User:Brojam/Avengers Campus

Background

In the late 1970s up to the early 1990s, Marvel Entertainment Group (MEG) was in such dire financial straits that they sold options to film studios to produce films based on Marvel Comics characters. From 1986 to 1996, most of Marvel's major characters had been optioned, including the Fantastic Four, X-Men, Daredevil, Hulk, Silver Surfer, Iron Man, and Spider-Man.^[12] In March 1994, MEG sold the theme park rights of their characters to MCA Inc. (then-owner of Universal Pictures and its theme park division). The contract stipulated that "MCA will construct a complex of attractions, stores and food venues heavily themed around the Marvel properties" under the Marvel Universe banner at the second gate.^[13] The agreement remains in perpetuity, or indefinitely, unless Universal decides to close the Marvel Universe area, stop making payments for property usage, or Marvel opts out of the contract providing that it needs a reasonable explanation that Universal is mishandling the usage of their property.^[13] In May 1999, Marvel Super Hero Island opened at Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida.

In December 2009, The Walt Disney Company purchased Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion.^[14] Both Marvel and Disney stated that the merger would not affect any preexisting deals and that Disney would continue to honor existing agreements between rival theme parks and Marvel, although Disney said they would "use Marvel where [they] can on Disney platforms and in Disney places."^[15][16] In March 2012, Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed that Disney had begun preliminary concepts of incorporating Marvel's properties into their parks, although no major negotiations with Universal were announced.^[17][18]

The 1994 agreement between Marvel Entertainment and Comcast/NBCUniversal (Universal's current parent companies) governs the use of Marvel properties in non-Universal theme parks and dictates what parks in the region can use such properties. Currently, Islands of Adventure uses the Avengers, Spider-Man, X-Men, and the Fantastic Four, while Universal Studios Japan only employs Spider-Man, as it operates the Islands of Adventure cloned ride The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man since 2004. Under the contract, it forbids Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disney Resort parks from installing these characters, as well as the other characters in the same "family" (e.g., any team members, side characters, and villains closely associating with the superheroes). In addition, Disney is not allowed to use the Marvel name in the U.S. and Japan, nor can create a Marvel-themed simulator ride within the legal designated regional distances of any Universal theme park in the U.S. and Japan regardless whether the Marvel characters are used by Comcast/NBCUniversal or not.^[13]

The Disneyland Resort is not constrained by the agreement, as it also states it could utilize any Marvel character west of the Mississippi River whether used by Comcast/NBCUniversal or not. However, the resort is still bound by the clause of not using the Marvel name and a simulator ride containing any Marvel character. Outside the U.S. and Japan, Disney parks around the world are permitted to use any Marvel properties, the Marvel name, as well as any type of ride they want.

Marvel-themed events at Disney parks

After the acquisition by Disney in 2009, Marvel Studios films began to be marketed at the Innoventions attraction in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. For Iron Man 3, the exhibit, entitled Iron Man Tech Presented by Stark Industries, features the same armor display that was shown at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con, with the Marks I-VII and the new Mark XLII. In addition, there is a simulator game, titled "Become Iron Man", that uses Kinect-like technology to allow the viewer to be encased in an animated Mark XLII armor and take part in a series of "tests," in which you fire repulsor rays and fly through Tony Stark's workshop. The game is guided by J.A.R.V.I.S., who is voiced again by Paul Bettany. The exhibit also has smaller displays that include helmets and chest pieces from the earlier films and the gauntlet and boot from an action sequence in Iron Man 3.^[19] The exhibit for Thor: The Dark World is called Thor: Treasures of Asgard, and features displays of Asgardian relics and transports guests to Odin's throne room, where they are greeted by Thor.^[20] Captain America: The Winter Soldier's exhibit, Captain America: The Living Legend and Symbol of Courage, features a meet and greet experience.^[21]

From May to September 2017, Disneyland Resort featured the "Summer of Heroes", which sees members of the Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers making appearances throughout the Disneyland Resort. Additionally, the Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Dance Off event was featured, which involved Peter Quill / Star-Lord blasting music from his boombox, along with the Avengers Training Initiative, a limited experience where Black Widow and Hawkeye "assemble a group of young recruits to see if they have what it takes to be an Avenger." Marvel related food and merchandise was also available throughout Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure during the "Summer of Heroes".^[22]

Development of Marvel-themed areas

In March 2018, The Walt Disney Company announced three new Marvel-themed areas inspired by the MCU to Disney California Adventure, Walt Disney Studios Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland. The developments will be designed by Walt Disney Imagineering in collaboration with Marvel Studios and Marvel Themed Entertainment.^[6]

Avengers Campus California (Disney California Adventure)

The version at Disney California Adventure will be taking up the space previously occupied by A Bug's Land and will be anchored by the nearby Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! attraction. The land closed on September 5, 2018 to make way for the new area. At the 2017 D23 Expo, Disney announced the Guardians of the Galaxy will be joined by Spider-Man and the Avengers as part of the new immersive Superhero area at the park. Disney has said phase one of this superhero themed area will open in summer 2020. Due to a 1994 contract with Universal Parks & Resorts, Disney cannot use the "Marvel" name in the area name or attractions.^[23][24] The new Spider-Man themed ride will use the former It's Tough to be a Bug! attraction.^[25]

• https://collider.com/avengers-park-2020-opening-date/
• https://deadline.com/2020/03/disney-avengers-campus-opening-date-california-adventure-first-look-1202879610/

Stark Expo Hong Kong (Hong Kong Disneyland)

The version at Hong Kong Disneyland was announced in 2016, as part of the park's expansion plan.^[27] It will take over part of Tomorrowland and will be themed as the Stark Expo based in Hong Kong, where guests are asked to join the Super Heroes in their battles.^[28] This version entered phase 2 in 2019, which includes Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle!^[29] in the Science and Technology Pavilion of Stark Expo, along with a new retail facility and themed food.^[30] This new attraction joined the Iron Man Experience, which opened in 2017 and took up the area where the former Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters attraction used to be. On top of this, there will be new attractions and other forms of entertainment added to the land up until the year 2023, when a brand new Avengers themed ride will open, taking over the area previously occupied by Autopia.^[31][32]

Avengers Campus Paris (Walt Disney Studios Park)

The version at Walt Disney Studios Park will be taking over the Backlot area of the park, repurposing it with the Marvel theme.^[33] It will include a re-theme of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith to feature Iron Man.^[4][34] On December 10, 2018, it was announced that Walt Disney Studios Park would feature a Marvel area similar to the one coming to Disney California Adventure, receiving the same Spider-Man ride, (taking over the Armageddon spot, closed on April 1, 2019) and Doctor Strange interactive show.^[10]

Xandarian Outpost (Epcot)

There is only one confirmed roller coaster themed around Marvel at Epcot: the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind themed roller coaster that replaced Ellen's Energy Adventure. This attraction will open in 2021 during the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World.

Mission Station (Shanghai Disneyland Park)