Have you ever wanted to visit the Avenger’s base, hang with the Guardians of the Galaxy, shoot webs like Spider-Man, long story short are you ready to be a hero? You are in luck as Avengers Campus opens this summer at Disneyland.
Avengers Campus which opens July 18, 2020 to park guests visiting Disney California Adventure Park will be able to step into the world of the Avengers and live out the dream of being a superhero in the Marvel Universe.
The campus is a six-acre stretch of land, anchored by the thrilling Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! attraction featuring a second brand new family-friendly attractions quick-service restaurant, brand new food carts for shawarma and treats, heroic encounters with some of our favorite Superheroes, and so much more!
Ahead of its grand opening this summer, check out below what attractions and the opportunities await thanks to the Disney Imagineers on the project. While planning out the land, the Disney Imagineers behind the project kept coming back to three things they wanted to accomplish for guests:
- the need to feel a sense of heroism
- optimism
- empowerment
These three things are what make up the core of Avengers Campus and everything that can be seen and done during your time there.
Brent Strong, Executive Creative Director, Walt Disney Imagineering, explained during a recent press day for Avengers Campus,
“Since day one, we have been trying to figure out, how do we bring this land to life, and not just bring it to life where we get to see your favorite heroes or you get to meet your favorite heroes, but where you actually get to become a hero? That is what Avengers Campus is all about. It’s about actually living out your SuperHero fantasies. This land is finally the invitation for all of us to join the Avengers, all of us to join the team, and all of us actually find the hero within, which is just incredibly exciting.”
Here’s what you need to know about Avengers Campus:
AT AVENGERS CAMPUS, BE PART OF A BIGGER UNIVERSE
The story of Avengers Campus starts the moment you walk in, as the main entrance gives the appearance of compression and expansion, akin to the look of Tony’s Arc Reactor, with lots of light and metal grates.
From there, guests will pass by the Worldwide Engineering Brigade, where they may see Spider-Man defying gravity as he flips 60 to 65 feet in the air above the rooftop of the WEB building. Inside this building is a brand-new Spider-Man attraction where guests can sling webs like Spider-Man. Further along, there’s an ancient sanctum where guests will find Doctor Strange practicing mystic arts. Nearby, a Quinjet has landed atop the Avenger’s Headquarters, which is adjacent to Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!
Scott Drake, Portfolio Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering, explained that this is what the Disney Imagineers were looking to accomplish with the feeling of the land by quoting Nick Fury’s remark to Tony Stark —
“You’ve become part of a bigger universe, you just don’t know it yet “ — “We take that [idea] into every attraction, every heroic encounter, everything should make you feel like you’re part of something even bigger.”
“We see characters that have great powers, and they use them to do good, right? We see ourselves, and we all ask the question, what would we do with that power? And hope that we would make those same decisions and all of those things. I don’t think the goal was, ‘just play,’ but it was really, ‘how do we get it in the story, and how do we make sure that we’re not just witnessing Super Heroes, but we’re participating?’ We’re part of the story.”
WEB-SLINGERS: A SPIDER-MAN ADVENTURE
Using innovative technology that detects movements and gestures, the attraction allows guests to reach out their hands to sling webs, just like Spider-Man. Get ready to thwip in real life!
Brent Strong, Executive Creative Director, Walt Disney Imagineering, explained,
“If you think about the story of Avengers Campus, this is us being invited by the Avengers to essentially join the big leagues, to become a hero, to learn what it is to be a hero,” “That is Spider-Man’s arc, right? He is a young hero who has an everyday life, who has, you know, struggles with school and with dating and holding down an internship, and he is also a Super Hero. He’s not, you know, sort of well-established. [The Imagineers] were quickly like, ‘this is the character that you want to follow in the footsteps of.”
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
Hungry? Well, all Super Heroes need to eat, and when it’s time to refuel, Pym Test Kitchen has it all – big and small. Putting the particle accelerator to good use, the team at Pym Test Kitchen has been shrinking and growing foods of all sizes, and now it’s time to try it all out. The quick-service restaurant offers a variety of different options (including plant-based) in adult and kid-sized portions for anyone with a grumbling stomach.
Additionally, at Pym Tasting Lab adult guests can grab a specialty alcoholic beverage in a souvenir Pym beaker.
Nearby The Collector has opened up his own sweet, Terran Treats, featuring intergalactic eats. Plus, guests and heroes on the go can enjoy their favorite shawarma-inspired snacks at the Shawarma Palace food cart, which is decked out with memorabilia for Avenger fans. This cart offers hand-held savory wraps with fragrant c,hicken shawarma and garlic sauce. Or, guests may choose the Impossible™ plant-based falafel wrap.
HEROIC ENCOUNTERS
It wouldn’t be Avengers Campus without some of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes roaming around. The land will include over a dozen different characters that guests can meet and interact with daily, including Spider-Man in his new suit (based on his time at WEB), and Iron Man will be showcasing the brand new Mark 80.
Dan Fields, Executive Creative Director, Disney Parks Live Entertainment, explained,
“This is going to be the largest assembly of these heroes any place, anytime, anywhere,” “We really have a place for them to live, and work, and play, and protect, and train.”
Other heroes, you might spot include Black Widow, Ant-Man and The Wasp, Captain Marvel, Captain America, Doctor Strange, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Black Panther, and Thor. You also never know when Loki might pop up to cause mischief.
Looking to train heroes and see if you have what it takes? Okoye, the leader of the Dora Milaje, will teach recruits what it’s like to be a member of Wakanda’s elite royal guard.
With all these heroes out and about, villains don’t stand a chance. However, that’s not going to stop Taskmaster from infiltrating Avengers Campus, as the villain set to appear this summer’s Black Widow, Taskmaster was a great fit “to drop into this place and fit into the story.”
Dave Bushore, Vice President, Franchise Creative & Marketing, Marvel Studios explained,
“And we’re always looking at, how can we take the story that’s happening right now and get it into the land as soon as possible so when people walk in, it’s the thing that they just heard about, or they just watched. [Taskmaster] fits right into the story we wanted to tell.”
MERCHANDISE
If you want to gear up like a Super Hero, head over to WEB Suppliers to pick up all your WEB-centric needs, from branded apparel, househo,ld and novelty items, hats, trading pins, patches, and the must-have Spider-Bots. Nearby at The Campus Supply Pod, you’ll find everything branded with official Avengers Campus logo gear including tees, hats, performance fleece, and so much more.
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So assemble your friend and family, fire up your vehicle of choice (Helicarrier, Quinjet, Milano), grab your shield and PYM particles and be the hero you have always dream of being.
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Avengers Campus opens July 18, 2020, and please leave any and all Infinity Stones at home.