Avengers Campus Expansion Set to Double in Size at Disneyland Resort with Two New Attractions

MarvelCharacterNerdSep 14, 2024

One of the things I love most about Campus is that each new movie or show has had some character or entertainment representation. With the exception of She-Hulk which got a bench - and I'm glad nothing else - and Echo which was ignored entirely but should have at least had Kingpin out - though I'm hoping we may get him for Daredevil. So I like that we regularly get something new. I'm excited to see if Agatha will bring Teen along with her next week. But honestly for me, I like watching the game shenanigans the characters get up to with the guests. I love casually playing Rock Paper Scissors with them or following them around on spy missions more than most of the formal training shows. I'm glad we still have the stuntronic Spidey and the Black Widow/Black Panther/Captain America stunt show happening, along with the Dance-Off. I still think those are terrific, especially considering how they regularly change up the Dance-Off to keep it fresh. I'd like to have another magic component in there - maybe even just Doctor Strange interacting with the Orb of Cagliostro - which has such MOODS at night! :D I am hoping for Daredevil we get a stunt show appearance. And I hope they continue to bring back the Hawkeye Christmas stunt show, which aside from the Dance-Off is my favorite show on Campus. It's hilarious and heartwarming - just perfect. I'm hoping the Mutants are a big enough success in the MCU that they warrant their own E-Ticket attraction. It's the only thing I'd forgive losing the Hyperion for. I'd just like Rogers or Aladdin back. :D But for something new, I'd love Tangled - though the Fantasy Faire show really is perfection - or Moana or Encanto. Though I'd be very happy for Poppins, B&B, Hercules or Hunchback as you mentioned. I'd guess they'll be happy to chat with guests who experience it as they meet around Campus, but I just don't expect anything specifically set up for that. He's got a lot of dialogue that's really fun. I don't visit him often but when I do, he makes me laugh.

MistaDeeSep 13, 2024

Oh very cool - I love that they've started doing that. As our resident MarvelCharacterNerd, do you have any hopes/dreams/ideas for what sort of other show concepts might fill that Dr. Strange Sanctorum level niche? I think an X-Men danger room experience with Professor X and some cool special effects could be really awesome Facts. I'd love to see: Newsies, (with a redeveloped facade, functional Red Car Trolley down a living Hollywood Blvd) Mary Poppins Aida Beauty and the Beast Hercules, Hunchback, Lion King, even Frozen Encanto would be a cool adaptation for the stage I wonder if we'll see heroes from the various flight paths show up on different days advocating for their training program out front Also was not aware this was going on, Iron Man benefits from not needing a face actor to really sell the experience

MarvelCharacterNerdSep 13, 2024

Testing if guests are worthy to lift Mjolnir has been a regular show in Paris since their Campus opened. Here, they only started doing it more regularly a few months ago, but it's less structured/more spontaneous than a formal show. Keep an eye out for Loki & Thor out together on Campus and you may find them doing it. I will fully admit, having tried it... :D The Strange show as it was is likely gone forever due to the Campus expansion. Whether they bring it back in a new version is probably dependent if a third Doctor Strange movie happens because movie releases = more budget. :D I don't want just anything, but we need something good back in there. ASAP. I would expect SFL to have something like the M:BO lobby video - we may get Tony himself welcoming guests to try the experience. I don't expect room for more entertainment in a building housing two attractions. But Iron Man has been more mobile on Campus in recent months, which is nice to see him out of his corner by the Headquarters. He doesn't walk too freely in the crowds because he gets mobbed, but he's hanging out on the balcony more, being more visible, which is cool. :)

MistaDeeSep 12, 2024

I haven't seen the Mjolnir bit! Is Doctor Strange done forever? That was a nice little offering 100% agree - I'd take any musical back in the Hyperion Yeah as an IP it really naturally sets up for those sort of moments. I wonder if Stark Flight Lab will have any supporting entertainment in a similar vein

MarvelCharacterNerdSep 12, 2024

:D Fair enough on some of it, but the guests do enjoy all of it. Trying to lift Mjolnir is their Sword in the Stone bit. There have been various formal training experiences - aside from the Dance Off and Warriors of Wakanda, there was the spy training exercises with Nick Fury, and the Doctor Strange show (RIP) did utilize "magic" and lighting effects. Although ironically, the best Marvel live entertainment show was adjacent to Campus - the late lamented Rogers: The Musical at the Hyperion, which was so much better than anyone could have expected. It was just a delight and sorely missed. But while there's always room for improvement throughout the parks, watching a kid interact with a hero - in any capacity - is a win. And the Campus provides that constantly. To me the joy stuff comes from WEB Slingers where everyone gets to sling webs. I know plenty here put it down, but I really like the experience and so do plenty of people I see exiting with big smiles or kids talking excitedly about it before and after. But I'll agree that fighting Darth Vader with a light saber was AWESOME for kids and needs to be brought back ASAP. :)

MistaDeeSep 12, 2024

I'm glad someone loves it! You are Marvel Character Nerd after all haha To me though, this ^ is all pretty pedestrian, the sort of interactions you'd expect from any Disney character in the park. I guess I'd like to see a more structured experience for the Avengers to recruit or train up some kids and do an activity with some special effects. When I've gone with kids, the feeling of fighting Darth Vader at the Training Academy - or even the spark of joy that comes from being the one to pull the sword out of the stone, that's what I feel like Avengers Campus lacks but would be a slam dunk if they could elevate the experiences they do have.

MarvelCharacterNerdSep 12, 2024

If you don't think it's fun, then I don't think you've been there enough, or maybe it's just not for you, which is fine. :) But really - there is SO MUCH of that kind of interaction with guests there that happens often and guests love it when they come across it. These are just a handful off the top of my head: 5raBtgRzXfc

MarvelCharacterNerdSep 12, 2024

I'll give credit to Fantasyland characters who also still get some similar interactions with guests. Specifically thinking of the Mad Hatter & Alice playing musical chairs and having "tea parties" with guests, along with Peter Pan & Wendy reading from storybooks to kids. It's been a minute since I've seen the characters play Duck, Duck, Goose with kids but it has happened in the past. Caught Chip 'n Dale playing charades at Grizzly Peak in DCA last year I think. But yeah, Avengers Campus knocks it out of the park (pun intended) with characters playing with the guests and constantly trying out new experiences. :)

Disney IrishSep 12, 2024

Of all the lands in DLR with characters interactions I think that AC is the most stacked. It basically took the original concept of walk around characters and turned it up to 11.

MistaDeeSep 12, 2024

I guess I just wish it was....better?

MarvelCharacterNerdSep 12, 2024

Aside from Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Dance-Off? Currently that doesn't seem to be running the "invite kids up to dance" version but it comes and goes. Warriors of Wakanda teaching weapons training I think is still around too, though like all entertainment was cut back recently. Plus the characters regularly play games with guests. Hang out on Campus and you'll see everything from Thor & Loki testing people's worthiness to lift Mjolnir, various characters playing Telephone whispers, Red Light/Green Light, Rock Paper Scissors, charades and more. Avengers Campus is full of character interactions for large groups - with plenty aimed at kids and others aimed for all ages. :)

PhroobarSep 11, 2024

Skeleton Crew is about a bunch of kids being chased by pirates. They could add elements from the show and tie TSI into Galaxy's Edge!!

britainSep 11, 2024

Oh Goonies would make all the pirate stuff on the island work much better than Tom Sawyer’s one throw-away line about pretending to be pirates!

PhroobarSep 11, 2024

Turn the Hungry Bear into a queue for the Country Bear's Jamboree coaster. The coaster will bridge over the river and take over all of TSI. Add lots of trees for near misses. The coaster would be considered a family coaster with a lower height limit. Add AA characters of the bears along the track.