Marvel Land Coming to Disney California Adventure!
Although it’s been confirmed in the past, an actual location for Marvel Land for Disney California Adventure at Disneyland Resort has now been announced. This new Super Hero themed-land will replace ‘a bug’s land’ and begin opening in 2020. In this post, we’ll offer some thoughts about Marvel Land, and what we anticipate being included.
Actually, not Marvel Land. While we do not know what the land will be called, we know it will not have “Marvel” in the name, because contractually, it cannot. For the sake of simplicity/clarity, we’ll continue to call it Marvel Land here, even though the real name is likely to be Super Hero Land or something of that sort. Perhaps as tribute to DCA 1.0, it’ll be called “Disney’s Marvelous California Avengers” or some equally nonsensical pun.
This confirms what Parks & Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek teased during the Walt Disney P&R panel at last year’s D23 Expo. During his announcement, he indicated that Spider-Man and the Avengers would be joining the Guardians of the Galaxy at Disney California Adventure in a new Super Hero Universe. Now, with the rest of our commentary on Marvel Land…
What’s interesting here is that while “It’s Tough to Be a Bug” closed March 19, 2018 to make way for Marvel Land, but the rest of ‘a bug’s land’ won’t close until late summer. From then until 2020 is just under 2 years (assuming a Summer 2020 opening date), which doesn’t seem like a ton of time to disassemble and relocate the current flat rides, and build something from the ground up.
Frankly, we’re pleased there was an announcement at all. A lot of time had passed since vague details were provided at the D23 Expo, and we were starting to wonder whether the project was being revisited. Beyond the fact that it’s happening and will feature Spider-Man and the Avengers, all other details about Marvel Land remain rumor…
We’d expect this new land to contain two new attractions, plus entertainment. The one persistent rumor is that the land will contain an indoor Vekoma bike coaster. Apparently when Disney purchased TRON Lightcycle Power Run for Walt Disney World, they bought two coasters. This is the second of those.
Previously, rumors pointed to that coaster being Captain America-themed. There’s no mention of him in the press release (and if speculation about Infinity War is correct, perhaps there’s a reason he’s not being featured), so perhaps Spider-Man has taken his place.
Other rumors point to the flagship attraction at Hong Kong Disneyland’s Marvel Land being an elaborate Avengers E-Ticket. While nothing is known about that attraction, it is slated to be the final piece of the park’s expansion, with a target opening date of 2023.
It would make sense for something similar at Disney California Adventure. Both in terms of a blockbuster attraction featuring the Avengers, and also a phased opening that puts that attraction a couple of years after the first phase of Marvel Land. While it’s conceivable for Imagineering to build a launch coaster in a soundstage in only 2 years (or a stage show, if it ends up being that–but we doubt it), that seems like too quick of a turnaround time for an entire land.
This Marvel Land won’t be a quick-and-dirty project akin to Pixar Pier or even Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout. Last we heard, Marvel Land was slated to receive a healthy budget, and was going to be done right. A fast turnaround time with Imagineering scrambling to repurpose ‘a bug’s land’ does not seem like it’s in the cards here. Meaning, whatever opens in 2020 will be the first phase of a longer project.
The motivation for opening in phases and having something ready by 2020 probably undoubtedly relates to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and a desire to pull some crowds to DCA to relieve some of Disneyland’s burden. Not that that will do a ton, but every little bit will help with the crush of crowds Disneyland will be under.
Eventually, Hollywood Land will need to be addressed. Some people might point to the cancelled Eastern Gateway Project as the reason Marvel Land will be replacing ‘a bug’s land’ rather than Hollywood Land. However, an equally plausible justification is that Award Wieners was declared a National Historic Landmark, tying Imagineering’s hands.
While ‘a bug’s land’ is certainly expendable and Marvel Land will be a great replacement for it, Hollywood Land is by far the weakest area of Disney California Adventure. One plan that was rumored last year called for place-making around some of the facades and adding Minnie & Mickey’s Runaway Railway (then the Great Mickey Ride) to the Backlot.
I have not heard anything about this rumor in a while; it might be a matter of waiting until work is done with Minnie & Mickey’s Runaway Railway for Walt Disney World, and analyzing the costs of cloning the attraction. If it’s not that attraction, I suspect it’ll be something else in the very near future.
Again, this will likely be driven by Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge crowds, and the desire to spread some demand out between the two parks. Otherwise, Disneyland Resort will see a return to attendance numbers that are as lopsided as they were when Disney’s California Adventure opened in 2001 (except with much higher numbers for both parks).
Further developments at DCA are a no-risk, all-win proposition. The park is popular now, but still has plenty of room for growth. With a guaranteed tourist audience thanks to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and the built-in local audience, significant DCA investments beyond Marvel Land are an inevitability.
Then there’s ‘a bug’s land.’ Even though a bug’s land does nothing for me personally, I think it’s fair to say that a bug’s land is cute for what it is and satisfies its role as offering families a low-key land with 6 attractions that are approachable for small children.
In a park like Disney California Adventure, it very effectively fills a need. It’s not the pinnacle of themed design, but it’s not awful. Hopefully, more of these attractions will be relocated elsewhere in the park beyond the one that appears headed for Pixar Pier.
Previously, I joked that Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train would be the greatest casualty of Marvel Land replacing a bug’s land. My suggestion for that once-in-a-generation attraction was making Heimlich the main hero in Avengers: Infinity War. That way, Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train can be forever enshrined in Marvel Land, which is what Walt would want.
While it’s unclear whether this is currently the plan for Marvel Land, I can only assume it is. DCA simply cannot afford to lose its flagship attraction–I can only imagine the protests–and including Heimlich in Infinity War guarantees the film will make at least eleventy-billion dollars at the box office. It’s win-win-win.
Ultimately, I am cautiously optimistic about what Marvel Land will do for Disney California Adventure. While I was staunchly opposed to Mission: Breakout, that was primarily because I felt it didn’t do Marvel justice. This seems to be much bigger in scope, scale, and budget. It does further degrade the “California” theme of DCA, but I think that ship has pretty much sailed. It has been 5 years since Disney California Adventure was ‘reborn’ and really came into its own. I think the park is now ready for the next phase in its development. I say bring it on–whatever that means–as long as it’s done on a high level.
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Your Thoughts
What do you think about the prospect of Marvel Land coming to Disney California Adventure at Disneyland Resort? Thoughts on Spider-Man and the Avengers being the characters highlighted? Are you pleased with Marvel Land replacing ‘a bug’s land’ or do you wish it were being located elsewhere? Would you prefer for Mission: Breakout to change to a non-Marvel concept once Marvel Land opens? Share any questions, tips, or additional thoughts you have in the comments!
Didn’t read all the comments, so apologies if this was covered, but there was a comic book called West Coast Avengers back in the day. Also an AntMan attraction would be a great way to sneak the Bug’s Life characters back in to DCA.
That sprinkler area in Bug’s Land will be missed for sure! I loved running my hands under that cool sheet of water on the ‘faucet’! DCA is a hot park and people need a place to cool off without waiting in the long Summer line for the relief of Grizzly River Run. I know they have those jets down by the Pier, but they aren’t the same…
Conspicuous to me by its absence from the announcement was WDW. Lots planned for the 50th and I don’t see how this could make it in time, but I suspect there is an entire new park in the planning stages… a Marvel-themed one with a Wakanda theme. Given the appetite for BLACK PANTHER and the unique profile of such an attraction/land, it would be more shocking to me if they *didn’t* have plans for it.
They are prevented (or extremely limited) from having anything Marvel branded. GotG at Epcot is different since it was not part of the contract between USO and Marvel.
Not excited about this at all. My kids really loved Bug’s Land. Our family had gone to Disney World for many years but our last three trips have been to Disney Land because we found it better for the kids. I’m getting really tired of Disney ripping out decent attractions to slap in the latest hot-ticket IP for a cheap thrill and quick influx of attendance. Disney was once truly a THEME park, now it’s getting to be more park than theme. If you want thrill rides, go to Universal or Cedar Point. We go to Disney for the theme and thoughtful design. That lasted about 5 years at DCA before the recent “enhancements” to the park. If Disney had any patience, vision, or concept of the political process, they’d take 3 percent of their capex investment into these projects and oust the Anaheim city council in the next election and get the eastern gateway built so they can expand rather than replace. Thanks to SCOTUS’ decision in Citizens United, money is now speech and Disney has plenty of it. Their lack of “speech” on the issue is a deafening silence of apathy toward lifelong fans. Perhaps now we’ll be heading to Paris and Tokyo before those parks are ruined.
I agree. Very disappointing to see Disney taking a sharp departure from the thematic integrity of DCA 2.0. I guess that ship sailed when the mouth-breathing masses said “Give me Star Wars, Marvel, and Frozen! Take my money, Disney!!!” (and yes, I know Star Wars is coming to Disneyland not DCA) I just wish Disney had invested the time, money, and energy to build a third gate in Anaheim and a fifth gate in Orlando to toss in new IP with plenty of expansion room, especially in Orlando where they own sooooo much land. Now we’re stuck with an EPCOT sans educational attractions, California Adventure without California theming, and Hollywood Studios that is no longer a studios park. At least Paris and Tokyo are still awesome. Heck, it’s cheaper to do 7 days in Paris with airfare and hotel than it is to go to Orlando and Anaheim circa mid-November.
It stinks that they are taking out rides and adding rides. Especially when there’s nothing wrong with Bugs Land, well themed, and fills a need in the park. I wish we could add, not subtract, and then add, and be left with different not more.
I am so upset about the loss of Bug’s Land, especially since it is the majority of the park’s toddler friendly zone. And it is done so well! We went in April 2017 and my friend had her 18+ month old, walking, talking, eating, and DCA was hard for us to do because there wasn’t much she could do besides Bugs Land and Little Mermaid. We tried Luigi’s but she was just too short. I love Monsters and the animation building.. but the majority of Hollywood Land is just empty space.
I think it is necessary to have Marvel in DCA to pull crowds from Disneyland, in fact, it would have been better to have Star Wars Land in DCA, or a third gate with Marvel and Star Wars, but the footprint of the parks are so small, there’s only so much they can do.
So excited for these changes. Such an amazing time to be a Disney theme park fan! Remember in the early 2000’s when we couldn’t even get a fresh coat of paint?!
I wonder if this is the largest expansion period in the history of the Disney theme parks? You have 9 of the 12 worldwide gates getting e-ticket additions in the next 5 years, with several of those getting MULTIPLE e-tickets.
Incredible times….
How Does Anything MARVEL Have to do with Disney ???
Don’t Get IT! More Bad Planning from Corporate.
Has anyone considered that this bugs land maybe re-themed as an ant man area? So they may reuse some stuff. Also ‘tough to be a bug’ may end up being an ant man show, pretty much retaining the same theatre?
Personally I will miss ‘tough to be a bug’ At least it is still in animal kingdom.
Completely off topic everyone, but I’m not sure if there’s a place to leave general comments-so I’m just attaching this here.
Any thoughts??
http://people.com/home/wench-bride-recast-as-female-pirate-pirates-of-the-caribbean-ride-walt-disney-world/amp/
How is Henry dealing with the loss of Hemlich’s? I know that was his go to rope drop ride. I will have him in my prayers.
When we visited the west coast, Heimlich’s Chew Train and Flik’s Flyers were perhaps the only 2 attractions that we did not do. Now, they will be lost to history. Alas!
Flik’s Flyers will be moved to the Pier. The concept art shows it as the future attraction in the Inside Out area of the new Pixar Pier. Alas, poor Heimlich must go away.
This makes me really sad. While neither my children or I are huge fans of most of the rides, the loss of Heimlich is a tragedy. I’ve always enjoyed just strolling through A Bug’s Land. And where else will we be able to cool off under a giant sprinkler on hot days? It seems California Adventure is being geared towards older guests. While I understand adding in a Marvel land, it would be nice if they put in a few more rides for younger children as well.
I am hoping they will make attractions without height restrictions. When I was there in nov my husband and I had to trade off going on the rides in cars land due to all the attractions having height restrictions. It seemed like most of the attractions in dca are not geared toward families with small children. If they are hoping to relieve crowds at Disneyland they need to do more for the younger kids.
Although the rides in Carsland have height restrictions, the two smaller rides are only 32″. Most children hit that mark between 18 and 24 months. Both of my younger two were able to ride those rides before their 2nd birthday. This essentially insures that little kids can walk and sit up. I’m a bit surprised they never added a height requirement for Roger Rabbit as it requires guests to sit on their own. At Six Flags (and similar parks) they have rules that kids can’t ride most rides unless they can walk.
On that note, I would like to see a new dark ride that the whole family can ride regardless of age/size. I am hoping that the Battle Escape attraction will be such a ride, but I fear that it too will have at least a 32″ requirement, especially if guests really do have to switch ride vehicles mid-ride.
Sigh. I Am Disappoint. Bugs Land is a charming little oasis with some really great theming. I shall miss it. More so, because I am not a big superhero movie fan. Hard to get worked up about Spiderman. Superhero aesthetic just seems very industrial. A little charm goes a long way.
Why Heimlich?? Whyyyyyyyy?????
In all seriousness I really enjoyed DCA, although I have only seen it in 2.0 version.
And so I think this is both a good and mediocre choice, its a shame to lose an area where the kids can go on everything and run around, but also finally they can do something with this IP. I know hands are tied somewhat in Orlando, but this really is the park to do it.
And the whole balance against Star Wars definitely makes sense, even if it can pull 10% of the people away. (Or work like I am expecting it to in WDW and make Flight of Passage a walk on *cries laughing*)
It makes me really sad that the parks are so bent on ride/theme turnover. Yes – the bug thing was for kids. But that was the point. Someone, somewhere has missed the concept that after a certain age, nostalgia is what brings those babies/kids/teens back to Disney.
Not happy about this change, in the least! It’s bad enough that Tower of Terror was replaced with Guardians of the Galaxy. Bugs Land is adorable. It is a great place for little children at DCA. What a disappointment!
The people who make the decisions at Disney are definitely all about fast changes and making LOTS of money. Whatever happened to family values at Disney?
As a parent of little kids I am saddened by the loss of bugs land. It is where we spend much of our time in DCA. I don’t see the additions in Pixar pier equivalent to 6 attractions targeted at the under 5 crowd.
I’m relieved that Hollywood Land is not being used for the Marvel land. That means the Red Car Trolley is safe! (At least for now…)
Don’t get too excited just yet–look closely at the bottom left corner of the concept art. It could be totally meaningless, or a re-skinning of the Red Car Trolley.
Well, I wouldn’t mind it getting reskinned, as long as it continues to run as a transportation ride that provides a nice ambiance to parts of the park.
Maybe it will be called Multiple Avenger Related Varying Experiences Land.. or not lol
That is simply brilliant! I’m thinking you belong to the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division. Well done!
I guess it’s debatable if phase 2 will be behind Guardians: Mission or in Hollywoodland. That patent for a Spiderman swing ride makes some think it will take a massive show building – and that would only fit behind mission. I do have a slight concern that phase 1 will only be the development of place and meet/greets. Not too much in attractions.
I totally forgot about that patent! If they do plan on using that, I wonder if the Vekoma coaster will be in phase one, and more akin to the Iron Man/Avengers coaster WDSP is getting. That would put another ‘a bug’s land’ attraction after the coaster, and whatever is happening with Hollywoodland (Marvel or otherwise) in a third phase of the development.
I don’t expect the first phase to be only place-making and meet & greets. DCA needs to absorb some excess guest demand created by Star Wars Land, and I don’t see meet & greets cutting it in that regard.