Guardians of the Galaxy coming to Energy Pavilion at Epcot

[Daveeeeed]

The "Marvel Action Universe" was a retail concept that Marvel was planning, so it likely that this does not apply to the Disney parks, not to mention the fact that Disney had a regular M&G with Baymax (a Marvel character) for some time now, so clearly Disney is allowed to use some Marvel characters in their parks.

From what I understand Disney cannot use any Marvel Characters for a theme park currently present in Marvel Superhero Island East of the Mississippi River. So Guardians and Big Hero 6 can be used, but not X-Men, SpiderMan, Fantastic Four, Dr. Doom, the Avengers etc. That's why they couldn't have the Iron Man monorail on the Epcot line as it technically goes inside the park. Disneyland can have Marvel characters galore that's why they have meet & greets. Disney World can have Guardians, Big Hero 6, Inhumans, and thausands of more characters that Marvel has.

 

[asianway]

From what I understand Disney cannot use any Marvel Characters for a theme park currently present in Marvel Superhero Island East of the Mississippi River. So Guardians and Big Hero 6 can be used, but not X-Men, SpiderMan, Fantastic Four, Dr. Doom, the Avengers etc. That's why they couldn't have the Iron Man monorail on the Epcot line as it technically goes inside the park. Disneyland can have Marvel characters galore that's why they have meet & greets. Disney World can have Guardians, Big Hero 6, Inhumans, and thausands of more characters that Marvel has.

You will find most of those "thausands" are off limits as members of the families in question. Inhumans for example are FF

 

[Mawg]

What kills me is that it wouldn't be that hard to have an interesting and popular pavilion about energy and about health and biology. I've got 100 ideas. That is pretty close to literal. Some of them are almost certainly good. Some of them even involve a franchise tie in. Apparently, creativity has gone the way of the dodo at Disney.-

I agree, EPCOT could still push the boundaries of theme parks and be educational on top of it. Why not build a journey into the brain thrill ride, you could even use Inside Out for it. So many options to base rides and attractions on Biology, Nature, Science and technology of the future why start with the IP's, start with good ideas with an educational element and then ask do we have any IP's we can throw a bone to in this pavilion or attraction. It seems they are doing the exact opposite. We have a new IP, let's build a ride around it and maybe throw a bone to something educational.

 

[danlb_2000]

From what I understand Disney cannot use any Marvel Characters for a theme park currently present in Marvel Superhero Island East of the Mississippi River. So Guardians and Big Hero 6 can be used, but not X-Men, SpiderMan, Fantastic Four, Dr. Doom, the Avengers etc. That's why they couldn't have the Iron Man monorail on the Epcot line as it technically goes inside the park. Disneyland can have Marvel characters galore that's why they have meet & greets. Disney World can have Guardians, Big Hero 6, Inhumans, and thausands of more characters that Marvel has.

Correct, but he clause in the contract about the Marvel retail concept says it cannot be within 60 miles of a Universal park and some people have taken this to mean that Disney cannot use ANY Marvel characters at WDW. I don't agree with that interpretation, and Big Hero 6 would seem to prove that it is an incorrect interpretation.

 

[njDizFan]

Part of what makes the EPCOT issue so perplexing, as well, is that we have here a park with only about three attractions (currently) that draw anything resembling a significant wait time, yet it still ranks as the third most visited theme park in America and top five or six on planet Earth. Beyond that, there's clearly a dedicated fan base for the original EPCOT Center theming and attractions, yet not many who are going out of their way to shout their love for the current park; clearly, somebody at corporate knows this, evidenced by the continuing sale of retro EPCOT apparel even years on past the 30th anniversary.

It seems to me this implies that there is an audience out there if the original EPCOT concept could be designed and promoted well, and that it wouldn't take much for EPCOT's numbers to be impressive given that, again, it's highly ranked among all theme parks despite only ever having a significant waiting time at Test Track, Soarin', and now Frozen. Going whole hog and gutting the entire pavilion concept comes off like tossing out the baby with the bathwater, but I suppose the shareholders want to hear there's movement with Marvel properties and they want to hear it yesterday.

I do still believe that it's foolhardy to try to replicate the Potter experience with most properties; might be an interesting topic of conversation, to figure out what makes a property like HP work so well for theme design and why others might not have the same level of staying power or expansive opportunities. I think Disney's best bet if they want to get close to HP is Star Wars, but I'm not so sure about a lot of other possible ones.

I love this post. It's true EPCOT is still ranked in the top 5/6 most visited theme parks in the world, with only 4 real rides!

This tells us that it relies heavily on:

1) the 2 annual festivals
2) The multi-day visitors that need to go somwhere else instead of the MK
3) older people looking for a relaxing trip around the WS
4) booze

But beyond all that the past greatness of the park and nostalgia. From 1983-almost 2000 the park had such a great sense of uniquness. It inspired and made us think. The future of travel, communication, Earth's Land and Sea, our health etc. It told a story and had a true theme that in my opinion has not been matched. They can rebrand EPCOT in an IP land with loosly based themes that will bring in the crowds to see the newest thing at Disney. But will in inspire future generations the way Horizons did for children of the 80's/90s? Will my grandkids be wearing a Guardins of the Energy retro T-shirt in 2060?

 

[Daveeeeed]

Correct, but he clause in the contract about the Marvel retail concept says it cannot be within 60 miles of a Universal park and some people have taken this to mean that Disney cannot use ANY Marvel characters at WDW. I don't agree with that interpretation, and Big Hero 6 would seem to prove that it is an incorrect interpretation.

Would that be valid for merchandise only within theme park boundaries for what universal currently uses, or would that be for any usage of them within 60 miles for just the properties they are using, because like you said Big Hero6 Characters are used, so it has to be one of the two.

 

[Bill Cipher]

To settle the matter of Guardians being legally allowed to be used in the parks, they can. How do I know this? They are currently being used in Hollywood Studios. They appear for a few seconds in the movie clip compilation at the end of The Great Movie Ride.

 

[danlb_2000]

Would that be valid for merchandise only within theme park boundaries for what universal currently uses, or would that be for any usage of them within 60 miles for just the properties they are using, because like you said Big Hero6 Characters are used, so it has to be one of the two.

I don't think there are any limitations on Disney selling Marvel merch in the parks.

As to the point I was discussing... At the time the contract was made with Universal, Marvel had a plan to make Marvel retail stores that would also have video games and simulator rides. The contract would have allowed Marvel to put these in a region where Universal had exclusivity and they could use any characters even the ones Universal had rights to. One of the limitations of this is that it could not be within 60 miles of a Universal park.

 

[George]

To settle the matter of Guardians being legally allowed to be used in the parks, they can. How do I know this? They are currently being used in Hollywood Studios. They appear for a few seconds in the movie clip compilation at the end of The Great Movie Ride.

Yo, dunderhead, those aren't the characters but merely "projections" of the characters. Wait a sec.....they could use animatronics, actors, and projections and not the REAL superheros. Why hasn't someone thought of this? Instead of Tony Stark, just get some dude to wear an Iron Man suit! Instead of Chris Evans, just get some guy to dress up as Captain America! No real Marvel superheroes on property at all. Problem solved. I'm not sure why my career as a fancy suit wearing law talking guy hasn't taken off.

 

[Daveeeeed]

Yo, dunderhead, those aren't the characters but merely "projections" of the characters. Wait a sec.....they could use animatronics, actors, and projections and not the REAL superheros. Why hasn't someone thought of this? Instead of Tony Stark, just get some dude to wear an Iron Man suit! Instead of Chris Evans, just get some guy to dress up as Captain America! No real Marvel superheroes on property at all. Problem solved. I'm not sure why my career as a fancy suit wearing law talking guy hasn't taken off.

Then you'll have a multi million dollar lawsuit against the costumes. Not a good idea to not use the 'real' characters

 

[RSoxNo1]

Disney did not get where it is today by putting profit above all else, it made an exceptional product that people really wanted to pay for. In the long run a profit first attitude could destroy what Disney has worked so hard in the part to build.

Profit is simply a bi-product they learned to live with.

 

[lazyboy97o]

The thing here is that I firmly believe that Disney could do both. (breaking into my Walt Disney voice) Imagine people learning from characters they love. Using the latest technology from American industry and integrating it with some of the beloved characters from Disney movies coming together to subtly teach about technology and the future while providing a bit of enjoyment is the pinnacle of what the Walt Disney Company is all about.

The point of characters is the exact opposite of subtlety. They are the focus. If the subject matter is interesting and presented in an engaging manner then wasting time and effort to trick people into the experience is pointless.

 

[montyz81]

The point of characters is the exact opposite of subtlety. They are the focus. If the subject matter is interesting and presented in an engaging manner then wasting time and effort to trick people into the experience is pointless.

Not all subject matters are interesting to everyone no matter how engaging you make it. But, adding a common engaging element to a subject matter that isn't as engaging to everyone increases the chances that it will be engaging to everyone. The end result will be increased foot traffic, which as you know will increase revenue for the company. For the resort guest it will both widen their aperture of entertainment options resulting in a much fuller resort park experience. Win-Win for both company and guest!

 

[lazyboy97o]

Not all subject matters are interesting to everyone no matter how engaging you make it. But, adding a common engaging element to a subject matter that isn't as engaging to everyone increases the chances that it will be engaging to everyone. The end result will be increased foot traffic, which as you know will increase revenue for the company. For the resort guest it will both widen their aperture of entertainment options resulting in a much fuller resort park experience. Win-Win for both company and guest!

The reason for the abandonment of theme is the obsession with trying to be everything for everyone. It doesn't work. If people are uninterested that is okay. No attraction can ever handle every single visitor to a park in a day.

 

[DisneyJayL]

Yes!! 100!!!

Seriously though, I hope it winds up being good for EPCOT.

 

[Thanks phoenicians]

To me what is even more important than GOTG coming to energy is if phase 2 gets approved and also what else gets approved for the park. If you get an ip like inside out in the imagination or WOL pavilion that can double as a popular ip and actually teaching what the pavilion intended that'll make GOTG stick out like a sore thumb even more unless it teaches about energy (which imo may be worse)

 

[2351metalcloud]

I agree, EPCOT could still push the boundaries of theme parks and be educational on top of it. Why not build a journey into the brain thrill ride, you could even use Inside Out for it. So many options to base rides and attractions on Biology, Nature, Science and technology of the future why start with the IP's, start with good ideas with an educational element and then ask do we have any IP's we can throw a bone to in this pavilion or attraction. It seems they are doing the exact opposite. We have a new IP, let's build a ride around it and maybe throw a bone to something educational.

I think Inside Out was designed to have an attraction involving it at Epcot. The movie is a bit reminiscent of Cranium Command.

It seems like Disney makes some IPs in movies for attractions. I think Big Hero 6 was designed in part in order to put an attraction about health at the Wonders of Life area or somewhere else at Epcot. Tangled seems to have been made in the hopes of putting an attraction at the Germany area at World Showcase. Frozen I think was similarly made for an attraction at the Norway area.

The movie Coco is probably also being made in a way so that it can be used in an attraction at the Mexico area at the World Showcase if Disney is happy with people's reception to it.

For a Guardians of the Galaxy attraction about energy the attraction might focus mostly on the Nova Corps because an important part of their concept in the comics apparently has to do with some concepts of 'energy'.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Corps

"The Nova Force is the source of power for Nova and the entire Nova Corps, generated and controlled by the Living Computers of Xandar called the Xandarian Worldmind. The amount of Nova Force a Nova Corp member can access is determined by their rank. The higher the rank, the more power they can access. It has been observed, such as the case of Garthan Saal, that some exposures to the Nova Force can induce madness and mental instability with prolonged exposure to extremely high levels.[12]

The Nova Force can grant the recipient (to varying degrees depending upon rank) various abilities including superhuman strength, speed, reflexes, and perception. It also grants flight at faster than light speed, a healing factor, and energy powers. These energy powers include the ability to create an electromagnetic beam or a gravimetric pulse. It can also be used to create Star Gates. The link to the Worldmind allows the wearer to access enemy profiles, analyze an attacker's strengths and weaknesses, interface with computers, analyze energy signatures, create shields against mental attacks and receive transmissions from nearby sources."

 

[montyz81]

The reason for the abandonment of theme is the obsession with trying to be everything for everyone. It doesn't work. If people are uninterested that is okay. No attraction can ever handle every single visitor to a park in a day.

I get it and I agree with you. It is clear that Disney is not going to go back to Epcot Center though. My thought is purely based on that fact. In order to get the old Epcot Center theme back in place and make the park somewhat cohesive again, I feel like the Imagineers could combine the two ideas together. Science, future and technology coupled with Disney movie elements and characters to tech you even though you didn't know it. Take Crush for example. He does try to teach you something about sea turtles while entertaining you with movie elements and characters. Apply this philosophy to everything done at the park. Now think about SSE. It is essentially the last remains of Epcot Center. It is what Epcot Center was built to do. (It is also my favorite ride in all of the parks.) Sadly, it is mostly a walk on ride. (Here is where I am going to be a bit sacrilegious) Imagine if Mickey was the one guiding you through all your choices at the end. Imagine if you got a video at the end with Mickey telling all about Walt's dream of E.P.O.C.T. and then Mickey showed you what your future looked like. I would think this would be something that kids would want to walk away with at the end. (I'm sure there is a better idea for this, I am just spit balling here.) Like I said before, I really want old Epcot Center back. I feel like this is the only way to do it so that WDC can make more money and drive up attendance.

 

[FigmentJedi]

I get it and I agree with you. It is clear that Disney is not going to go back to Epcot Center though. My thought is purely based on that fact. In order to get the old Epcot Center theme back in place and make the park somewhat cohesive again, I feel like the Imagineers could combine the two ideas together. Science, future and technology coupled with Disney movie elements and characters to tech you even though you didn't know it. Take Crush for example. He does try to teach you something about sea turtles while entertaining you with movie elements and characters. Apply this philosophy to everything done at the park. Now think about SSE. It is essentially the last remains of Epcot Center. It is what Epcot Center was built to do. (It is also my favorite ride in all of the parks.) Sadly, it is mostly a walk on ride. (Here is where I am going to be a bit sacrilegious) Imagine if Mickey was the one guiding you through all your choices at the end. Imagine if you got a video at the end with Mickey telling all about Walt's dream of E.P.O.C.T. and then Mickey showed you what your future looked like. I would think this would be something that kids would want to walk away with at the end. (I'm sure there is a better idea for this, I am just spit balling here.) Like I said before, I really want old Epcot Center back. I feel like this is the only way to do it so that WDC can make more money and drive up attendance.

Spaceship Earth is a "Walk-On" because it's an Omnimover, one of the most efficient ride systems ever

 

[marni1971]

Spaceship Earth is a "Walk-On" because it's an Omnimover, one of the most efficient ride systems ever

With a large but constantly moving line (until messed up by FP+)

I often wish it were a walk on when I'm in line! But it isn't.