Is it time for a Marvel store or theme park?

[samurainoir]

more from Clifton Hill Adventure City

[The Bat]

The superhero "appearances" I saw at Universal a few years back was wonderfully lame.

That's one thing that has changed. The Superhero Costumes have improved, especially Captain America's.

[samurainoir]

My big regret is never having visited the short lived Marvel Mania restaurant. That would have been fun. I guessed it tied in with the Marvel stuff at Universal at the time? I sure it was overpriced and a cheesy tourist trap, but I would have loved it none the less.

[Starroid Raiders Dagon]

They still have the Spider-Man 3D ride at Universal, dont they? I rode that in Orlando and got off the ride and headed straight back in again. What a cool experience. I'll say this as just a casual visitor (and not knowing the business), Disney has rested on it's laurels for far too long. It has to be an astronomical cost to set up new rides, because that park should be two stories high by now, and the stuff that was already there should be insanely good with updates and new technology.
Japanese crowds will wait for hours on a weekend, like two plus hours for the Safari Ride. That sh#t is insane.

[huedell]

Most of the WB/DC stuff is already at Six Flags. Just saw on their website they have some kind of Lazer Tag ride for the Justice League.

and

Disney has been sneaking as much Marvel stuff as they can into the parks for the last several years. You have to figure eventually, they'll buy Universal out. There is now a Marvel-only themed store in Downtown Disney at Disney World.

is pretty much the vibe I'm getting as well---which is why, as I said above, I think nothing will change as far as something dramatically as a separate Marvel-themed park. Too much risk---too little return.

[huedell]

SeaWorld ruled, what are you talking about?!

Truly, it did. There's only so much you can do w/the live heroes---and, that was cool---as is any kind of appearance, I'd say. The more, the better.

[samurainoir]

It's just been announced that Marvel is going to feature prominently at the new Shanghai Disney theme park (along with Star Wars and Tron).

http://variety.com/2015/biz/asia/disney-china-shanghai-theme-park-1201540600/

The Universal IOA Spider-Man ride is replicated in Universal Japan, and I have a great love of all the wacky exclusive merchandise you can purchase in the Japanese theme park store compared to Florida... I think I dropped about $500 on everything from keychains, vinyl figures, Ramen noodles, cookies, yo-yo's etc. Facebook gallery here if anyone is interested:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.239311966271390.1073741998.141066659429255&type=3

Marvel Adventure City in Niagara Fall's Clifton Hill was cheesy as heck, but I couldn't get enough of it and visited it multiple times. The Spider-Man ride was actually pretty good for Clifton Hill standards, the Hulk encounter was trippy. The only exclusive merch I ever found there was a reprint of Ultimate Spider-Man #1 and a Bobble head.

[PNGwynne]

SeaWorld ruled, what are you talking about?!

[palitoy]

The superhero "appearances" I saw at Universal a few years back was wonderfully lame. It really hadn't evolved much since the superhero show I saw at Great Adventure in the 70's- simple spandex costumes, bad fight scenes with a booming, unmatched audio track. It really took me back.

Me too, they came in on ATVs and rode around, then posed for photos. My then four year old son quivered behind me the entire time. I was transported back to Woolco for a few minutes but he probably has nightmares.

[Wee67]

The superhero "appearances" I saw at Universal a few years back was wonderfully lame. It really hadn't evolved much since the superhero show I saw at Great Adventure in the 70's- simple spandex costumes, bad fight scenes with a booming, unmatched audio track. It really took me back.

I do think Disney would create a much more visually interesting stunt show.

[The Bat]

The best part was the Ramones Spider-Man theme cover used in the parking garage.

Hell yeah! I LOVE The Ramones version of that!

[The Bat]

I went to Universal's Marvel Island this winter. I was disappointed by the lack of "exclusive" figures...they just had regular Toy Store stuff. That wasn't the case the first time I went years ago.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Disney has been sneaking as much Marvel stuff as they can into the parks for the last several years. You have to figure eventually, they'll buy Universal out. There is now a Marvel-only themed store in Downtown Disney at Disney World.


Chris

[jwyblejr]

Most of the WB/DC stuff is already at Six Flags. Just saw on their website they have some kind of Lazer Tag ride for the Justice League.

[huedell]

Well, Disney just needs to focus on Disney overall, and not setting up WB/DC for easy money if/when a Marvel Themepark does good numbers.

As far as Marvel superhero themeparking, I'm sure Disney is happy doing things pretty much the same (if anything, focusing on cultivating their recent Lucasfilm properties), and secretly thanking their lucky stars that Bugs, Daffy & Co. have never gained enough momentum to cash-in on THEIR anthomorphic core of Mickey and pals who give value validity to every humanoid Disney character from Snow White to Thor to Han Solo to Indiana Jones, and to Statler and Waldorf.