The Marvel Multiverse Is Coming to Avengers Campus
The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek took center stage at the kickoff of the 2023 D23 event.
Knowing he needed a hook to excite guests, Chapek announced a new expansion coming to Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure.
Disney CEO, Bob Chapek, announcing the expansion of Disney’s Avengers Campus #d23expo #disneyland #disneyparks pic.twitter.com/hegGVCAj7W
— MickeyBlog.com (@MickeyBlog_) September 9, 2022
In the process, Chapek tacitly acknowledged a problem in need of a solution. So let’s talk about the multiverse attraction coming to Avengers Campus.
What Chapek Announced
MickeyBlog’s own Lisa Vondale has already posted about Chapek’s declaration. She added this tweet, which tells the story:
JUST ANNOUNCED: During the Legends Ceremony at #D23Expo, CEO Bob Chapek shared that Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure is expanding with a third attraction with a brand-new story that will bring guests into battle alongside their favorite Super Heroes. pic.twitter.com/5CBkJTJUHV
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) September 9, 2022
Disney will introduce a third attraction at Avengers Campus, and it will highlight the MCU’s multiverse.
This concept has driven the story of two recent Marvel movies, Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Photo: Marvel STudios
The multiverse has also factored heavily into WandaVision, albeit mainly by inference and misinformation.
Then, Loki came out on Disney+ and veered hard into multiverse territory with its storyline about multiple Lokis…even an alligator version.
Image Credit: Marvel
Recently, Marvel revealed two upcoming Avengers movies that will tie together the multiverse saga.
Those titles are Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars.
Marvel has indicated that the multiverse storyline will conclude with The Kang Dynasty. However, you shouldn’t be surprised if elements bleed into Secret Wars.
Source: comicbasics.com
In short, Marvel will spend the next four years telling multiverse stories. After that, who knows what will happen?
That aspect creates challenges for Imagineers. They must construct a ride that will stand the test of time without becoming dated in 2027.
Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG
That’s a narrow scope for people in the business of thinking decades ahead, not merely the short term.
So, when Chapek states that Disney is creating a multiverse attraction, I have questions.
(Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
Then again, I also have complete confidence in Imagineers and Marvel to work together to construct an E-ticket attraction, which I’m assuming this will be.
We’ll know more during Josh D’Amaro’s D23 panel on Sunday, A Boundless Future: Disney Parks Experiences and Products.
Photo: Disney
Disney just confirmed that Kevin Feige will take the stage alongside D’Amaro to discuss the project in greater detail. But, unfortunately, right now, all we have is the teaser.
Why This Attraction Matters
I’m a noted Disney optimist and will stubbornly remain that way for the rest of my life.
Still, I’m also a realist and aware of the accurate criticism involving Avengers Campus to date.
Specifically, Disney operates two of these locations, but neither one operates a ride on the quality level of, let’s say, Avengers: Endgame.
At DCA, you’ll find an excellent thrill ride, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! It’s a clever modification of Twilight Zone Tower of Terror’s attraction apparatus.
Meanwhile, WEBSLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure currently holds the title as the newest ride at Disneyland Resort. It’ll remain that way for another six months.
Photo: Disney
However, Disney fans have noticed WEBSLINGERS represents a newfangled tech approach to the ride mechanics of Buzz Lightyear rides.
You use your hands to sling webs as opposed to using blasters to snag batteries. The concept is essentially the same, though.
Photo by Disney
You aim at a target and try to hit it. People have been doing this at carnivals since your grandparents’ grandparents were in diapers. It’s just shinier at DCA.
Then, there’s the recently opened Avengers Campus at Disneyland Paris. It opened to much fanfare and early acclaim. But, since then, the tide has turned a bit.
Photo: Disney Parks Blog
The first Avengers roller coaster, Avengers Assemble: Flight Force, has repurposed technology from Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith.
That ride had previously occupied the same building. So, Imagineers used the apparatus in place to create a re-skinned roller coaster.
Photo: Disneyland Paris
Are you noticing the problem here? We’ve got three Avengers attractions in the world (four if we count WEBSLINGERS twice), and they all come from previous ride designs.
Disney has yet to create an entirely new Avengers ride, and that’s a problem.
Source: denofgeek.com
Fixing a Significant Avengers Campus Problem
The only place in the world that currently has anything that would qualify is EPCOT.
That park hosts Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which isn’t technically Avengers. At least it’s good AND totally original, though.
Contrast that to Avengers Assemble: Flight Force. Some in-the-know Disneyland Paris fans have suggested that the ride will receive revisions in January.
Folks, this roller coaster opened on July 20th. If rumors persist that it will upgrade in only six months, it’s a dud. That’s harsh but true.
✨ The new ride Avengers Assemble: Flight Force could be getting an update. According to a new report by @OutsidEarsDLP, the teams behind the attraction could be looking at ways to improve the ride with new screens and effects.
Original report (french): https://t.co/O6Mnnfpmx7
— TheMainStreetNews (@TMainStreetNews) July 24, 2022
I’m trying not to believe those rumors, but they bear mentioning in this discussion.
Thus far, the various Avengers attractions are closer to Ant-Man than Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
People like the rides well enough. They’re visiting Avengers Campus more for the live interactive experiences than for the attractions, though.
For Disney, that’s less than ideal for a company that prides itself on operating the best rides in the world.
Image: Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort
DCA needs a hit under the Avengers umbrella. So, this announcement comes with a significant amount of pressure.
Then again, the whole thing may be more of a re-announcement anyway. Please remember that Disney previously confirmed a Quinjet ride.
Park officials announced in March 2022 that this attraction was on hold. So, the “new” ride might be the one we knew about that went away for a while.
We will find out for sure on Sunday. Stay tuned to MickeyBlog to learn more!
