Guardians Characters

[YourEveryDayAdam]

Has anyone heard if they will bring any of the Guardians of the Galaxy Characters to the parks? What is the likelyhood of them doing that? The movie is doing very well.

 

[BrianL]

Marvel characters are tricky because of the Universal deal. They can't use them in the parks in Orlando (though they can in Anaheim and elsewhere in the world). The Guardians characters however are not in any way represented at Universal and I have read that Uni only has usage rights to specific characters (all the big ones though), so there could be a loophole.

In fact, based on the fact that they were showing GotG previews in the theater at DHS (like they did with Maleficent) it very well may be that these are not covered by the agreement, but I bet the legal department knows what does and does not fly better than I do.

 

[sgb1975]

I could be wrong, but I believe I read that Universal hold the exclusive rights to Marvel theme park characters in costume...meaning CMs dressing up as those characters and interacting with people or performing in a show or parade. I think Disney can still show print images of them, a la the Avengers wrap on the Tram. So unfortunately the likelihood of Guardians characters appearing at DW is pretty much zero.

 

[KateDrake]

I could be wrong, but I believe I read that Universal hold the exclusive rights to Marvel theme park characters in costume...meaning CMs dressing up as those characters and interacting with people or performing in a show or parade. I think Disney can still show print images of them, a la the Avengers wrap on the Tram. So unfortunately the likelihood of Guardians characters appearing at DW is pretty much zero.

I think that deal is only for the East Coast. Thor and Captain America both do M&Gs at Disneyland. So Disneyland might get to have a Guardians M&G, but I don't think it's possible for WDW to do so. But I admittedly am not a Marvel expert, so I'm not sure! I just know that they do have Marvel characters at Disneyland.

 

[Section106]

When will Disney break that contract? There is so much there that WDW could mine for new revenue. If it were me, I wouldn't let a competitor control what I could or couldn't do with my business.

 

[Missyrose]

When will Disney break that contract? There is so much there that WDW could mine for new revenue. If it were me, I wouldn't let a competitor control what I could or couldn't do with my business.

Disney can't break the deal. The only way the deal can end is if Universal decides to give up the rights on their own.

 

[Section106]

Disney can't break the deal. The only way the deal can end is if Universal decides to give up the rights on their own.

Every contract can be broken. It's just a matter of money.

 

[surferdave]

When will Disney break that contract? There is so much there that WDW could mine for new revenue. If it were me, I wouldn't let a competitor control what I could or couldn't do with my business.

Disney bought Marvel fully knowing that there were some unfavorable contracts in place they would have to honor. The biggest ones are the park rights and movie rights to some major characters, including Spiderman, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four.

They had similar issues when buying LucasFilms, including some television features playing on competing venues like Cartoon Network.

Every contract can be broken. It's just a matter of money.

Indeed; but Disney would have to really make it worth it for Universal, which means paying them enough to retheme attractions and whole sections of their parks as well as enough to acquire a property they find equally attractive to Marvel characters.

 

[minnie mum]

Every contract can be broken. It's just a matter of money.

There's your answer. That's why it hasn't happened so far. That's why it most likely won't happen in the forseeable future.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Maybe Disneyland. Universal is still contractually entitled to theme park attraction use of Marvel characters in Florida.

 

[Raenstoirm]

I could be wrong, but I believe I read that Universal hold the exclusive rights to Marvel theme park characters in costume...meaning CMs dressing up as those characters and interacting with people or performing in a show or parade. I think Disney can still show print images of them, a la the Avengers wrap on the Tram. So unfortunately the likelihood of Guardians characters appearing at DW is pretty much zero.

I heard (and I in no way actually know) that the character can't appear in a theme park east of the Mississippi. The avengers monorail was only doing the MK loop and not the Epcot loop (so it did not enter a park). The cruise line has Captain America onboard, but I don't know if he only shows up after the ship is in international waters.

 

[bookgirl]

But do they hold the rights to Kevin Bacon.




Saw the movie this weekend and loved it.

 

[surferdave]

But do they hold the rights to Kevin Bacon.




Saw the movie this weekend and loved it.

Amazingly enough he has never done a Disney movie. Maybe he'll sign up for Guardians of the Galaxy 2.

 

[Reddog1134]

As I understand it, the Guardians characters may be able to appear in WDW. Disney just has to be very careful about it.

They cannot reference characters being used at Universal and they cannot market them as "Marvel" characters.

The name "Marvel" is used heavily in the promotion of the film (to tie it to the rest of the Cinematic Universe) so it may prevent them from using them at WDW even if the name is not mentioned in the parks.

If you notice, even though they are Marvel characters, the name "Marvel" is not being used in the marketing of Big Hero 6.

 

[Raenstoirm]

If you notice, even though they are Marvel characters, the name "Marvel" is not being used in the marketing of Big Hero 6.

I didn't even know that was marvel! Yeah, they did pull the branding from it so far. Smart way to get around their agreement.

 

[Section106]

Marvel studios has Avengers 2, Ant Man, Thor 3, GotG 2 all announced. Disney XD has Spider-Man, The Avengers, and Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. ABC has Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. And we don't even know what Phase 3 will bring. There are rumors of Dr. Strange, Black Panther, and the Inhumans, not to mention the Thanos/Infinity Gauntlet showdown with the Avengers on the horizon.

There are just too many characters, too many movies, too many future merchandise sales, and too many unbuilt and unfilled DVC/hotel rooms for Disney to maintain the status quo.

Can you imagine the epic and annual Comic Cons at a Marvel fifth gate or a Marvel themed section of DHS? People think Harry Potter has generational staying power. Harry Potter couldn't hold Marvel's jock. There are just too many consumers of comic books to let Universal have these characters forever.

 

[Brocktoon]

I don't even think WDW, or the theme parks in general are a major concern for Disney/Marvel. There is WAY more money to be made from film box office and licensing the Marvel properties than the comparative small cash flow of adding them in the parks. I know this board primarily focuses on WDW, but for the corporate Disney (owner of ABC, ESPN etc ...), getting Marvel into WDW is probably not a high priority. They're already making a killer return on investment as it stands. I can't see them paying Uni for anything unless the film and licensing $$$ starts drying up.

 

[surferdave]

Marvel studios has Avengers 2, Ant Man, Thor 3, GotG 2 all announced. Disney XD has Spider-Man, The Avengers, and Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. ABC has Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. And we don't even know what Phase 3 will bring. There are rumors of Dr. Strange, Black Panther, and the Inhumans, not to mention the Thanos/Infinity Gauntlet showdown with the Avengers on the horizon.

There are just too many characters, too many movies, too many future merchandise sales, and too many unbuilt and unfilled DVC/hotel rooms for Disney to maintain the status quo.

Can you imagine the epic and annual Comic Cons at a Marvel fifth gate or a Marvel themed section of DHS? People think Harry Potter has generational staying power. Harry Potter couldn't hold Marvel's jock. There are just too many consumers of comic books to let Universal have these characters forever.

All that is true (I'll suspend any disbelief of the Harry Potter part for the sake of argument). It also all makes the Marvel characters that much more valuable to Universal and drives their price up even higher.

And I think you underestimate WDW's expertise at maintaining status quo in the parks.

 

[Lolsmum]

Marvel would be good at holding onto the boys who have outgrown the Disney Jr and Toy Story characters though.

Disney could put more Marvel characters into Disneyland Paris. Spiderman was amazing in May. We'd love more Marvel M&Gs or even a meal or two there.

 

[Reddog1134]

Amazingly enough he has never done a Disney movie. Maybe he'll sign up for Guardians of the Galaxy 2.

He was in X-Men: First Class. Not a Disney movie but Disney owned characters.

I going to go ahead and give myself 5 points for being close.