It was announced at D23 Expo 2017 that the Marvel Universe would be coming to Disney’s California Adventure. The expansion started with Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: BREAKOUT. The other two attractions announced are themed around The Avengers and Spider-Man.
Rumor has it The Avengers attraction will be a true story roller coaster similar to what guests have seen at Universal with the Harry Potter franchise. Yet the details on a Spider-Man attraction have been scarce.
According to a patent that was filed by the Walt Disney Company last week. It seems that Walt Disney Imagineering will be going bold and original. Most thought the Spider-Man attraction would be a “shooter” attraction similar to Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin. Disney is going in a completely different direction.
The patent is called Track-based Swing Ride with Long Arm Pendulum. Here are the details from the official patent.
One goal in designing the ride system was to deliver an experience similar to what it would feel like to be with Tarzan or a similar character swinging between trees of a jungle on a vine or with Spider-Man or a similar character swinging on webs between buildings as you move down streets of a city. [The ride is] intended to have swinging sensation provided while also having forward travel along a ride path in a direction of travel and for the swinging sensation to feel thrilling and fun.
Woah, maybe Disney is planning a Tarzan themed attraction and we don’t know it! Most of us are assuming it will be the latter. The patent also describes that movement of the arm would allow a pause before a big downward swing, speeding up at the bottom and simulating natural motion.
This current design looks stellar. I thought Flight of Passage was Soarin’ on steroids. Then here comes Spider-Man’s web-slinging adventure. Disney had to pull out something big for Spider-Man. Especially because Universal Studios has a phenomenal Spidey related attraction.
The benefit Disney has is that this upcoming Marvel Universe at Disney’s California Adventure will be Marvel Cinematic Universe friendly. Meaning attractions will be updated to promote and give clues about the larger scope of the universe. Similar to what Disney did for Guardians of the Galaxy Mission BREAKOUT Monsters After Dark. They included a monster from Thor: Ragnarok. Same can happen for both the Spider-Man and Avengers attractions. Plus Disney has the ultimate advantage of having Tom Holland being Spider-Man on the attraction.
Disney has veteran Imagineer Joe Rohde in charge of all Marvel attractions at Disney Parks. So it will be exciting to watch and see what develops in a couple of years.
Boardwalk Times will keep you updated if any new details emerge.
Zach Perilstein is the Editor-in-Chief at the Boardwalk Times.
