Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Arts and Entertainment

Here's Why Disneyland Hasn't Built A Marvel Land

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.


Disneyland is rife with our favorite cartoon characters, and they're working on a massive Star Wars land. But why hasn't Disney built an attraction dedicated to its other money-maker: Marvel? According to the Orange County Register, Disney doesn't have a Marvel attraction because of legal reasons. Disney bought Marvel in 2009, but theme park rights were actually sold to Universal Studios in 1990.

While Universal built a Marvel land in Orlando, they didn't build one at Universal Studios Hollywood, and those rights expired in 2007. But, for proximity reasons, Disney can't use certain Marvel characters at Walt Disney World in Orlando because of Universal Orlando's Marvel attractions. Disney could only put an attraction at Disneyland and therefore, properties like Star Wars are just a better deal for them. There's also some speculation that Star Wars is more attractive to people in their 30s and 40s who fell in love with the franchise as children. And those people are now parents with kids of their own, and they're the ones who choose their families' vacation destinations.

Disney could possibly create attractions around characters in the Marvel universe not used by Universal Orlando, which could include those from Guardians of the Galaxy. Word on the street is that Tower of Terror will be turned into a Guardians ride to coincide with the release of the new film in 2017.

If you're looking to go on a superhero ride in the meantime, you could head up to Six Flags Magic Mountain. They have DC characters, with rides inspired by Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash and more. They also have the U.S.'s first VR coaster.

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist