaurant will be the Pym Test Kitchen, featuring the use of Pym Tech to both grow and shrink food. It's a nice homage to the area's history as A Bug's Land -- we wouldn't be surprised to see some more specific homages to that history here as well.
ALL AROUND THE WORLD
The global reach of Disney is being translated into their theme parks now, with a storyline that connects our Avengers Campus with one being opened at Disneyland Paris. They promise that the parks will connect with a global story, the Avengers using the locations to recruit the next generation of heroes.
"In some ways, these new campuses are like the Avengers themselves: a group of diverse individuals who have teamed up for the same purpose," Disney creative executive Scot Drake said in a press release. "This collection of unique addresses -- each dedicated to a different discipline -- have been brought together to champion the next generation of heroes."
However, the Disneyland Paris location isn't opening until a later date.
France is even getting its own Marvel hotel experience, with an Art of Marvel theming at Disney's Hotel New York. The hotel will feature Marvel art, as well as including suites themed around Spider-Man and other heroes. No word on if we might get something like that Stateside, but here's hoping, True Believers.
