Disney steps up efforts to bring 'Avengers' to parks

[Andy713]

If the Avengers aren't destined to find residence at WDW, that's ok. I love the Marvel Universe but Disney has an amazing library from which to draw from. Would I like to see Thor in action, or an Iron Man thrill ride? Yes! But Disney can do these things with what they have in house and do them well.

One thing I would love to see is a comic "shop" specifically designed to promote and sell Marvel merchandise. If they're going to sell it at the World, then give it it's own location and identity. I'm looking at you DTD...

[ASteelersMidget]

Originally Posted by Andy713

If the Avengers aren't destined to find residence at WDW, that's ok. I love the Marvel Universe but Disney has an amazing library from which to draw from. Would I like to see Thor in action, or an Iron Man thrill ride? Yes! But Disney can do these things with what they have in house and do them well.

One thing I would love to see is a comic "shop" specifically designed to promote and sell Marvel merchandise. If they're going to sell it at the World, then give it it's own location and identity. I'm looking at you DTD...

Here's the issue. Name 10 characters that the GP will know and that Universal isn't using.

I'll be waiting

[DCTooTall]

Originally Posted by ASteelersMidget

Here's the issue. Name 10 characters that the GP will know and that Universal isn't using.

I'll be waiting

Since DTD is basically just a glorified outdoor mall at this point, I don't believe a simple Marvel retail shop would be a blatent violation of the Universal contract. They couldn't do anything "attraction-esque" there, including Meet and Greets... but they could slap a couple Marvel characters on the outside of the building and sell a bunch of Marvel crap inside with high mark-ups.


The 2 issues would really be 1. Would the sales be worth the dedicate space.... and the inevitable questions they would get about the Marvel attractions at Universal or the lack of Marvel stuff onsite beyond Merch? and 2. Is there anything in the Universal Contract that would prohibit or complicate a Marvel branded retail establishment that close to the Universal Resort. (Considering the contract does include requirements on retail space dedicated to selling Marvel branded merch, there could be something to help protect Universal's sales to justify the retail space requirements)

[pilferk]

Originally Posted by DCTooTall

The 2 issues would really be 1. Would the sales be worth the dedicate space.... and the inevitable questions they would get about the Marvel attractions at Universal or the lack of Marvel stuff onsite beyond Merch? and 2. Is there anything in the Universal Contract that would prohibit or complicate a Marvel branded retail establishment that close to the Universal Resort. (Considering the contract does include requirements on retail space dedicated to selling Marvel branded merch, there could be something to help protect Universal's sales to justify the retail space requirements)

I think they could get away with a Marvel retail outlet at DTD, given the contract tenets we've seen. Marvel had talked about opening retail outlets around the country, including in NYC, so they seemed to think they had the right to do that (though it ultimately fell through, not for contractual reasons).

That being said: Your point about brand confusion (I hear enough people confusing Universal Studios and DHS) is a good one. I'm not sure Disney wants to go through that mess.

Which doesn't preclude them from just using a section of an existing store (like World of Disney) to sell Marvel Merch in a bit more conspicuous way.

[Andy713]

I'm not sure brand confusion would be a problem in Disney's eyes. DTD has Lego and it's not too far away from Legoland. I do think the issue would be money. Would it perform well enough to justify it's creation? Other than movies (John Carter), Disney is pretty good at marketing and creating demand for it's goods. Perhaps a dedicated section of Once Upon A Toy to sort of test the idea to see if it warrants it's own store front. If it makes the $$$, I believed they'd at least consider it.

[DCTooTall]

Originally Posted by Andy713

I'm not sure brand confusion would be a problem in Disney's eyes. DTD has Lego and it's not too far away from Legoland. I do think the issue would be money. Would it perform well enough to justify it's creation? Other than movies (John Carter), Disney is pretty good at marketing and creating demand for it's goods. Perhaps a dedicated section of Once Upon A Toy to sort of test the idea to see if it warrants it's own store front. If it makes the $$$, I believed they'd at least consider it.

But you also need to remember that the DTD Lego store has been there for Years, while Legoland just opened within the past year, and is far enough away and still not really known as well as by the General Public.

Disney already gets questions all the time about the Disney Transportation bus they need to take to get to Harry Potter or the Universal park. They also get confused a lot by why they can't use their MYW ticket to see Harry Potter. It's just like with all the hype about CarsLand you know they are starting to ask CM's in Florida how to get to it. Sometimes it's VERY easy for those of us on the DIS to forget that there are a lot of visitors to WDW who just don't realize that Universal and Disney are not the same or affiliated in any way, and don't really do much research into what exactly they are getting themselves into.

As such, there is a very real possibility that if they increased the Marvel presence within the WDW compound with a branded retail shop at DTD, You will start to increase the confusion on why they don't have a ride, or a chance to get a photo with Spiderman or Captain America.... or with the Universal billboards which have Spiderman on them, people asking which park has the Spiderman ride. It'll also likely just increase the misinformation out there from CM's and Bus Drivers on the details of he Universal Contract and when it's expiring so Disney can build it's ride. (Especially when they complete or officially announce the Avengers attractions in California and other worldwide parks which were mentioned in the article that started this thread)

[Andy713]

Originally Posted by DCTooTall

But you also need to remember that the DTD Lego store has been there for Years, while Legoland just opened within the past year, and is far enough away and still not really known as well as by the General Public.

Disney already gets questions all the time about the Disney Transportation bus they need to take to get to Harry Potter or the Universal park. They also get confused a lot by why they can't use their MYW ticket to see Harry Potter. It's just like with all the hype about CarsLand you know they are starting to ask CM's in Florida how to get to it. Sometimes it's VERY easy for those of us on the DIS to forget that there are a lot of visitors to WDW who just don't realize that Universal and Disney are not the same or affiliated in any way, and don't really do much research into what exactly they are getting themselves into.

As such, there is a very real possibility that if they increased the Marvel presence within the WDW compound with a branded retail shop at DTD, You will start to increase the confusion on why they don't have a ride, or a chance to get a photo with Spiderman or Captain America.... or with the Universal billboards which have Spiderman on them, people asking which park has the Spiderman ride. It'll also likely just increase the misinformation out there from CM's and Bus Drivers on the details of he Universal Contract and when it's expiring so Disney can build it's ride. (Especially when they complete or officially announce the Avengers attractions in California and other worldwide parks which were mentioned in the article that started this thread)

Valid concerns, all. I was just thinking that because Disney is selling Marvel merchandise in the parks and DTD anyway, why not centralize it in one unique (unique is good, right?) shop? DTD gets something different and Disney operated and the Marvel-Disney connection gets the exposure it probably needs. No meet and greets, nothing over the top, just a store that specializes in Marvel merch. Movies, comics, posters, clothing, toys, things like that. And to separate it from all the things you can find at any Walmart, perhaps create things that are limited and unique to the Disney location. Look, I'm a comic geek and a Disney geek. They don't have a natural synergy, but if Disney is willing to spend that kind of $$$ on something, promote it as theirs. Just my opinion.

[larry_poppins]

Just returned from a trip to WDW and did not find Marvel merchandise anywhere on property. This looks like a change from my previous visit a couple of years ago where it was all over Future World, Tomorrowland, and DTD.

[paulh]

personally if there were due to put a shop(comic book in IMHO) in DTD,one of the small boths next to the AMC theatre would be ideal.Marvel is film/comic book based in the end
Paul

[Andy713]

Originally Posted by larry_poppins

Just returned from a trip to WDW and did not find Marvel merchandise anywhere on property. This looks like a change from my previous visit a couple of years ago where it was all over Future World, Tomorrowland, and DTD.

That is a change. I remember seeing it in EPCOT two summers back. Mostly toys and t-shirts. Wonder what brought about this change? With the success of the Avengers, you'd think that Disney would be trying to capitalize on this.

[dairylives]

Originally Posted by DCTooTall

But you also need to remember that the DTD Lego store has been there for Years, while Legoland just opened within the past year, and is far enough away and still not really known as well as by the General Public.

Disney already gets questions all the time about the Disney Transportation bus they need to take to get to Harry Potter or the Universal park. They also get confused a lot by why they can't use their MYW ticket to see Harry Potter. It's just like with all the hype about CarsLand you know they are starting to ask CM's in Florida how to get to it. Sometimes it's VERY easy for those of us on the DIS to forget that there are a lot of visitors to WDW who just don't realize that Universal and Disney are not the same or affiliated in any way, and don't really do much research into what exactly they are getting themselves into.

As such, there is a very real possibility that if they increased the Marvel presence within the WDW compound with a branded retail shop at DTD, You will start to increase the confusion on why they don't have a ride, or a chance to get a photo with Spiderman or Captain America.... or with the Universal billboards which have Spiderman on them, people asking which park has the Spiderman ride. It'll also likely just increase the misinformation out there from CM's and Bus Drivers on the details of he Universal Contract and when it's expiring so Disney can build it's ride. (Especially when they complete or officially announce the Avengers attractions in California and other worldwide parks which were mentioned in the article that started this thread)

I worked as a Concierge CM , a job where you spend most of your time giving directions and explaining transportation, and not a single person ever asked what Disney transportation they should take to Harry Potter. You are way off with that

[joxer1014]

To be honest there is no need for WDW to put in Marvel merchandise - only because it would be the same stuff you can buy in the Disney Stores or at the comic book store in the mall or at Wal-mart or Target or Toys R Us. I LOVE Marvel Comics way too much but it doesn't need to be in the parks.

[Andy713]

Originally Posted by joxer1014

To be honest there is no need for WDW to put in Marvel merchandise - only because it would be the same stuff you can buy in the Disney Stores or at the comic book store in the mall or at Wal-mart or Target or Toys R Us. I LOVE Marvel Comics way too much but it doesn't need to be in the parks.

I too love Marvel, and I think putting in a unique, one of a kind shop would be a great way to expose people to a product line that they might never would before. And as I stated earlier, create truly unique items available only there, creating a destination for Marvel/Comics fans.

On a different note, I wonder how long it'll be before Disney announces a Marvel themed resort? Prob not in WDW, but somewhere...

[Kronk N Tink]

Maybe they'll replace La Nouba with "Turn off the Dark"

[ASteelersMidget]

Originally Posted by Kronk N Tink

Maybe they'll replace La Nouba with "Turn on the lights"

Fixed it for you

How many spidey jokes can we make in 30 seconds. lol