Avengers Campus - Reactions / Reviews

[MistaDee]

The entire land won’t be based on Ant-Man in San Francisco though. The two main rides will be based on Spider-Man, which takes place in New York, and the Avengers, which will take place in Wakanda. I don’t think Ant-Man will have a significant presence at all. “Action-packed” isn’t DCA’s concept/theme.

You're taking a very literalist approach there buddy... The theme is California ADVENTURE, and compared to the originated skews more towards realism/thrill. That's why ToT/Screaming/GRR/Soaring make sense from an action (adventure) perspective.

For the California theme, take Monument valley for instance, where Cars is based on is not in California either, but it works because it fits with the ethos of California car culture and thus the park.

Avengers campus, which is rooted in both technological innovation (silicon valley) and a global network of superheroes, some of whom are explicitly based in California.

I won't disagree California is a pretty crap theme for a park, but there is a better argument to put Avengers in DCA than in Disneyland.

 

[Suspirian]

View attachment 433871

The merch is rolling in.

I truly cannot believe that a team of people made a conscious creative decision to call this land a Campus... and have it actually look like a campus.

I truly am beside myself with these creative decisions. I just can’t believe it.

Especially when that gorgeous concept art was leaked, to know that they did design a complex, authentic and detailed land... but instead we are getting a state school campus.

Theres a lot if Marvel media that references Avengers bases that are like islands in the Pacific and Atlantic ocean andI honesty have no idea why a base of the coast of California wasn't considered.

Hydrobase

116 appearance(s) of Hydrobase 2 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Hydrobase 4 minor appearance(s) of Hydrobase 14 mention(s) of Hydrobase 4 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Hydrobase 5 image(s) of Hydrobase

marvel.fandom.com

Avengers Hydrobase - Marvel Next Generation

 

[Old Mouseketeer]

It wasn't permanent, they'll be coming back.

I'll send out some feelers tomorrow. But if it comes back, they'll be mounting it almost from scratch. Mind you, I think it's a great show--I would like to see them bring it back. They've certainly remounted enough parades with far more performers and costs. But I haven't heard any indication that they intend to revive it. YMMV.

 

[Californian Elitist]

You're taking a very literalist approach there buddy... The theme is California ADVENTURE, and compared to the originated skews more towards realism/thrill. That's why ToT/Screaming/GRR/Soaring make sense from an action (adventure) perspective.

For the California theme, take Monument valley for instance, where Cars is based on is not in California either, but it works because it fits with the ethos of California car culture and thus the park.

Avengers campus, which is rooted in both technological innovation (silicon valley) and a global network of superheroes, some of whom are explicitly based in California.

I won't disagree California is a pretty crap theme for a park, but there is a better argument to put Avengers in DCA than in Disneyland.

Actually, I’m not.

I’d argue that Cars Land is a good fit for DCA, despite the film not taking place in California.

The only Marvel characters that are based in California are Iron Man and Ant-Man, once again. The majority of the stories take place in either New York or space. If Disney wanted to go for the Silicon Valley schtick, Stark Expo would have made more sense. Instead, guests will be heading to Wakanda and other places that don’t have anything to do with California.

Disney is clearly pulling things out of their behind for this project. I’m all for creating stories that are based on truth, reality, etc. This project is clearly being forced to fit into DCA.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Actually, I’m not.

I’d argue that Cars Land is a good fit for DCA, despite the film not taking place in California.

The only Marvel characters that are based in California are Iron Man and Ant-Man, once again. The majority of the stories take place in either New York or space. If Disney wanted to go for the Silicon Valley schtick, Stark Expo would have made more sense. Instead, guests will be heading to Wakanda and other places that don’t have anything to do with California.

Disney is clearly pulling things out of their behind for this project. I’m all for creating stories that are based on truth, reality, etc. This project is clearly being forced to fit into DCA.

Maybe they’ll pull a Cosmic Rewind and say Uncle Ben took Peter to Disneyland a week before he was murdered.

 

[MistaDee]

Actually, I’m not.

I’d argue that Cars Land is a good fit for DCA, despite the film not taking place in California.

The only Marvel characters that are based in California are Iron Man and Ant-Man, once again. The majority of the stories take place in either New York or space. If Disney wanted to go for the Silicon Valley schtick, Stark Expo would have made more sense. Instead, guests will be heading to Wakanda and other places that don’t have anything to do with California.

Disney is clearly pulling things out of their behind for this project. I’m all for creating stories that are based on truth, reality, etc. This project is clearly being forced to fit into DCA.

What's the difference in theme between Stark expo versus Avengers campus/WED? It sounds like you've just made up your mind to be unhappy and are making bad faith arguments here.

The idea that a ride would have to be based entirely in California or use only heroes based out of California is like being upset that Rise of the Resistance takes place on a Star Destroyer despite clearly being in a land that's themed to Batuu. That's a literalist approach....

Disney has been pulling things out of their behind to fit the terrible California theme since DCA opened. From a thematic perspective, Avengers campus actually makes some sense to me: in the Marvel universe, if the Avengers wanted to recruit some folks, it would be perfectly reasonable they would set up shop in LA, HK and Paris. Just like it would be entirely reasonable that from those disparate locations, you hop on a Quinn Jet and fly to Wakanda.

If you're mad the land looks like a community college, that's perfectly valid and I'd be inclined to agree. But your arguments against the theme of the land don't follow even your own logic Cars land or Stark Expo.

 

[Mickeyboof]

What's the difference in theme between Stark expo versus Avengers campus/WED? It sounds like you've just made up your mind to be unhappy and are making bad faith arguments here.

The idea that a ride would have to be based entirely in California or use only heroes based out of California is like being upset that Rise of the Resistance takes place on a Star Destroyer despite clearly being in a land that's themed to Batuu. That's a literalist approach....

Disney has been pulling things out of their behind to fit the terrible California theme since DCA opened. From a thematic perspective, Avengers campus actually makes some sense to me: in the Marvel universe, if the Avengers wanted to recruit some folks, it would be perfectly reasonable they would set up shop in LA, HK and Paris. Just like it would be entirely reasonable that from those disparate locations, you hop on a Quinn Jet and fly to Wakanda.

If you're mad the land looks like a community college, that's perfectly valid and I'd be inclined to agree. But your arguments against the theme of the land don't follow even your own logic Cars land or Stark Expo.

In Rise of the Resistance, you quite literally take off from Batuu and land back on Batuu. The ride is grounded in Batuu.

 

[MistaDee]

In Rise of the Resistance, you quite literally take off from Batuu and land back on Batuu. The ride is grounded in Batuu.

Right... but the point remains nonetheless. The same logic would apply to a Avengers ride that takes off in the CA campus and lands back there.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Right... but the point remains nonetheless. The same logic would apply to a Avengers ride that takes off in the CA campus and lands back there.

Can they launch us into that flying space donut from Infinity War? Count me in! I want an A1000 of

 

[PymParty]

I was wondering if any proper Meet and Greet facility was being built in DCA like they are doing in Paris in the old Stunt Show garage or are the meet and greets in the campus going to be outside with backdrops like they do right now ? Maybe the Avengers HQ building will offer some space for that ?

 

[THE 1HAPPY HAUNT]

Maybe they’ll pull a Cosmic Rewind and say Uncle Ben took Peter to Disneyland a week before he was murdered.

Or Uncle Ben was murdered while waiting in line for a Dole Whip at Disneyland

 

[THE 1HAPPY HAUNT]

What's the difference in theme between Stark expo versus Avengers campus/WED? It sounds like you've just made up your mind to be unhappy and are making bad faith arguments here.

The idea that a ride would have to be based entirely in California or use only heroes based out of California is like being upset that Rise of the Resistance takes place on a Star Destroyer despite clearly being in a land that's themed to Batuu. That's a literalist approach....

Disney has been pulling things out of their behind to fit the terrible California theme since DCA opened. From a thematic perspective, Avengers campus actually makes some sense to me: in the Marvel universe, if the Avengers wanted to recruit some folks, it would be perfectly reasonable they would set up shop in LA, HK and Paris. Just like it would be entirely reasonable that from those disparate locations, you hop on a Quinn Jet and fly to Wakanda.

If you're mad the land looks like a community college, that's perfectly valid and I'd be inclined to agree. But your arguments against the theme of the land don't follow even your own logic Cars land or Stark Expo.

explain how the collector's tower being in calfiornia fits the theme of the park then?

 

[Californian Elitist]

What's the difference in theme between Stark expo versus Avengers campus/WED? It sounds like you've just made up your mind to be unhappy and are making bad faith arguments here.

The idea that a ride would have to be based entirely in California or use only heroes based out of California is like being upset that Rise of the Resistance takes place on a Star Destroyer despite clearly being in a land that's themed to Batuu. That's a literalist approach....

Disney has been pulling things out of their behind to fit the terrible California theme since DCA opened. From a thematic perspective, Avengers campus actually makes some sense to me: in the Marvel universe, if the Avengers wanted to recruit some folks, it would be perfectly reasonable they would set up shop in LA, HK and Paris. Just like it would be entirely reasonable that from those disparate locations, you hop on a Quinn Jet and fly to Wakanda.

If you're mad the land looks like a community college, that's perfectly valid and I'd be inclined to agree. But your arguments against the theme of the land don't follow even your own logic Cars land or Stark Expo.

I’m not mad at all, nor unhappy.

Stark Expo actually takes place in California and exists in the Marvel films. It doesn’t need to be made up and doesn’t need to come from nowhere. For the Doctor Strange option, guests will be exploring “the ruins of a mysterious California sanctum.” What? Never mind that the film takes place nowhere near California/a place that could look like California.

I’ve already said that I don’t mind creating stories out of something else that makes sense. Cars Land, despite taking place in Arizona, fits well with DCA because the landscape can easily be realistically found in CA, and of course the car culture. If Disney’s already going to go with putting Marvel in DCA, something that already doesn’t make much sense, it would have been better to go with something that already takes place IN CALIFORNIA. As I’ve stated yet again, they are pulling things out to force it in.

Your claim about pulling things out from the beginning doesn’t hold much weight. Do you have any examples? The park was arguably more Californian when it opened than now.

Agree to disagree.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Maybe they’ll pull a Cosmic Rewind and say Uncle Ben took Peter to Disneyland a week before he was murdered.

The thing is, Disney would actually pull some BS like that though.

 

[MistaDee]

Stark Expo actually takes place in California and exists in the Marvel films. It doesn’t need to be made up and doesn’t need to come from nowhere. For the Doctor Strange option, guests will be exploring “the ruins of a mysterious California sanctum.” What? Never mind that the film takes place nowhere near California/a place that could look like California.

I’ve already said that I don’t mind creating stories out of something else that makes sense. Cars Land, despite taking place in Arizona, fits well with DCA because the landscape can easily be realistically found in CA, and of course the car culture. If Disney’s already going to go with putting Marvel in DCA, something that already doesn’t make much sense, it would have been better to go with something that already takes place IN CALIFORNIA. As I’ve stated yet again, they are pulling things out to force it in.

Your claim about pulling things out from the beginning doesn’t hold much weight. Do you have any examples? The park was arguably more Californian when it opened than now.

I'm no Disney apologist, but I do take issue with the notion that Avenger's Campus is a worse fit in DCA than Galaxy's Edge is for Disneyland.

As far as attractions that have been shoehorned into the California theme, tons of the additions made since opening would qualify: Bugs Land, Little Mermaid, Philharmagic, Monsters Inc...

In my opinion, the theme of a theme park serves as the connecting thread for lands that provide "jumping off points" for the various attractions they inhabit. Does Journey to the Center of the Earth or Indiana Jones have a literal connection to the Sea? No, but it works for the purpose of the theme park and flows logically. It's the same suspension of disbelief that allows us to enjoy these attractions.

Stuck with a theme like California, I think a loose interpretation of "...dreamers of the past: the native people, explorers, immigrants, aviators, entrepreneurs and entertainers who built the Golden State. ...new generation of dreamers who are creating the wonders of tomorrow, from the silver screen to the computer screen, from the fertile farmlands to the far reaches of space. DCA celebrates the richness and the diversity of California... its land, its people, its spirit and, above all, the dreams that it continues to inspire."

If you truly don't mind creating stories out of something else (that makes sense,) then I'm struggling to understand why you find Marvel and California as so incompatible. In the MCU films alone Ant-man, Tony Stark, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, all have ties to the state with countless appearances in the comic universes. (Stark Expo is set in New York btw)

For a multi-park concept, I think the Worldwide Engineering Brigades (WEB) concept makes as much sense as the Society of Explorers & Adventurers (SEA.) Stark Industries HQ is in LA, so it would make sense they'd set up a campus in California. Whether the entirety of the attractions take place in California doesn't seem like an issue to me: we're in a park about the ideas & fantasies of California; California is a real, lived-in place in the MCU, so that's our jumping off place. The inclusion of Stark/Campus/WEB elements only further support alignment with California's connection to technology and innovation (not to mention the military-industrial complex).

I guess "creating stories from things that make sense" versus "pulling things out to force it in" is in the eye of the beholder, but I think under the constraints presented to them, Avenger's Campus is a good concept, unfortunately the execution doesn't seem to be done well.

As for the Collectors Tower, that one is pretty inexcusable....no arguments from me there, I really wish they'd have used the capital that went into altering what was already one of the best experiences in the park, towards building something new to actually expand DCA's capacity.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Or Uncle Ben was murdered while waiting in line for a Dole Whip at Disneyland

If only Mobile Order had been invented...

 

[Californian Elitist]

I'm no Disney apologist, but I do take issue with the notion that Avenger's Campus is a worse fit in DCA than Galaxy's Edge is for Disneyland.

As far as attractions that have been shoehorned into the California theme, tons of the additions made since opening would qualify: Bugs Land, Little Mermaid, Philharmagic, Monsters Inc...

In my opinion, the theme of a theme park serves as the connecting thread for lands that provide "jumping off points" for the various attractions they inhabit. Does Journey to the Center of the Earth or Indiana Jones have a literal connection to the Sea? No, but it works for the purpose of the theme park and flows logically. It's the same suspension of disbelief that allows us to enjoy these attractions.

Stuck with a theme like California, I think a loose interpretation of "...dreamers of the past: the native people, explorers, immigrants, aviators, entrepreneurs and entertainers who built the Golden State. ...new generation of dreamers who are creating the wonders of tomorrow, from the silver screen to the computer screen, from the fertile farmlands to the far reaches of space. DCA celebrates the richness and the diversity of California... its land, its people, its spirit and, above all, the dreams that it continues to inspire."

If you truly don't mind creating stories out of something else (that makes sense,) then I'm struggling to understand why you find Marvel and California as so incompatible. In the MCU films alone Ant-man, Tony Stark, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, all have ties to the state with countless appearances in the comic universes. (Stark Expo is set in New York btw)

For a multi-park concept, I think the Worldwide Engineering Brigades (WEB) concept makes as much sense as the Society of Explorers & Adventurers (SEA.) Stark Industries HQ is in LA, so it would make sense they'd set up a campus in California. Whether the entirety of the attractions take place in California doesn't seem like an issue to me: we're in a park about the ideas & fantasies of California; California is a real, lived-in place in the MCU, so that's our jumping off place. The inclusion of Stark/Campus/WEB elements only further support alignment with California's connection to technology and innovation (not to mention the military-industrial complex).

I guess "creating stories from things that make sense" versus "pulling things out to force it in" is in the eye of the beholder, but I think under the constraints presented to them, Avenger's Campus is a good concept, unfortunately the execution doesn't seem to be done well.

As for the Collectors Tower, that one is pretty inexcusable....no arguments from me there, I really wish they'd have used the capital that went into altering what was already one of the best experiences in the park, towards building something new to actually expand DCA's capacity.

It’s fine if you have issues with that. That’s your prerogative.

I asked for opening day options at DCA that came from nowhere. The ones you mentioned aren’t opening day. Can you think of any opening day attractions that you believe had no relation to California and were shoehorned in?

I’ve already said agree to disagree, so I’m not going to bother with the rest.

 

[MistaDee]

It’s fine if you have issues with that. That’s your prerogative.

I asked for opening day options at DCA that came from nowhere. The ones you mentioned aren’t opening day. Can you think of any opening day attractions that you believe had no relation to California and were shoehorned in?

I’ve already said agree to disagree, so I’m not going to bother with the rest.

I think you may have misunderstood my original post: "Disney has been pulling things out of their behind to fit the terrible California theme since DCA opened." I never claimed the opening day attractions didn't fit the California theme. Rather, my point was that the poorly conceived California theme has made adding to the park after its opening problematic, each of the attractions I listed support that point.

Look, this is a discussion forum, and I think your views on what should/shouldn't be in a theme park are probably shared by a number of folks. In the face of the Galaxy's Edge backlash, and the spate of single-IP lands it's interesting to understand how and why we as fans determine what makes sense within these parks and their themes.

My prerogative here is to discuss and understand, if you're "not going to bother with the rest," and participate in the discussion, then that's a real shame.

 

[Professortango1]

Disney has been pulling things out of their behind to fit the terrible California theme since DCA opened.

Theme has never been the problem with DCA. California is a great theme if approached as the mythical world of "California" and the spirit that goes along with it, similar to how Disney Seas is about exploration and adventure rather than an aquarium.

California has classic gangsters, bigfoot, the golden age of film, El Dorado, the Gold Rush, Zorro, the lost city of Mu, earthquakes, The Barbary Coast, Mt Shasta's lights, etc.

There's no reason Disney couldn't have built a sprawling WRE-style attraction for DCA that incorporated 49ers and bandits and Zorro and such. There's no reason we couldn't have a rafting adventure that takes us into show scenes and encounters with California mythology and cryptozoology. There's no reason Hollywoodland couldn't feature a shadowy alley where we mount up with Dick Tracey to stop crime or visit a movie studio ran by toons or muppets.

Disney's leadership was all about cheap and easy choices, and that's why DCA was a flop. That's why decisions like Pixar Pier, Mission BO, and Avengers Campus seem to harm rather than help.

If you want to see California done well, look at Knotts. Imagine if Disney had built Bigfoot Rapids and a Mystery Lodge. If Disney had a Fiesta Village with adventures through ancient temples. If Disney had a Sierra Nevadas area with places to explore. If Disney had a ghost town complete with a coaster that takes guests onto the backs of terrifying phantom cowboys who ride over the desert. Instead, we got a park dripping with 90's edge and insincerity.

 

[Mike S]

Theme has never been the problem with DCA. California is a great theme if approached as the mythical world of "California" and the spirit that goes along with it, similar to how Disney Seas is about exploration and adventure rather than an aquarium.

California has classic gangsters, bigfoot, the golden age of film, El Dorado, the Gold Rush, Zorro, the lost city of Mu, earthquakes, The Barbary Coast, Mt Shasta's lights, etc.

There's no reason Disney couldn't have built a sprawling WRE-style attraction for DCA that incorporated 49ers and bandits and Zorro and such. There's no reason we couldn't have a rafting adventure that takes us into show scenes and encounters with California mythology and cryptozoology. There's no reason Hollywoodland couldn't feature a shadowy alley where we mount up with **** Tracey to stop crime or visit a movie studio ran by toons or muppets.

Disney's leadership was all about cheap and easy choices, and that's why DCA was a flop. That's why decisions like Pixar Pier, Mission BO, and Avengers Campus seem to harm rather than help.

If you want to see California done well, look at Knotts. Imagine if Disney had built Bigfoot Rapids and a Mystery Lodge. If Disney had a Fiesta Village with adventures through ancient temples. If Disney had a Sierra Nevadas area with places to explore. If Disney had a ghost town complete with a coaster that takes guests onto the backs of terrifying phantom cowboys who ride over the desert. Instead, we got a park dripping with 90's edge and insincerity.

Damn that park sounds incredible.