Just for Fun... Would Universal ever close Superhero Island?

[DisBabe94]

Think about it... Disney owns Marvel now. They are pumping out blockbuster hits for this franchise like there is no tomorrow!! The new ride, Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout is a smashing success. People are already associating Disney with Marvel movies. I predict that they are also going to start associating Disney with Marvel rides.

I'm saying 10 years down the line, once Disney builds Marvel Land in California Adventure and a possible GoTG ride in EPCOT as well, that Universal's Superhero Island is gonna start looking real shabby. People will go into the park and say what's this? Some lame version of what I can get in California, or across town at WDW? It's like Universal is promoting a Disney product within their own theme park. It's kind of funny to me when I really start thinking about it!

I don't think that Universal would ever relinquish those rights to Disney - no way. But maybe they would reach a point where they decide that Superhero Island needs to go, and that it's causing more harm than good.

What do you think??

 

[Amelia :)]

I don't see why it would be shabby in 10 years. It wasn't shabby ten years ago, and it isn't shabby now imo. I love the retro comic book themeing, I think it looks fantastic. I would be really sad if it was ever changed. I really don't think they would want to get rid of the Hulk (they just rebuilt it!) or Spider-Man. I love Disney, but they don't make roller coasters or simulators as good as those two rides (although I haven't ridden FOP yet).

 

[Liljo22]

Only if Disney wants to shell out a ton of money to buy the rights back which I do not see happening. Universal signed a very favorable contract with Marvel and they hold all the leverage.

 

[cschaaf]

The way I understand it, and there's no telling if this is right, the marvel deal Universal has requires them to keep the area 'fresh'. The rumors were, in the early days, Disney would send an employee every day to look for signs that the area was being neglected so as to invalidate the contract.

As long as Marvel remains popular, Universal will keep the area updated. No reason not to.

If Disney wants the rights, they'll have to come up with a healthy chunk of money and/or a pretty good trade.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm saying 10 years down the line, once Disney builds Marvel Land in California Adventure and a possible GoTG ride in EPCOT as well, that Universal's Superhero Island is gonna start looking real shabby.

Nothing shabby about it. IMO people who think it looks shabby aren't taking their time walking through.

I love the retro comic book themeing, I think it looks fantastic. I would be really sad if it was ever changed.

Exactly. Just standing and listening to the ambient noises. Actually, walking towards that island after you've finished with Kong etc is pretty neat, as the sounds change into the new sounds.

I'm not even a comic fan, and omg could not care less about GOTG (apart from them taking away TOT in DCA), but I don't want that island to go away.

 

[atricks]

Marvel Island at IOA is really good, I know some people think it looks tacky, but it nails the comics quite well, Stan Lee loves the look of the place I know that for a fact. There are a TON of details you can discover (pretty much all of IOA is like that, hidden details everywhere) including references to Marvel franchies, daredevil, Stark, Avengers, Xmen, and more. The paint on many of the buildings is an extremely expensive chrome-illusion paint that changes color based on the angle and lighting. (purple to orange is probably the easiest one to spot) I know there are rumors of a new ride going in or replacing doctor doom as well. Universal likely won't ever give it up.

It'll be odd if Disney opens up a Guardians ride at Walt Disney World, since they won't be able to advertise it at all based on the contract (although they can use those particular set of characters in the park, the advertising rule still applies). It'll be an exercise in creative legal loopholes if they do create that ride.

http://orlandounited.com/2016/05/darn-marvel-contract/ is a good article explaining the contract.

 

[Liljo22]

The way I understand it, and there's no telling if this is right, the marvel deal Universal has requires them to keep the area 'fresh'. The rumors were, in the early days, Disney would send an employee every day to look for signs that the area was being neglected so as to invalidate the contract.

As long as Marvel remains popular, Universal will keep the area updated. No reason not to.

If Disney wants the rights, they'll have to come up with a healthy chunk of money and/or a pretty good trade.

Wording of the contract below. Its very broad but not something I ever see UO violating.

Each THE MARVEL UNIVERSE shall be operated and maintained in a first class manner consistent with the highest standards of the theme park industry and shall be deemed “open” only when operated in such manner (subject to temporary closures for force majeure events as described in the prior paragraph).

 

[pcstang]

Universal has done a great job keeping everything fresh. I've noticed a lot of refreshed areas in the last 12 months. Marvel isn't going anywhere. Hopefully they put a real drop ride in when doom is replaced.

 

[macraven]

Been going to UO since 1993 each year (back when it was a one day one park place

In all the years I have gone, it has kept the same standards and in clean shape

I have no thoughts or concerns what the park will be like ten years now

I don't look that far in the future


I'm lucky if I can even figure out and plan what's for dinner the next day let alone think of ten years down the road

 

[DisBabe94]

I don't see why it would be shabby in 10 years. It wasn't shabby ten years ago, and it isn't shabby now imo. I love the retro comic book themeing, I think it looks fantastic. I would be really sad if it was ever changed. I really don't think they would want to get rid of the Hulk (they just rebuilt it!) or Spider-Man. I love Disney, but they don't make roller coasters or simulators as good as those two rides (although I haven't ridden FOP yet).

Nothing shabby about it. IMO people who think it looks shabby aren't taking their time walking through.



Exactly. Just standing and listening to the ambient noises. Actually, walking towards that island after you've finished with Kong etc is pretty neat, as the sounds change into the new sounds.

I'm not even a comic fan, and omg could not care less about GOTG (apart from them taking away TOT in DCA), but I don't want that island to go away.

Marvel Island at IOA is really good, I know some people think it looks tacky, but it nails the comics quite well, Stan Lee loves the look of the place I know that for a fact. There are a TON of details you can discover (pretty much all of IOA is like that, hidden details everywhere) including references to Marvel franchies, daredevil, Stark, Avengers, Xmen, and more. The paint on many of the buildings is an extremely expensive chrome-illusion paint that changes color based on the angle and lighting. (purple to orange is probably the easiest one to spot) I know there are rumors of a new ride going in or replacing doctor doom as well. Universal likely won't ever give it up.

It'll be odd if Disney opens up a Guardians ride at Walt Disney World, since they won't be able to advertise it at all based on the contract (although they can use those particular set of characters in the park, the advertising rule still applies). It'll be an exercise in creative legal loopholes if they do create that ride.

http://orlandounited.com/2016/05/darn-marvel-contract/ is a good article explaining the contract.

I'm sorry, I feel I need to clarify. I didn't mean shabby as in looking bad or run-down. I shouldn't have used that word. I love Universal!! I like Super Hero Island!


My thought was just that the severity of the conflict of interest will grow as Disney continues to expand Marvel into their theme parks. Will it not? I just find it odd and fascinating really that two theme parks in such direct competition with one another would have operating lands and rides of the same IP. Isn't there a chance that Universal will decide it is too much to compete in this arena? as Disney is actively expanding the IP itself by releasing new movies, comics, etc. and are the owners?

Wouldn't Universal want to capitalize on one of their own properties by changing the land into an in-house IP or even a new original idea?

 

[cschaaf]

I get what you are saying, but I don't think Universal has any reason to ditch the Avengers stuff. If for no other reason than to not let Disney be able to use them in Orlando. Even if that hurts Universal a bit, it hurts Disney more. It's the difference between (using the sanitized version) 'heck with you' money vs. 'heck with me' money.

If Disney starts mixing other characters in with The Avengers, they too will be covered by the Orlando contract. That also hurts Disney a bit.

 

[Westcoastwild]

Did I miss something? Did they announce that a marvel land was in the works?

I really don't think Disney is going down that route, and in any case, no one is going to associate marvel thrill rides with Disney. gotg is not really superhero and although I haven't ridden it yet, if it's like tower, it's not much of a thrill ride either. Universal has put an enormous amount of money into the superhero thing, and rides like the hulk are probably even bigger of a draw than Harry Potter.

 

[DisBabe94]

Did I miss something? Did they announce that a marvel land was in the works?

I really don't think Disney is going down that route, and in any case, no one is going to associate marvel thrill rides with Disney. gotg is not really superhero and although I haven't ridden it yet, if it's like tower, it's not much of a thrill ride either. Universal has put an enormous amount of money into the superhero thing, and rides like the hulk are probably even bigger of a draw than Harry Potter.

There's no formal announcement, I'm just posing a hypothetical I thought was intriguing to think about. Although at the rate that they are expanding the Marvel brand, more Marvel in the parks wouldn't come as any surprise. All of my IRL Disneyland friends agree that DCA will be getting Marvel Land within the next 7 years, and I am about 90% sure they will at least have one ride at WDW as well.

You're saying that universal is a thrill seekers park and as such it's not really a direct competition, and yeah that's totally valid! If they're not losing money and don't have complaints then why bother? As I said it's just a hypothetical lol

All in all don't take this too seriously guys! As I said before I just find The marvel/universal/Disney situation fascinating and fun to speculate on.

 

[Westcoastwild]

There's no formal announcement, I'm just posing a hypothetical I thought was intriguing to think about. Although at the rate that they are expanding the Marvel brand, it wouldn't come as any surprise. All of my IRL Disneyland friends agree that DCA will be getting Marvel Land within the next 7 years, and I am about 90% sure they will at least have one ride at WDW as well.

You're saying that's universal is a thrill seekers park and as such it's not really a direct competition, and yeah that's totally valid! If they're not losing money and don't have complaints then why bother? As I said it's just a hypothetical lol

All in all don't take this too seriously guys! As I said before I just find The marvel/universal/Disney situation fascinating and fun to speculate on.

It certainly could be that they're testing the waters for something like that, but my guess is no. Just because they did Guardians as a cheap-ish overlay and not a whole new ride.

 

[Metro West]

I think as long as Universal knows Disney wants the characters for their parks the answer is no. Remember...Disney did not buy Marvel for the park involvement...they bought it for the movie rights and distribution contracts...not theme parks. Although I must say I'm waiting to see some of the Marvel character toys with mouse ears on them because we all know that's what would happen.

 

[kbelle8995]

Actually they've kept that area in pretty good shape. They just redid the Hulk. And this a very popular area. I always enjoy walking through the Marvel Comic store.

Universal has a pretty sweet deal here. Disney would have to shell out a lot of money to get Universal to let that go

 

[derekw]

I do think Disney will expand its Marvel presence at Disneyland over the next decade which will increase the popularity of that park. Universal/Superhero Island will be content to sit back and enjoy the growth of the Marvel franchise (funded by Disney). Hulk was just refurbished I hope to see Spiderman (queue area) and Doom Fear Fall refreshed in the coming years.

 

[pcstang]

I do think Disney will expand its Marvel presence at Disneyland over the next decade which will increase the popularity of that park. Universal/Superhero Island will be content to sit back and enjoy the growth of the Marvel franchise (funded by Disney). Hulk was just refurbished I hope to see Spiderman (queue area) and Doom Fear Fall refreshed in the coming years.

I was just about to say the same thing. Let Disney pay for the "advertising."

 

[StrawberryChan]

yeah i don't think superhero island will ever become "shabby"! the retro comic book look still has plenty of fans, and universal continually refurbishes everything so they don't lose their contract. it's got four rides, two of which are big tickets, and plenty of shops and restaurants too. plus if you remember those patents from a while back, it seems like they might be planning on an iron man ride, so they're not quite done with the island just yet... and either way, it'll still be around at universal for as long as their contract continues

 

[schumigirl]

I was just about to say the same thing. Let Disney pay for the "advertising."

Absolutely!!