The Disney Parks Are the Ultimate Marvel Studios Trailers & Fans Have No Idea
The Disney Parks Are the Ultimate Marvel Studios Trailers & Fans Have No Idea
You think a screen is the only way to experience the MCU? Fellow Marvel fan, you've become part of a bigger universe; you just don't know it yet.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission - BREAKOUT. Disney Hotel New York - The Art of Marvel. Avengers Campus. Rogers: The Musical. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Avengers: Quantum Encounter at Worlds of Marvel. SHAWARMA PALACE.
Since 2017, Marvel Studios and the Disney Parks have been assembling a roster of Marvel experiences, offering fans the opportunity to step inside the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
But while immersive, themed experiences are nothing new for the House of Mouse, Disney’s Marvel-inspired lands and attractions are because they acknowledge the ongoing and ever-expanding MCU.
With every new Marvel Studios project, fans have come to expect new props, merchandise, characters, and even themed treats at Avengers Campus, as well as new show scenes and entertainment at other Disney Park or cruise line locations.
And, in doing so, Disney has made its destinations part of Marvel Studios’ marketing, offering a teaser or trailer fans can walk around in.
Now, is this marketing strategy yet another example of corporate synergy? Absolutely.
But it’s also a form of advertising that offers fans a shared experience, a place to celebrate their fandom in person instead of online. And, as a result, Disney’s theme park experiences feel as living and dynamic as the franchise that inspires them.
One of the most recent examples of this experiential marketing initiative on full display came with Marvel Studios’ latest film, The Marvels.
Take a look at what the Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Line offered ahead of The Marvels theaterical release.
New Brie Larson & Iman Vellani Scene for Avengers: Quantum Encounter
Back in September, the Worlds of Marvel restaurant aboard Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wish added a brand-new scene to Avengers: Quantum Encounter (a mini-Avengers movie starring Marvel Studios stars) to promote The Marvels’ November release.
Much like its cinematic inspiration, Worlds of Marvel features many of the Multiverse Saga’s latest stars and continues to grow with the franchise.
Since its July 2022 debut, the restaurant has gained a second production, the “Art of Marvel Studios,” for 4-night sailings, a Spider-Man addition earlier this year, and now this scene for The Marvels.
In my exclusive for The Direct, I learned how Disney Cruise Line made MCU history in that the scene “was the first time Nia [DaCosta], Brie [Larson], and Iman [Vellani] filmed together.”
You can read the full interview with Imagineer Danny Handke here and then check out the new scene for yourself here beginning at the 14:48 minute mark.
The Marvels Drone Show
Since Disneyland Paris’ Walt Disney Studios Park opened its own Avengers Campus, the resort has become a glowing example of how the parks - and the Hotel New York: Art of Marvel - can publicize the latest Marvel Studios storytelling.
In addition to offering more special food, drink, and extras than Disney California Adventure’s Avengers Campus, earlier this year, the resort introduced “Avengers: Power the Night,” a stunning drone show combined with special projections on Walt Disney Studios Park’s Tower of Terror.
On November 2, “Power the Night” unveiled a special preshow just to promote The Marvels celebrating Kamala Khan’s Ms. Marvel, Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau, and even Nick Fury (eyepatch included).
“…we are rehearsing a very special surprise. It’s a preshow for ‘Avengers: Power the Night’ and it’s going to be ‘The Marvels’ special event in anticipation of the premiere. For tonight’s event, we have got approximately 500 drones all setting themselves up into the sky in celebration of Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, and Monica Rambeau. We have got directors and designers, pyrotechnics, drone specialists, approximately 40 cast members putting this all together to prepare this very special event.”
Meet The Marvels
Avengers Campus is the ultimate MCU afterparty.
Since their respective openings, both Disney California Adventure and Disneyland Paris campuses have brought in characters from the latest Marvel Studios film or Disney+ series and often on the day of a premiere.
For instance, back in 2021, audiences who watched a new episode of Loki Season 1 would likely encounter that week’s Loki Variant at the campus by the same afternoon.
To date, the trend has (mostly) continued with the most recent being Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel at both campuses and with Monica Rambeau rounding out the trio at Disney California Adventure.
While both Captain Marvel and Ms. Marvel have been in the parks before, they’re now able to discuss their latest big-screen adventure with fans.
Plus, Kamala Khan makes for an especially enjoyable character meet since she’s just as big of a Marvel fan as the guests around her.
Flerkittens & Photon Blasts
As I said, Disneyland Paris’ Avengers Campus truly goes higher, further, faster in publicizing the latest from the MCU.
In addition to the drone show and the character meets, this resort’s Avengers Campus is offering Flerkitten MagicShots (if that’s something from the film you actually want to remember).
Also, the Skyline Bar at Hotel New York has The Marvels-themed drinks, such as the “Photon Blast” reflecting Captain Marvel’s costume color scheme with a cosmic touch.
But, if you’re like me (and Ms. Marvel) and don’t drink, there’s a specialty “mocktail” on the menu called “Cosmic Entanglement.”
The Future of the MCU at the Disney Parks & Disney Cruise Line
As Marvel Studios continues to crank out movies and shows, fans can expect various Disney attractions, restaurants, and lands to advertise them in some form or fashion.
It will be interesting to see how these future projects reflect the ongoing MCU. And, hopefully, the broader Marvel fan base will come to see this whole other corner of the MCU fan experience.