The new exterior design adds color and decorative elements intended to make the nearly 200-foot-tall facade look less like an overgrown version of Pasadena's Castle Green and more like an interstellar gangster's palace.
From Disney's blog post:
This “warehouse, fortress-like power plant” (as described here by Joe Rohde, Creative Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering) is designed to be intimidating and imposing, but also shimmering and regal. It will be the ideal location for The Collector to secure and show off his most prized acquisitions, the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Disney's first Marvel-themed ride in the United States will replaced the Twilight Zone theme and storyline for Tower of Terror with a narrative adapted from the Harrison Hightower version at Tokyo DisneySea (which also was developed by Joe Rohde.) For this installation, the role of Hightower has morphed into Taneleer Tivan, aka "The Collector" from the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, a similarly despicable rich guy with a passion for taking things he shouldn't.
This is just the first in what is expected to be many new Marvel-themed attraction at Disney California Adventure, as the Disneyland Resort works toward creating a new land themed to its popular comic franchises. Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout opens sometime next summer. Disney has not yet announced a specific date.
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You might be surprised to find out just how many iconic theme park attractions had models that were built from pretty much that kind of stuff. One industry insider told me the reason why the spacecraft in the Disneyland Space Mountain queue has notches in its engine bells is because the model was built with tops from cans of spray paint.
Tried out Late Checkout yesterday night. Pretty amazing in the dark. The center shaft is out of order. Wonder why. The Standby line was backed up to 120 minutes. Thank goodness I had Fastpass, which was good all day long due to the breakdown.
The comment about the cereal box made me laugh (it's true), and maybe when it's lit up it will make more sense. But right now, it looks like a reconstructed TOT building in the wrong thematic land. To me at least.
Thanks for update. Crossing fingers the reimagineering of this section(s) of DCA will eventually make immersive sense.
It's really hard to tell (from the model) how it will actually appear in the park, in different light and from different angles within the park. I'm surprised no one has tried to create a series of graphics attempting to show how it would actually look. Maybe they have and just I haven't seen them.
I'm actually glad they are enclosing the top. While it was fun seeing the park from that perspective it did kind of ruin the already weak storyline and the ability to suspend my disbelief.
It's interesting to see such a wide range of reactions to the design. I guess one man's trash is another man's treasure. Or should I say "One Man's Dream" is another man's nightmare?
Anyway, I really do like it, and I think it might feel out of place initially, but once the surrounding area starts being Marvelized, it'll fit in quite well.
There was a time when a "third theme park" was discussed. The time and demand for one is here. That's where Marvel and in many ways Star Wars belongs.
"Despicable rich guy with a passion for taking things he shouldn't." Bob Iger?
it looks like a filthy factory and reminds me of air pollution...
I really don't mind that they want to let go of the twilight zone story line, but this looks dreadful
When I rode in the dark in "Late Check-Out", the drop is the only thing great about it. Twilight Zone's homage with its frequent references to old time Hollywood seems so outdated to the crowd who are not speaking much English in the queue lines. Superheroes would be more relatable.
As for the look, I wish they camouflaged the shape of the building to look less like a hotel. It needs more imposing alien antennas and décor. The colors seems like Discoveryland. Try a different palette. Add a large topper façade that appear to reach for the skies. I hope they alter the queue lines so guests can explore the museum and learn more about the story. I hope Chris Pratt makes an appearance, perhaps he should narrate the pre-show with a safety spiel.
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