Here Are the Highlights of the New Avengers Campus at Disney's California Adventure Park
The creators of the new Avengers immersive experience relied on more than 70 years of stories and characters for inspiration.
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NBC Universal, Inc.
The happiest place on earth has reopened on both sides of Harbor Boulevard, inside the park, but also outside where businesses are reopening. Vikki Vargas reports for NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on April 30, 2021.
Now that it’s getting safer to assemble, the Avengers are at last descending on Disneyland.
A Spider-Man ride that lets visitors blast bots with virtual webs from their bare hands and a show of strength from the royal guard of Wakanda are among the highlights of the new Avengers Campus at Disney’s California Adventure Park, whose debut was paused for about a year by the coronavirus pandemic before it opens to the public Friday.
Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort
Iron Man can be seen in Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park, as it was Tony Stark who offered up the site for this new place to recruit and train the next generation of heroes. In front of Avengers Headquarters, Iron Man proudly welcomes the recruits in a memorable, heroic encounter. At Avengers Campus, Iron Man is seen showcasing his newest armor, the Mark 80, which is a Disney Parks exclusive design. (Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort)
Thor, who crosses the Bifrost from Asgard to appear at Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park, encounters recruits with his mythic hammer, Mjolnir, in hand. At Avengers Campus, the new land inside Disney California Adventure Park, Super Heroes from across time and space have arrived and are dedicated to training the next generation of Super Heroes. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
At the site of the Ancient Sanctum, deep in the heart of Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park, guests may encounter the Master of Mystic Arts himself, Doctor Strange. From time to time, Doctor Strange steps forth through an inter-dimensional portal to engage guests with illusions, sorcery and tales to astonish from his collection of mysterious relics. From time to time, he may even bring other heroes as he opens the portals. At night, the Ancient Sanctum glows even more vividly with majestic colors and lights, pulsating with mystic energy. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
When trouble ensues at Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park, out of nowhere Earth's Mightiest Heroes arrive to save the day. Guests may see Black Panther, Black Widow or Captain America spring into action, heading off the threat from these foes. (Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort)
Black Widow makes a rooftop cameo at Avengers Campus. (Ty Popko/Disneyland Resort)
Okoye, the leader of the Dora Milaje, debuts for the first time in a Disney park at Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park. Recruits at Avengers Campus are invited to join Black Panther's loyal bodyguards, the Dora Milaje, in training sessions lead by Okoye in the courtyard near Avengers Headquarters. Here, they may learn wisdom from Wakanda and participate in a series of strength and skill exercises. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
Captain Marvel has touched down on Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park from somewhere far across the universe. At Avengers Campus, the new land inside Disney California Adventure Park, Super Heroes from across time and space have arrived and are dedicated to training the next generation of Super Heroes. (Derek Lee/Disneyland Resort)
Throughout the day at Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park, recruits have the chance to witness Spider-Man swing into action high above Avengers Campus with gravity-defying, acrobatic feats never before seen in a Disney park. Spider-Man flips 60 to 65 feet in the air above the rooftop of the WEB building. (Ty Popko/Disneyland Resort)
Following those stunning moves, Spider-Man swings down off the building to ground level to say hello and inspire the "new recruits" he meets on campus. (Ty Popko/Disneyland Resort)
Guests may come across Ant-Man and The Wasp at Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park outside Pym Test Kitchen as they check in on the latest experiments taking place with food and beverages using the remarkable Pym Particles. (Ty Popko/Disneyland Resort)
Captain America takes tours of duty throughout Avengers Campus, either on foot or on the Avengers deployment vehicle. Guests may even see some other heroes riding along, like Captain Marvel. At Avengers Campus, the new land inside Disney California Adventure Park, Super Heroes from across time and space have arrived and are dedicated to training the next generation of Super Heroes. (Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort)
The Avengers Campus seeks to be an immersive experience that allows guests to become super-heroic across a series of rides, shows and eateries from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
“We’re excited to finally open up the gates and let everybody in,” Scot Drake, a portfolio creative executive with Walt Disney Imagineering, said at the park Wednesday. “We had 70-plus years of stories and amazing characters to pull from, 23 epic films, and for us it was, ‘What is the best way to get our guests right in the middle of those stories, right in the middle of the action?’”
(Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort)
Super Heroes assembled to celebrate the momentous dedication of Avengers Campus June 2, 2021, in an epic ceremony at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California. Disney CEO Bob Chapek was joined in front of Avengers Headquarters near the shining Quinjet by Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D'Amaro and Marvel Studios President/Marvel Chief Creative Officer Kevin Feige, along with Paul Rudd, star of the "Ant-Man" films, and Anthony Mackie from the hit Disney+ series "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier." Teaming up with Iron Man, Spider-Man, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Black Panther and more, they together unveiled the new land, which opens to the public at the Disneyland Resort on June 4, 2021. (Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort)
"The Falcon and The Winter Soldier" actor Anthony Mackie joins Captain America during the grand opening ceremony of Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California, June 2, 2021. At Avengers Campus, opening June 4, 2021, guests can join the action with the Avengers and their allies, like Iron Man, Black Panther, Black Widow and more; sling webs on the first Disney ride-through attraction to feature Spider-Man; taste-test inventive food and drinks and become part of a bigger universe. This photo and all photos included in the gallery were produced during a controlled production, in alignment with current California COVID-19 guidance. (Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort)
"Iron Man" director and actor Jon Favreau poses, June 2, 2021, in Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California. (Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort)
"Ant-Man and the Wasp" actor Paul Rudd poses with Ant-Man and the Wasp, June 2, 2021, while touring Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California. (Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort)
"Guardians of the Galaxy" actress Zoe Saldana gets a sneak peek at Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California. (Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort)
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige poses, June 2, 2021, in Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California. (Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort)
"Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" actor Simu Liu poses in front of the Shawarma Palace while taping a cameo for the opening ceremony of Avengers Campus, a new land coming to Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California. (Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort)
"Captain Marvel" actress Brie Larson gets a sneak peek at Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California. (Derek Lee/Disneyland Resort)
The experience resembles the videogame competition of Disneyland’s Buzz Lightyear ride, but the action and the tech behind it are in a different galaxy. With no equipment necessary (though enhancement gadgets for the wrist can be bought next door), riders can blast swarms of the little spider-bots (which can also be purchased next door), and a couple of not-so-little ones.
“What was really important to us was to try and make the interface disappear so the guests just had the superpowers themselves,” said Brent Strong, executive creative director of Walt Disney Imagineering. “So in order to do that we did a whole bunch of invention to try and make the technology as un-obvious as possible.”
David Nguyen/Disneyland Resort
At Pym Test Kitchen in Avengers Campus inside Disney California Adventure Park, even the food and drinks tell a story. Just as Ant-Man and The Wasp used shrinking and growing technology, Pym Test Kitchen applies this science to innovative food. Guests ages 3 through 9, have the option of several mini-meals. Pictured here, the PB&J Flavor Lab: Assemble Your Own Experiment features smooth peanut butter, strawberry jelly, and Pym particle bread. (David Nguyen/Disneyland Resort)
Look for the Atomic Fusion Pretzel, a Buffalo-style pretzel loaded with chicken, hot sauce, ranch dressing, blue cheese crumbles, celery, and dill-pickled carrots (David Nguyen/Disneyland Resort)
Craving something breakfast-y? Try the Ever-Expanding Cinna-Pym Toast, which is made with baked Pym particle bread and egg custard with cinnamon-sugar topping, a fried egg, smoked bacon, and maple syrup. (David Nguyen/Disneyland Resort)
Experiment No. EE45: Impossible Spoonful is a pasta dish featuring plant-based Impossible large and micro meat-balls, served in a super-sized spoon with a tiny fork. (David Nguyen/Disneyland Resort)
The Mini Pasta & Impossible Meat-balls dish is crafted with rigatoni and ditalini pastas, plant-based meat-balls, tomato sauce and dairy-free Parmesan served with coconut milk yogurt and small DASANI water. (David Nguyen/Disneyland Resort)
The Subatomic Chicken Sandwich features crispy breaded chicken breast on a soft roll. (David Nguyen/Disneyland Resort)
Among the weird treats, guests can delight in this Cosmic Cream Orb, a crispy cream puff with whipped raspberry cheesecake mousse. (David Nguyen/Disneyland Resort)
Guests ages 3 through 9, have the option of several mini-meals including the Teeny Pym-ini, which features a toasted ham and provolone sandwich with marinara dipping sauce. (David Nguyen/Disneyland Resort)
Experiment No. EE90: Not So Little Chicken Sandwich features a fried chicken breast with teriyaki and red chili sauces, pickled cabbage slaw and crispy potato tots. (David Nguyen/Disneyland Resort)
Sandwich lovers will want to go for the Experiment No. EE10: Pym-ini, a panini on toasted focaccia with salami, rosemary ham, provolone, sun-dried tomato mayonnaise and arugula with marinara dipping sauce, which can be served by the slice or as a long, multi-portion sandwich. (David Nguyen/Disneyland Resort)
Guests can also can eat at Tony Stark's favorite shawarma joint, Shawarma Palace. The New York's Tastiest is a chicken shawarma wrap, garlic spread, and coconut yogurt-tahini sauce with pickled vegetables. David Nguyen/Disneyland Resort)
The eatery also features an Impossible Victory Falafel, a plant-based-falafel and cauliflower wrap that includes garlic spread, hummus and coconut yogurt-tahini sauce with pickled vegetables. (David Nguyen/Disneyland Resort)
Journalists got to take the ride for a few spins Wednesday. With each pass the experience changes, as guests start to master their web-slinging and figure out they can do more than just blast away with their powers.
“You can start to grab on to shipping containers, open doors, grow things and shrink things,” Strong said. “We’ve hidden a million Easter eggs and fun little surprises in there.”
Avengers Campus, opening June 4, 2021, at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California, will invite guests of all ages into a new land where they will sling webs on the first Disney ride-through attraction to feature Spider-Man. The immersive land also presents multiple heroic encounters with Avengers and their allies, like Iron Man, Black Panther, Black Widow and more. At Pym Test Kitchen, food scientists will utilize Ant-Man and The Wasp's shrinking and growing technology to serve up perfectly sized snacks. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
An Ancient Sanctum in Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park glows vividly with majestic colors and lights, pulsating with mystic energy at night. While exploring Avengers Campus, guests will encounter several Super Heroes throughout the campus, including Doctor Strange in this Ancient Sanctum. As he meets recruits, Doctor Strange will train them in the mysterious ways of the mystic arts by bringing to life an ancient sanctum with powerful spells (Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort)
New Super Hero recruits exploring the new Avengers Campus will encounter several Super Heroes throughout the campus, including Doctor Strange at the overgrown ruins of this Ancient Sanctum. Here, guests will learn the secrets of the mystic arts from Doctor Strange and discover ancient magical artifacts. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
Guests of all ages will visit a new land where they will sling webs on the first Disney ride-through attraction to feature Spider-Man. The immersive land also presents multiple heroic encounters with Avengers and their allies, like Iron Man, Black Panther, Black Widow and more. At Pym Test Kitchen, food scientists will utilize Ant-Man and The Wasp's shrinking and growing technology to serve up perfectly sized snacks. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
Just as Ant-Man and The Wasp used shrinking and growing technology, Pym Test Kitchen, featuring Impossible Foods applies this science to innovative food. Pym Test Kitchen uses 'Pym Particles' to showcase normal foods at unusual scales, including shareable bites, inventive entrees and sweet treats. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
For example, guests can delight in Experiment No. EE45: Impossible Spoonful, a pasta dish featuring plant-based Impossible large and micro meat-balls, served in a super-sized spoon with a tiny fork. (David Nguyen/Disneyland Resort)
Guests will also find the latest Super Hero gadgets at the WEB Suppliers store. Pictured here, interactive Spider-Bots, much like the ones seen throughout Avengers Campus, are powered by a remote control with eight articulated legs that move forward and backward. Guests may customize their Spider-Bot with tactical upgrades to harness the powers and style of some of their favorite Super Heroes. (David Roark/Disneyland Resort)
Elsewhere, majestic music blasts to announce the marching arrival of the Dora Milaje — the royal guard that protects T’Challa in “Black Panther.” With their leader Okoye, the shaven-headed women of Wakanda twirl their spears and explain their principles to give wannabe warriors in the audience a lesson in the fighting arts.
The show includes something rare for a day at Disneyland: a moment of silence for the dead. While Okoye tells the crowd she seeks to honor fallen kings and ancestors, the ritual, in a time of many such moments, feels like an acknowledgment of the many deaths during the pandemic that kept the park dark for more than a year. (It also feels like an acknowledgement of “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman, whose death last year stunned the world.)
Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort
All Super Hero recruits visiting Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park, are able to sling webs on WEB LINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure. Plus now, for the first time ever on a Disney Parks attraction, guests can customize their skills with additional web slinging powers by using WEB Tech accessories available at WEB Suppliers. WEB Tech add-ons are inspired by some favorite Super Heroes, including Spider-Man, Ghost Spider, Iron Man and Rescue. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
Super Hero recruits can add to their ensemble with Spider-Man light goggles or Web Shooters (sold separately) from WEB Suppliers inside Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California. Heroes-in-training can wear the stylish light-up goggles, which feature 17 unique expressions. The Web-Shooters cuff around the wrists and feature authentic lights and sounds. (David Roark/Disneyland Resort).
A closer look at some Iron Man-themed WEB Tech. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
A closer look at some WEB Tech accessories, available at WEB Suppliers. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
WEB Tech add-ons are inspired by some favorite Super Heroes, including Spider-Man, Ghost Spider, Iron Man and Rescue. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
Super Heroes-in-training at Avengers Campus at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, will be able to add to their Super Hero memorabilia with the Disneyland Resort-exclusive Funko Pop! vinyl figurines, including Spider-Man with Spider-Bots that have run amok throughout Avengers Campus (left) and Iron Man. (David Roark/Disneyland Resort)
Eager to build and battle your Spider-Bots, gaining a a new sidekick as you train to be a part of the next generation of Super Heroes? That can happen. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
Pictured here, interactive Spider-Bots, much like the ones seen throughout Avengers Campus, are powered by a remote control with eight articulated legs that move forward and backward. Guests may customize their Spider-Bot with tactical upgrades to harness the powers and style of some of their favorite Super Heroes. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
Guests can take their Spider-Bot on the go with this backpack, perfect for carrying essentials including a special web-mesh to hold Spider-Bots or accessories. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
Look also for a variety of household and novelty items, including beaker-inspired mugs, toothpick holders, notepads, trading pins and patches. (David Roark/Disneyland Resort)
Campus Supply Pod carries an assortment of attire featuring the Avengers Campus logo and other gear including Avengers Campus t-shirts, a fleece hoodie and even a deluxe figurine set featuring some favorite Avengers. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
Another look inside Campus Supply Pod. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
Spider-Man costumes for kids (exclusive to Avengers Campus) and more superheroic clothing can be found inside the shop. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
There is something for every recruit to become the Super Hero they want to be. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
The new section was also built to incorporate “Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!” a drop-tower ride with funky tunes in place since 2017.
The storytelling on the Avengers campus even extends to the food, including an outlet of the Shawarma joint that Iron Man suggests his allies hit up after the Battle of New York depicted in 2012′s “The Avengers.” It was open for sampling Wednesday and as Tony Stark promised, it is, indeed, good.
Another Avengers Campus is planned for Disneyland Paris. The California version will have major additions. Other heroes, including Thor and Iron Man, will make appearances, and Doctor Strange will work his wizardry in his Ancient Sanctum several times a day.
Some of those heroes, in Marvel’s movies, are dead, and for those who follow the events of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with near-religious precision, it can be tough to tell what time period the campus is set in.
The creators say don’t overthink it.
"We’ve summoned heroes from across all of space and time,” Strong said. “Time is a lot more squishy than any of us think. Trying to put a specific date to it can be challenging. But to us, Avengers Campus is here and now.”
