Disney has revealed that two new attractions are coming to Avengers Campus in California Adventure at Disneyland, with one being a brand-new and previously unknown ride. This post shares details, concept art, and everything we know about the plan–plus our commentary about this news.
This news was announced during the “Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase” or Parks Panel presentation during the 2024 D23 Expo at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro offered a sneak peek at concept art for the future in addition and teased what was to come in a few years.
This was just one of several blockbuster announcements for Parks & Resorts at Horizons, during which D’Amaro revealed several ‘shovel to soil’ projects that will come online in the next 5 years, including over a half-dozen additions that will debut before the end of 2025. He and head Imagineer Bruce Vaughn followed through on their promise to deliver concrete details and not just tease more ‘Blue Sky’ possibilities.
The announcement came during a Marvel portion of the D23 Expo Parks Panel, which was interrupted by Deadpool. I assumed the new box office darling was going to be getting his own attraction, but in actuality, the “Merc with a Mouth” stormed the stage to pitch his own ideas for what he thinks might be good additions to Disney Parks around the world.
His bad ideas include the Chimichanga Chaser, Deadpool’s Heck House, Logan’s Run (Featuring Wolverine). The possibilities are endless. Errr, maybe not. Leave this to the professional Imagineers, Wade. Seriously, though, the Deadpool segments of the D23 Expo were funny and although I haven’t covered it, Storytime with Deadpool at DCA is actually really good. I was skeptical and Deadpool isn’t exactly my jam, but I love it. More importantly, so does everyone else…which is why I thought Deadpool might actually get an attraction.
Anyway, Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro and Imagineer Scott Trowbridge did have several other Super Hero related things to announce during the showcase.
We’re going to focus on the Marvel announcements for Disneyland Resort in this post, and the international Marvel news separately. Here’s what’s on the horizon for Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure…
The big news (quite literally) is that the size of Avengers Campus at Disneyland will double with not one but two brand new attractions to suit up and fight alongside some of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
Construction on this expansion of Avengers Campus will begin in 2025.
Before we get to the Avengers Campus attraction specifics, there’s a bit of background on Scott Trowbridge that’s worth sharing. He’s now in charge of the Marvel portfolio at Walt Disney Imagineering.
Before that, Trowbridge was formerly the lead Imagineer on Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Prior to that, he was at Universal Creative for 15 years and helped develop the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. Meaning he has experience managing big franchises, as well as Marvel specifically and has worked with one of the ride systems that’s coming to Avengers Campus.
By all accounts, Trowbridge is a tremendous talent and is great at shepherding this type of project. He also obviously has relevant experience that’ll likely be valuable–and it’s probably good (for him) to be managing a global portfolio. Nevertheless, I was really hoping he’d be the lead on the Pandora project at DCA. Now that Joe Rohde is gone, I can’t think of anyone else other than Trowbridge who has helmed that type of project. But I digress.
Get ready for a multi-world adventure experience with Avengers Infinity Defense.
Technology that allows the Avengers to jump between worlds has gone missing, and King Thanos is using it to wreak havoc everywhere. Recruits will travel to iconic locations like Asgard, Wakanda, and New York City alongside the likes of big, and small, heroes. You also just might find yourself face-to-face with King Thanos, too.
Not much else was shared about Avengers Infinity Defense, but we do know this is still the second Avengers E-Ticket ride concept that was first unveiled back at the 2022 D23 Expo by Bob Chapek, and reiterated during the 2023 Destination D23 event by Josh D’Amaro. In other words, this is still the King Thanos Multiverside Avengers E-Ticket at Avengers Campus.
Here’s what we know based on previous comments at past D23 events…
According to Kevin Feige, Avengers Infinity Defense will occur in a version of the Multiverse where Thanos won.
When joining battle with the Avengers, you never know what foes you’ll face from anywhere and everywhen. Avengers Infinity Defense will feature a brand new story.
This family-friendly attraction will give guests the opportunity to team up with more of the Avengers and their allies from across the Multiverse to battle against enemies, led by King Thanos.
Marvel super heroes have created a new vehicle capable of jumping between worlds and even realities – on planet Earth and beyond. The design combines elements of Tony Stark’s time-suits with Xandarian jump points and Wakandan technology to create a vehicle that combines portal technology and flight capabilities to maneuver through the skies, transporting heroes to remote worlds in a matter of moments.
Speaking of which, the ride vehicle was on display in the Imagineering booth at the 2024 D23 Expo, and it’s the same as the one utilized by Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure in Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea. You can read our review, which describes that as Avatar Flight of Passage meets Universal’s Spider-Man, for somewhat of a “sneak peek” at what to expect from this Marvel E-Ticket.
I love Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure; it makes Sarah nauseated. I would expect the ride profiles to be fairly similar, with Avengers Infinity Defense being a bit more intense while still fitting the family-friendly label. (I don’t know how you do a completely family-friendly Marvel ride with a battle against King Thanos, but the Peter Pan ride does the same with Captain Hook–so who knows.)
The bottom line is that Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure is excellent–a long and meaty E-Ticket that leaves guests (well, except those who get sick on it) feeling satisfied. I will be really happy if Avengers Infinity Defense is a clone of that ride system, profile, and track layout, and just swaps out Peter Pan and pals for Marvel.
If you’re up for another mission, Tony Stark has one for you. And you know Tony, he always wants to try something new and exciting, and it’s going to make you feel like a Super Hero yourself. With the just announced Stark Flight Lab, you’re going to sit in two-person pods and deploy to a test station. Then a robot arm grabs your pod and starts whirling you around in a simulated flight.
And, a familiar face will join you at the Stark Flight Lab — Mr. Stark himself. Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as Tony Stark for the attractions in the land.
I’m honestly not totally sure of what to expect from Stark Flight Lab. It reminds me a lot of Sum of All Thrills at EPCOT, but as an outdoor attraction (maybe?). Not to get too “inside baseball,” but that extinct attractions in the former Innoventions (along with the anglerfish in the Seas with Nemo & Friends) used KUKA Arm technology.
For west coast people, it’s similar to the ride system for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, except minus…you know…the ride vehicle attached to the KUKA Arm. And the track that takes you through Hogwarts Castle, all of the show scenes inside conveyed through show scenes and gigantic screens. So totally different in actuality, but powered by the same piece of impressive technology.
The Sum of All Thrills was actually really cool and punched way above its weight. It also had really low hourly capacity and high demand relative to that, despite being tucked away in the hallways of Innoventions. I can only imagine how much demand will explode when Stark Flight Lab is added to Avengers Campus, given a wrapper of Marvel theme, and touted as something with endless re-rideability because the flight simulation will change.
Accordingly, I’m a bit more mixed on Stark Flight Lab than Avengers Infinity Defense. Obviously, more is better. I’ll certainly take another attraction in Avengers Campus, even if it is an outdoor (?) flat (?) ride. I just kind of wish the amazing KUKA Arm technology were being put to more ambitious use, and I’m also fearful of how long lines are going to get for this–with (arguably) insufficient payoff. But then again, who knows. The lines for the secondary attractions in Cars Land are pretty much perfect from a ‘payoff’ perspective at this point, so maybe that’ll also be true with Stark Flight Lab once the initial excitement subsides.
Regardless of that, I’m very bullish on Avengers Infinity Defense. I’ve seen a lot of disappointment from Disneyland diehards about what it isn’t, but I’m telling you, it being the equivalent of Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure is a great thing. And as sick as I am of no-stakes multiverse nonsense in the Marvel films, I think that idea actually lends itself to a theme park attraction.
It’s an excellent way of playing the ‘greatest hits’ of the voluminous Marvel Cinematic Universe, and offering a little something to everyone since it’s not possible to do rides for every single super hero or villain. I’m not the biggest MCU fan anymore, but I’m really looking forward to Avengers Infinity Defense. Don’t make the mistake of underestimating it–like so many of us did with Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What is your reaction to this Stark Flight Lab and Avengers Infinity Defense announcement from the 2024 D23 Expo? Which of the two new Marvel rides are you more excited to experience? Wish Imagineering were using different ride systems for the new Avengers Campus attractions? What future plans for Disneyland Resort have you most and least excited? Anything you’re hoping does not end up coming to fruition? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
