Looks like Marvel is going to Disneyland

April 19, 2011, 2:00 PM · Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige is featured in the upcoming issue of Disney's fan club magazine, D23. In an excerpt from the piece, Feige talks about his excitement in bringing Marvel characters to the Disney theme parks:

"The notion of walking into a theme park and going into Asgard or the X-Mansion—Disney does this better than anyone. That is why I've gone to Disney parks multiple times every year for my whole life. It's that next step in fully immersive storytelling, whether it's a dark ride, a stunt show, or a thrill ride. The options are endless when it comes to how Imagineers can turn our characters, our adventures, and our films into amazing experiences."

We've talked before how Marvel's contract with Universal Orlando can keep the characters in that park there indefinitely, and out of Walt Disney World. (Unless the two sides cut a deal.) But the Disneyland Resort is wide open and available to Marvel. Feige's presence in D23 makes it all but assured that a Marvel attraction is coming to a Disney theme park, and that the announcement will be sooner rather than later.

What would you like to see from Marvel, and where?

(Thanks to TPI reader duncan henny for the link.)

Replies (25)

April 19, 2011 at 2:19 PM · I will admit. I used to be against having Marvel in Disneyland. Actually, I still am against them being in Disneyland. I say put them in California Adventures.

The only reason I say DCA should have them is that Marvel characters can be more adult and darker than most Disney Characters. And I don't mean just scary like Bald Mountain, or Simba's death, or depressed like Eeyore, or of course Bambi. I'm talking drugs, sex, and alcohol... violent death, etc.

There's something that would clash with Disneyland if Wolverine was walking around Toontown or Tomorrowland. Or if Elektra was creeping around Adventureland in a skimpy outfit... it just doesn't fit.

I just think it would work better in the same vein as the Programs in ElecTRONica. Plus they serve alcohol setting the tone at DCA without having to join anything like Club 33 making it a little more adult friendly I guess?

To see Asgard, any kind of Mutant Academy, or even something as crazy as the Black Panther or Spider-Man jumping across buildings... that'd be something else!

April 19, 2011 at 2:20 PM · Iron Man and Avengers attaractions would be pretty cool, there is so much you can do with the MARVEL franchise!
April 19, 2011 at 3:06 PM · Replace Bug's Land with an amazing dark ride experience (a la HPFJ). I could see Iron Man, Captain America, Avengers, X-Men, or Spiderman (could be some problems with its similarity to Spiderman in IOA). Iron Man actually occurs in California which makes it a perfect fit for DCA.

Marvel characters walking around tomorrowland wouldn't be all that odd. I agree that it wouldn't really work anywhere else though. Spiderman and Fanstasyland just don't really mix.

The other (albeit least likely) scenario is a totally new park. Could we see a Marvel water park? What about a sort of mini-park devoted solely to the Marvel Universe? Whatever comes of this I'm sure will be nothing short of astounding.

April 19, 2011 at 3:35 PM · Then again, plenty of the Disney stories are sugar coated versions of classic tales that were scary or creepy.

So I actually hope that Disney sugar coats the Hulk, Captain America, and Wolverine like the cute little Super Hero Force (or something like that) figurines you see at Toys R Us, Target, and Wal-Mart.

At least we'll never have to experience that turd of a movie called Wolverine!

April 19, 2011 at 3:59 PM · Marvel is going to Disneyland! But Disneyland Paris. I heard that Paris folks got an old project about a Marvel Theme park that should been made in Dubai, and are improving this project to build the third gate in DPR.
April 19, 2011 at 5:59 PM · Shanghai
April 19, 2011 at 4:34 PM · Disneyland California has it's fair share of unique content. Paris NEEDS this. I know it's the most visited park in Europe but it has a terrible reputation compared to the other parks.
April 19, 2011 at 5:40 PM · I rather have Disney acquire some more land at Disneyland Resort to build a third park called Earth 616 and have lands based on Spiderman- Fantastic 4 etc. They should bring the Spider man attraction over as well.
April 19, 2011 at 6:00 PM · By placing the Marvel characters in Shanghai they introduce them to a nation of 76 gazillion new consumers.
April 19, 2011 at 6:19 PM · I hope to never see the Marvel characters at Disneyland, they just don't fit anywhere in that park's spirit or milieu. Until recently, Disney owned the Power Rangers franchise but they didn't dare shoehorn them into the parks. Marvel is another terrible fit for Disney. If they had to buy a comic book company, DC was a much better fit with classic characters. California Adventure's park sections are being themed to the California that Walt Disney knew such as the 1930s and 1950s. Superman could fit into this as a classic character of the golden age, but the Marvel characters feel too contemporary. Put Marvel in Paris, that park is already a bit of a disaster so it doesn't matter as much.
April 19, 2011 at 7:37 PM · correction the power rangers are at DHS they parade all around the park ans some kids cry and run.
April 19, 2011 at 8:51 PM · I see Universal cutting Disney a deal or pulling out of the Marvel Island for good.
April 19, 2011 at 10:00 PM · You want to give Hogwart's Castle a run for its money? Build Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters at Hollywood Studios and watch the people go crazy. Marvel/X-Men would definitely knock Harry off his broomstick.
April 20, 2011 at 12:05 AM · I think it's a damn shame that it's not possible at the moment for them to implement a new park in WDW or add the marvel universe to an area in DHS because of the universal contract, i mean yeah when i first heard about it i was totally against marvel having any involvement in the WDW or any disney park for that matter. But with universal's new build of harry potter land and room for expansion in the future, it only seems fitting that after fantasyland disney cut a deal to have soul ownership of the marvel universe to the parks resulting in universal having to give it up and allowing disney to bring something new to the hollywood studios.
April 20, 2011 at 6:49 AM · Carlo's proposal for an X-Men attraction to rival Harriet Potter sounds pretty good to me and , like Brandon, I think it would fit California Adventure's brief far better than it would Disneyland's.

At the same time I hope that Universal retains it's share of the Marvel franchise and that deals are not made to force the Hulk or Spiderman out of I.O.A..
They would probably be lost forever because Disney surely wouldn't want to re-create any attraction that has become so identifiable with Universal.
Unless , of course, they emulate the Muppet Babies and have Spiderman, Hulk and Dr Doom when they were little kids. ( kidding ! )

April 20, 2011 at 6:51 AM · What da hell!!! Disney dont need marvel PERIOD ... Its not a good look for them anyway ... DA !! ... just messed up my day
April 20, 2011 at 8:13 AM · I LOVE Marvel and would be so excited to see it come to any Disney Park in the form of attractions. Especially X-Men! Marvel Super Hero Island @ IOA is great, but it is becoming dated. I would love to see Disney break out some different characters to showcase attractions in their parks. Thor, Fantastic 4, Iron Man rides would be great!

Point taken that most of the characters back stories are dark but young children are usually not aware of their stories in the first place. My 3 year old loves Punisher, needless to say he does not what makes him The Punisher.

We live in Florida, so of course I think everything should be in Orlando, haha!

April 20, 2011 at 10:06 AM · Wouldn't the Marvel brand make for a great beginning to the often rumored 5th gate at WDW with a more teen/adult focus?
April 20, 2011 at 10:10 AM · Disney can certainly acquire Spiderman for the west coast Disneyland if they license Sony's version. This will prevent confusion with Universal's comic book version in the east coast. Of course, they can also choose from this point on to do joint ventures on all new movie projects so they have theme park and merchandising rights. Thus they spread the risk and can profit immediately if the films are hits.

Marvel is a good fit for Disney theme park's Tomorrowland. Usually, this land is difficult to theme and create attractions. Marvel comics utilize characters and storylines that suggest advanced technology and timelessness. Marvel's ideas won't expire as quickly. Tomorrowland will benefit with attractions that can remain timeless for decades to come. If new technology is invented, the attractions can be easily updated without any hesitation.

April 20, 2011 at 5:20 PM · To Anon Mouse: Why would the Walt Disney Company which is the world largest media company need or want to do "joint ventures"???
Disney owns ALL rights to ALL Marvel characters. They just "loaned" the rights to do them in specific arenas, until the rights revert back to the original owner.
April 20, 2011 at 6:42 PM · Shanghai
April 21, 2011 at 7:48 AM · Disney doesn't do joint ventures? News to me.
April 22, 2011 at 3:56 PM · I LOVE the idea of Xavier's School for Disney. Hey, exec's are ya listening? :) Harry is AMAZING & my personal geek paradise...but that would get me to go to Disney (again). As long as they keep the Marvel Island at IOA I am happy. There just isn't much you can do in that area that would be that fantastic (no pun intended...ok a little one). Disney could take OTHER characters not highlighted at Universal. Fan favorites as well. With Avengers coming out etc there is so many ways to go that people would be excited about. Granted two have to be there. Spidey, X Men but HOW they execute would be the biggest thing. Can you imagine the ride in Tomorrowland rather than being the "future" people mover but the Tony Stark expo? It would give something for a little bit older kids.
April 22, 2011 at 4:30 PM · Marvel does NOT belong in Disneyland.
April 24, 2011 at 8:10 PM · I hope it replaces a bugs land or innoventions

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