Avengers Campus: E-Watch! (Waiting on the new ride)

[Disgruntled Walt]

Don't worry there's always Hong Kong's Avengers ToT.

I liked the Spider-Man-focused concept art better than the "portals" one we got more recently. I think ToT is a great ride system for Spider-Man (webs catching you, breaking, etc).

 

[DrStarlander]

What did they think of the Stuntronic Spidey flying through the air above the attraction?

I don't recall us seeing that happen while there. I've seen videos and I think the concept and engineering achievement is cool.

 

[Disney Irish]

I don't recall us seeing that happen while there. I've seen videos and I think the concept and engineering achievement is cool.

Should check it out the next time you're there, its a pretty cool show. In my opinion it makes up for the lack of an AA in the attraction.

 

[mickEblu]

I don't recall us seeing that happen while there. I've seen videos and I think the concept and engineering achievement is cool.

It is cool and quite frankly I’m shocked they’ve kept it going this long. So kudos to them for that. But after you see it once or twice most people aren’t going to queue up to see it again. The spider man attraction is where you had to knock it out of the park but unfortunately they were working within the constraints of ITTBAB/ Bugs Land. Maybe they should have saved Spidey for an attraction worthy of the IP but then again what character/ IP do you base the shooter around in ITTBABs small footprint? I can see why they went with Spider-man. Kind of hard to pass on utilizing some of your most popular IP for something that may or may not happen in the medium to long term future. The real issue was Chapek forcing them to cram Marvel Land into DCA/ TOT asap. He doesn’t do that and DCA might look quite different with Marvel Land going to the Hollywood backlot/ bus transpo area. In this scenario no way Webslingers ever sees the light of day.

 

[mickEblu]

There is an alternate universe where Avengers Campus goes to the Hollywood Backlot/ bus transpo area, Bugs Land* and TOT still exist and Pandora goes to…. Grizzly Peak. yikes. Maybe Webslingers isn’t so bad after all


*Bugs Land was likely on borrowed time whether it was removed for Marvel or something else down the road.

 

[britain]

 

[Professortango1]

There is an alternate universe where Avengers Campus goes to the Hollywood Backlot/ bus transpo area, Bugs Land* and TOT still exist and Pandora goes to…. Grizzly Peak. yikes. Maybe Webslingers isn’t so bad after all


*Bugs Land was likely on borrowed time whether it was removed for Marvel or something else down the road.

I would love to see that Park. Always wanted Marvel to be a S.H.I.E.L.D. themed area to Hollywoodland that would replace the Hollywood Backlot. You have a Marvel Mini Land with a stage, a great E-ticket, and another darkride all in one courtyard. TOT staying is a massive win and Animation Building/Avengers Campus becomes your expansion plot for either Pandora or a Mexican American town where Coco, Zorro, and other IP's are represented alongside a revamped concept of Western River Expedition.

That sounds miles better than the tech campus corridor and the random Alien Planet being smooshed between the pedestrian bridge and Hollywood Blvd. That's a park I'd buy a one-day ticket to vs a park I only go to for free.

 

[mickEblu]

I would love to see that Park. Always wanted Marvel to be a S.H.I.E.L.D. themed area to Hollywoodland that would replace the Hollywood Backlot. You have a Marvel Mini Land with a stage, a great E-ticket, and another darkride all in one courtyard. TOT staying is a massive win and Animation Building/Avengers Campus becomes your expansion plot for either Pandora or a Mexican American town where Coco, Zorro, and other IP's are represented alongside a revamped concept of Western River Expedition.

That sounds miles better than the tech campus corridor and the random Alien Planet being smooshed between the pedestrian bridge and Hollywood Blvd. That's a park I'd buy a one-day ticket to vs a park I only go to for free.

Haha I was waiting for you. As soon as I got done typing up that post I thought of you.

Yeah this would be a worst case scenario for me. Although TOT staying would be great and a Coco land where Bugs land sounds fine losing Grizzly Peak is a non starter for me. And thats likely what would have happened IMO considering they're cramming Pandora into DCA proper and not putting it across the street at Simba. Avatar is the type of property that could have gotten this regime to replace Grizzly Peak. Hoping that it'll stick around for a long time now considering Star Wars, Marvel and Avatar all have homes and DL Forward is well underway.

 

[mickEblu]

In short Mayor Tait saved Toontown and Chapek saved Grizzly Peak. If you know, you know. Which of course means that Mayor Tait is Eddie Valiant and Chapek is Smokey the Bear.

 

[Architectural Guinea Pig]

Honestly, my best experience with WebSlingers was walking on it when it had a 10 minute wait, the ride breaking down, and getting out of the queue without having gone on the ride with a free fast pass

 

[DrStarlander]

Honestly, my best experience with WebSlingers was walking on it when it had a 10 minute wait, the ride breaking down, and getting out of the queue without having gone on the ride with a free fast pass

Holy cow, that's an "Avenger's Campus hat trick"!

• Short line
• Didn't have to experience the ride
• Free fast pass

 

[coffeefan]

There is an alternate universe where Avengers Campus goes to the Hollywood Backlot/ bus transpo area, Bugs Land* and TOT still exist and Pandora goes to…. Grizzly Peak. yikes. Maybe Webslingers isn’t so bad after all


*Bugs Land was likely on borrowed time whether it was removed for Marvel or something else down the road.

I would've preferred this as well. I like Grizzly Peak, but since I often go to Big Bear and other mountain resorts/NPs, it's just not as novel for me. I prefer to be transported somewhere unique in time or place at the parks. GP is a great land, especially for tourists and hotel guests. But Pandora at the center of the park with bioluminescent flora and water would've been something spectacular.

 

[coffeefan]

I would love to see that Park. Always wanted Marvel to be a S.H.I.E.L.D. themed area to Hollywoodland that would replace the Hollywood Backlot. You have a Marvel Mini Land with a stage, a great E-ticket, and another darkride all in one courtyard. TOT staying is a massive win and Animation Building/Avengers Campus becomes your expansion plot for either Pandora or a Mexican American town where Coco, Zorro, and other IP's are represented alongside a revamped concept of Western River Expedition.

That sounds miles better than the tech campus corridor and the random Alien Planet being smooshed between the pedestrian bridge and Hollywood Blvd. That's a park I'd buy a one-day ticket to vs a park I only go to for free.

My hope is for a New York-inspired land to represent American Adventure in a future WestCOT. Then we get a Spider-Man coaster there, along with the Muppets, Miles, and Enchanted.

 

[mickEblu]

I would've preferred this as well. I like Grizzly Peak, but since I often go to Big Bear and other mountain resorts/NPs, it's just not as novel for me. I prefer to be transported somewhere unique in time or place at the parks. GP is a great land, especially for tourists and hotel guests. But Pandora at the center of the park with bioluminescent flora and water would've been something spectacular.

It’s all about execution. You know what else is otherworldly? Galaxies Edge. The Rivers of America? Not so much. You can see boats and trains “everywhere.” Most people have a river just a few short hours away. And yet at which land do you feel more of a sense of escapism? The land where boats, canoes, and ships are going up and down the river with passenger trains and runaway mine trains all around us or Galaxies Edge with its static ships with sound effects you barley notice? Or how about Avengers Campus with all its otherworldly super heroes? Who in there right mind feels more transported there than New Orleans / the ROA?

Big Bear is only a couple hours from me too. But you know what I can’t do? Go white water rafting while I’m there, soar over the entire state and then go hop on a roller coaster in space right after that. It’s also not only about what you can or can’t experience on the world. It’s about the collective whole of varied/ quality experiences that immerse the guest. Not to mention that Disneylands version of “real” places like Grizzly Peak are romanticized, safer and more easily accessible.

 

[DrStarlander]

It’s all about execution. You know what else is otherworldly? Galaxies Edge. The Rivers of America? Not so much. You can see boats and trains “everywhere.” Most people have a river just a few short hours away. And yet at which land do you feel more of a sense of escapism? The land where boats, canoes, and ships are going up and down the river with passenger trains and runaway mine trains all around us or Galaxies Edge with its static ships with sound effects you barley notice? Or how about Avengers Campus with all its otherworldly super heroes? Who in there right mind feels more transported there than New Orleans / the ROA?

Big Bear is only a couple hours from me too. But you know what I can’t do? Go white water rafting while I’m there, soar over the entire state and then go hop on a roller coaster in space right after that. It’s also not only about what you can or can’t experience on the world. It’s about the collective whole of varied/ quality experiences that immerse the guest. Not to mention that Disneylands version of “real” places like Grizzly Peak are romanticized, safer and more easily accessible.

A while back I expressed a viewpoint similar to what @coffeefan is saying and you said some similar things in support of Grizzly Peak. I also want theme park lands to be transportive and yet I also agree the ingredients of achieving transportive-ness are not always obvious. It's true that how far-out a theme is in time or place in and of itself does not mean it will be more successful.

I like the vibe of Grizzly Peak. I think my two minor complaints would be, first, that I wish it had a bit more "awe" and natural "wonder" and feeling of adventure/slight peril; and second, was a bit more transportive in terms of time-setting. I know there's a couple of older vehicles, and I love that. I wish there was more done to fuel that aspect of transportiveness.

As for the implied era, I grew up in So. Cal. in the early 70s going to Yosemite, Big Bear, Sequoia, etc. I hate to admit I experienced some of those places while in a Boy Scouts-like YMCA organization called "Indian Guides" in which we wore Native American attire and basically engaged in ignorant, regrettable cultural appropriation. (The organization has since been rebranded "Aventure Guides"). But those places and that era are close to my heart.

As for awe and wonder and a bit of peril, one thing I did closer to being an adult was go to Moaning Caverns, and wow, that was cool. I think there are other caves in the area. I wish they'd build a spelunking walk-through attraction in GP in which you get into a rickety elevator that simulates going deep underground (a little like the Haunted Mansion) but doesn't go down at all, then you get out and can explore eerie, mysterious caverns with waterfalls, bridges, tunnels, etc. (which would all just be inside a moderate size show building). So kind of a Tom Sawyer Island/Redwood Creek Challenge Trail but indoors and with a fantasy/transportive-layer that you're deep underground. That kind of thing to me would take a theme like Grizzly Peak which is cool, and a great vibe, relaxing, and add a bit more of that fantastical Disney theme park magic.

 

[Professortango1]

It’s all about execution. You know what else is otherworldly? Galaxies Edge. The Rivers of America? Not so much. You can see boats and trains “everywhere.” Most people have a river just a few short hours away. And yet at which land do you feel more of a sense of escapism? The land where boats, canoes, and ships are going up and down the river with passenger trains and runaway mine trains all around us or Galaxies Edge with its static ships with sound effects you barley notice? Or how about Avengers Campus with all its otherworldly super heroes? Who in there right mind feels more transported there than New Orleans / the ROA?

Big Bear is only a couple hours from me too. But you know what I can’t do? Go white water rafting while I’m there, soar over the entire state and then go hop on a roller coaster in space right after that. It’s also not only about what you can or can’t experience on the world. It’s about the collective whole of varied/ quality experiences that immerse the guest. Not to mention that Disneylands version of “real” places like Grizzly Peak are romanticized, safer and more easily accessible.

All very true, yet I share a similar dismissal of Grizzly Peak. Everything there feels like a really cute regional park, not Disney. It feels kind of basic.

The lands theming is fine very well, but being theme to a modern National Park, it's like a prettier version of the problem Dino Rama had; it feels kind of generic.

The rides have the same issue, but great ride systems with great ride experiences, but lacking that Disney level of uniqueness. An unthemed flight simulator watching an IMAX movie like you typically see at museums and a really pretty version of a basic rafting ride without any hidden surprises in terms of Disney magic.

Add to the fact that the big central attraction doesn't draw well half of the year due to weather and you have a land that is pretty and artfully done, but that I also am not found in all too often due to the size, offerings, and surface-level experience to the land.

 

[mickEblu]

A while back I expressed a viewpoint similar to what @coffeefan is saying and you said some similar things in support of Grizzly Peak. I also want theme park lands to be transportive and yet I also agree the ingredients of achieving transportive-ness are not always obvious. It's true that how far-out a theme is in time or place in and of itself does not mean it will be more successful.

I like the vibe of Grizzly Peak. I think my two minor complaints would be, first, that I wish it had a bit more "awe" and natural "wonder" and feeling of adventure/slight peril; and second, was a bit more transportive in terms of time-setting. I know there's a couple of older vehicles, and I love that. I wish there was more done to fuel that aspect of transportiveness.

As for the implied era, I grew up in So. Cal. in the early 70s going to Yosemite, Big Bear, Sequoia, etc. I hate to admit I experienced some of those places while in a Boy Scouts-like YMCA organization called "Indian Guides" in which we wore Native American attire and basically engaged in ignorant, regrettable cultural appropriation. (The organization has since been rebranded "Aventure Guides"). But those places and that era are close to my heart.

As for awe and wonder and a bit of peril, one thing I did closer to being an adult was go to Moaning Caverns, and wow, that was cool. I think there are other caves in the area. I wish they'd build a spelunking walk-through attraction in GP in which you get into a rickety elevator that simulates going deep underground (a little like the Haunted Mansion) but doesn't go down at all, then you get out and can explore eerie, mysterious caverns with waterfalls, bridges, tunnels, etc. (which would all just be inside a moderate size show building). So kind of a Tom Sawyer Island/Redwood Creek Challenge Trail but indoors and with a fantasy/transportive-layer that you're deep underground. That kind of thing to me would take a theme like Grizzly Peak which is cool, and a great vibe, relaxing, and add a bit more of that fantastical Disney theme park magic.

I think it's good on the awe/ natural wonder with all the waterfalls and trees. The adventure/ peril I think gets handled by the attraction. You have the drops, one into the cave with the Bear roars but that element could probably be plussed. I'm not really what they can do to drill home the time setting as most of the land is timeless as its's focused on the natural elements like trees and waterfalls. Id imagine if you walked into Yosemite in the 70's outside of the cars and maybe what the campgrounds/cabins' lodges looked like.

Those are good ideas above and would make the land even better but cant say I've ever felt the land was lacking in those areas personally. Something like a Rainbow caverns walk through would be really cool. I think when you have a timeless land thats 85%-90% there you don't get rid of it for the flavor of month. Particularly when you cant trust the current WDI/ Disney to get it right. You should just try to plus it to take it over the top. I'd say it's just nowhere near the top of the priority list. When it comes to DCA, from a necessity standpoint, plussing Grizzly Peak has to be at the very bottom of the list. However it may be at the very top of the list for Disney since it’s relatively IP'less.

 

[mickEblu]

All very true, yet I share a similar dismissal of Grizzly Peak. Everything there feels like a really cute regional park, not Disney. It feels kind of basic.

The lands theming is fine very well, but being theme to a modern National Park, it's like a prettier version of the problem Dino Rama had; it feels kind of generic.

The rides have the same issue, but great ride systems with great ride experiences, but lacking that Disney level of uniqueness. An unthemed flight simulator watching an IMAX movie like you typically see at museums and a really pretty version of a basic rafting ride without any hidden surprises in terms of Disney magic.

Add to the fact that the big central attraction doesn't draw well half of the year due to weather and you have a land that is pretty and artfully done, but that I also am not found in all too often due to the size, offerings, and surface-level experience to the land.

I have to disagree on the regional park comment. No regional park is immersing you 360 like that. At least not one I've been to. Aesthetics for me are high priority and Grizzly knocks it out of the park. I go to the park to walk around pleasant scenery and ride fun rides. You can give me the best recreation of Hoth but it doesn't mean I want to walk around there. I have no issues with the land but I can see your point on the attractions. I don't think I've been on Soarin in nearly two years. I think it probably should still have a place at the park. People enjoy it and it can be updated easily. It's also like DCA's Jungle Cruise in a way so it has historical value as the original land should probably stick around. But for me Soarin Around the World is not worth the wait time and the line moves too slow. Yes GRR's value tanks in the winter time but at least we're in Southern California.

 

[Professortango1]

I have to disagree on the regional park comment. No regional park is immersing you 360 like that. At least not one I've been to. Aesthetics for me are high priority and Grizzly knocks it out of the park. I go to the park to walk around pleasant scenery and ride fun rides. You can give me the best recreation of Hoth but it doesn't mean I want to walk around there. I have no issues with the land but I can see your point on the attractions. I don't think I've been on Soarin in nearly two years. I think it probably should still have a place at the park. People enjoy it and it can be updated easily. It's also like DCA's Jungle Cruise in a way so it has historical value as the original land should probably stick around. But for me Soarin Around the World is not worth the wait time and the line moves too slow. Yes GRR's value tanks in the winter time but at least we're in Southern California.

I'm not immersed 360 degrees. There is a ginormous hotel right there that is nearly the size of the mountain peak. There's also a monorail running through a length of it's main route with a giant lightly themed backstage gate and nothing in that general corner of central point of the land's walking route.

If Soarin' and GRR were "Disney-fied" with transforming the generic rides into something completely unique and that only Disney could/would do, then I'd be in that land a lot more. But a bare bones warehouse flight sim, a standard raft ride without any big moments, and a playground isn't a great roster. Add in no expansion room, an oversized hotel taking away from immersion, the dead area that is between Soarin and GCH, and a lack of things to discover and I'm all for any improvements or updates to this potentially great land that was stunted with so many cost-cutting decisions. Its a very pretty Tomorrowland 98, but its still a Tomorrowland 98.

 

[DrStarlander]

I'm not really what they can do to drill home the time setting as most of the land is timeless as its's focused on the natural elements like trees and waterfalls.

Apologies if any of my comments are out of date, it's been a minute since I've been to DCA. But I think they did a great job in the Grizzly Airfield re-do, and incorporated some nice details to establish the time period, such as the Rambler and period advertising.

Though some of the graphics fall short of an authentic vintage feel, such as this map which has a more modern (attempt at vintage) vector feel. This map could really feel vintage and it gets a C grade. This is nitpick, yes.

As you get over to Grizzly River Run, much of the signage has a 1990s DCA 1.0 feel, at both GRR and Rushin' River outfitters. Revamping the signage would help. But also the outfitters doesn't have much in terms of period props out front, or really anything as far as "outfitting" out front (besides the giant bear, which I struggle with, I wish it was vintage California Crazy roadside stand in the shape of a bear, right now it feels too modern).

Rushin' River is a cool building (unlike the Madame Leota gift shop it's...WOOD, so enjoy it while it lasts) with potential but it needs some more of the thematic texture/details out front, not just inside (canoes, fishing rods, woven tackle boxes, vintage Thermos sitting on a barrel). More vintage advertisements would also help at this end of the land. And as far as inside the shop, are there still modern snowboards and bikes in there? That's that DCA 1.0 to me and a disconnect from the airfield.

The other way to evoke a time period is music. When walking through New Orleans Square or Buena Vista St. and you hear period music, it sets the time period. I think in GP there's an orchestral music? It's not bad. But I think some 1960s period "car radio music" (they could even have a period DJ as at Tiana with some story beats about what's happening in the area...a fly fishing contest, a bear rescue operation, concerns about wildfire or flash flood?) The music in particular could help set that tone of having a camping/road trip in California, especially around Humphrey's and Rushin' River.

None of this is important, this just happened to be the stuff I care about.