Thursday, April 21, 2011

Is WDI Developing Attractions Inspired by Marvel Super-Heroes ?



The next D23 Magazine Summer issue will be released soon and some of the articles should be really interesting. In one of them called "What a MARVELous world!" Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, is interviewed and "has big hopes for Marvel now that they're part of the Walt Disney family, including having Marvel's stable of iconic characters become fixtures at Disney theme parks around the world".

The guys at IGN had an exclusive advance look at the interview Feige did for the upcoming D23 issue in which Feige says: "It's the biggest dream of all. We get to tap into this spectacular team that is better than anyone else on the planet at bringing fantasy to life, not only on the big screen but in the real world," said Feige.



Feige continued: "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."



Now, that's not all. In the same "What a MARVELous World!" article we learn too that Stan Lee also talks about "his excitement to be working with WDI Imagineers: "It's great for Marvel to have access to Disney's brains, because they're pretty smart, and it's great for Disney to have all these characters, with their built-in audience. It's one of the wisest things that either company could have done"...The article's glimpse into future plans for this historic team-up shows why Disney, Marvel and fans alike are looking forward to super hero-sized results."

We knew it had to happen, that some day WDI attractions themed on the Marvel Super-Heroes universe will appear in a Disney theme park. And, after all, when we see what Universal did at Islands of Adventure with the Spiderman ride there is no doubt that WDI could create great rides inspired by Marvel super-heroes.

The only question is not really "when?" these attractions will come as it will probably take some years before we see the first "Marvel" attraction in a Disney park - but more "where?", where these Marvel rides will be installed. Laughing Place is asking "Is Marvel Heading to Disneyland?". Let's hope not as the only place in Disneyland for a Marvel ride would be Tomorowland and i would prefer Tony Baxter's Wall-E attraction project inside the former Carousel of Progress building than an Iron Man ride. California Adventure would be a better choice but where at DCA? They probably would have to create a new "Marvel" mini land...

Or may be these WDI Marvel rides concepts - if WDI Imagineers are really working on that - will be developed for DLP third gate? Remember that DLP CEO Philippe Gas said some months ago in a Telegraph article that "DLP's third park could be a Marvel super-heroes theme park". In this case, considering that DLP third gate won't open before 2020 i'm afraid we will have to wait quite a while to ride these upcoming-or-not WDI Marvel attractions.

May be we will learn more in the next D23 summer issue, available on May 3!

Pictures: copyright Disney-Marvel

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Tony Baxter's Wall-E attraction project inside the former Carousel of Progress building" - what's this? I've never heard of this project before...

Alain Littaye said...

Ooops, may be i've talked too much! I thought it was known... I don't know a lot about it but from what i've heard Tony has a Wall-E attraction project who would be placed - if i'm not wrong - in the former Carousel of Progress building. It's supposed to be quite a big ride with a kind of interactivity along the ride between Wall-E and the guests.

The only problem is that no decision has been taken to build this ride...or another one. I hope it will be, if not, it might be one more WDI great ride project that will never be.

Jones said...

Disney can´t possible be so stupid as to ruin their brand with these insipid characters. People who go to a Disney park want Disney! Just compare the attendance figures for the MK and those of IoA - by adding that horrible Marvel stuff, you do *not* get new customers, you just risk losing you existing customers. There´s also a huge market for pornography, but I seriously doubt selling porn at Disney parks would be a good idea...

Dr Bitz said...

On micechat there is a rumor out about a Stark Industries Pavilion from Iron Man 2 going into the Carousel.

Dr Bitz said...

I read a rumor on Micechat about a Stark Industries Pavilion going into the Carousel from Iron Man 2.

Marco Antonio Garcia said...

For me Marvel and Disney are two good things that don't mix! I hope that, at least, they don't put Marvel characters inside any MK, in other parks I may get used to them.

If they make a Stark Expo inside the Carousel I will never go there in protest, even tough I love The Iron Man character. Wall.E is a MUCH better idea, it's the only Pixar character that would be perfect in Tomorrowland!