MARVEL is Coming to Walt Disney World!

[seascapemvy]

This is because that infamous contract, which states that no one else's marketing can actually use that brand other than Universal's.

With this, it's fun to see how Disney skirts around this contract. I can definitively tell you that this is just the beginning of much larger skirting to come.

Please read the full contract especially section 1. It clearly defined what the Universal a development can be. It it becomes substantially different then it will be interesting to see the legal battle. It is clear and the contract is rock solid that as long as a universal follows the contract and maintains the marvel attractions that they can keep the rights forever. However they can't build any new Marvell rides or attractions without Marvels approval and any characters on display at Universal are exclusive to Universal. As for the other a universal parks the rights in a Japan expire in the next decade. That is not too long. The big issue that some lawyers I have spoken to is that the Universal development is a two gate park with a 3rd shopping entertainment area. According to their interpretation this means that if universal wants to add a third gate a new contract would have to be negotiated. I know the universal fans do not agree with this and would expect universal to fight such an idea but is it really worth the expense to constantly upgrade rides that can only be used in one of universal parks when they could develop and maintain rides in many of their parks. I believe that Universal will eventually and sooner than most think realize Disney will never pay them for the rights back and why should they. Disney can currently use Universal's money to develop marvel attractions that can be used at all a Disney Parks around the word with the exception of just Orlando. Disney will never pay a dime for the rights. Universal will just give them up because for financial reasons it makes no sense to keep paying for just one and I repeat just one of their parks and also Orlando will go down in universals priority as Asia continues to grow.

 

[andyman8]

Please read the full contract especially section 1. It clearly defined what the Universal a development can be. It it becomes substantially different then it will be interesting to see the legal battle. It is clear and the contract is rock solid that as long as a universal follows the contract and maintains the marvel attractions that they can keep the rights forever. However they can't build any new Marvell rides or attractions without Marvels approval and any characters on display at Universal are exclusive to Universal. As for the other a universal parks the rights in a Japan expire in the next decade. That is not too long. The big issue that some lawyers I have spoken to is that the Universal development is a two gate park with a 3rd shopping entertainment area. According to their interpretation this means that if universal wants to add a third gate a new contract would have to be negotiated. I know the universal fans do not agree with this and would expect universal to fight such an idea but is it really worth the expense to constantly upgrade rides that can only be used in one of universal parks when they could develop and maintain rides in many of their parks. I believe that Universal will eventually and sooner than most think realize Disney will never pay them for the rights back and why should they. Disney can currently use Universal's money to develop marvel attractions that can be used at all a Disney Parks around the word with the exception of just Orlando. Disney will never pay a dime for the rights. Universal will just give them up because for financial reasons it makes no sense to keep paying for just one and I repeat just one of their parks and also Orlando will go down in universals priority as Asia continues to grow.

I have read the contract and am very well aware of the situation. The fact that you would suggest I am posting baseless information is partially offensive.

All I am saying is that they don't plan (in the immediate future at least) Disney doesn't really intend to pursue any drastic efforts to acquire FL park rights. As of now, their strategy remains to circumvent the contract by introducing characters not included into the FL parks without Marvel branding.

 

[FeralCatRogue]

Was hoping this meant primary characters, since I heard as well universal's exclusivity was coming close to an end, I can see it kinda being confusing to kids though, they won't understand primary vs secondary characters and may get upset to not see the ones they know well. I am surprised though there is no Avengers stuff, universal seems to mainly have x-men I don't see why disney can't have the primary Avengers people since they own the movie rights to it.

 

[olwyngdh]

Iron Man - but it has to be RDJ inside the suit....

OH YES!!!!!!

 

[fairyprincess88]

Was hoping this meant primary characters, since I heard as well universal's exclusivity was coming close to an end, I can see it kinda being confusing to kids though, they won't understand primary vs secondary characters and may get upset to not see the ones they know well. I am surprised though there is no Avengers stuff, universal seems to mainly have x-men I don't see why disney can't have the primary Avengers people since they own the movie rights to it.

From what I understand of the Universal contract, Disney can not feature any Marvel character that is either featured in or is a member of the "comic family" of any Marvel character featured at Universal. That means no Avengers for WDW since they belong to Universal, at least as far as theme park rights in Florida go. Marvel Superhero Island features the Hulk coaster and Captain America Cafe and in comic canon Spider-man is also a later member of the Avengers family which means Disney can not use the Avengers in their Florida parks at all or they will be in direct violation of the contract.

As it was there was reports that Universal pulled out the lawyers when Disney made the "Avengers monorail" to make sure it stayed on the resort line and not the Epcot line because the Epcot line goes into the park and that is a big no-no.

 

[saskdw]

So instead of saying Marvel is coming to WDW!!, would it be more accurate to say some secondary Marvel characters will be quickly passing thru DHS in the form of a special movie trailer before the movie hits the theaters? And then its back to business as usual. Have to admit that I would have to be badly in need of an AC break to waste park time for this.

I knew I could count on you to put a positive spin on this!!

 

[saskdw]

An exclusive sneak preview of Guardians of the Galaxy (a Marvel film being released in August) will be occurring at the ABC Sound Studio (where Sounds Dangerous used to be) starting on July 4. It will be in the 3D. More info HERE.

Most interesting of course is that this is the first time Marvel has really made it into the WDW theme parks. It's legal cause the UOR contract only covers a few of Marvel's key heroes (none of which in this) but could this be the beginning of something larger? Well, I can tell you this is certainly being used not only to promote the film but also as a testing ground to see if these second-level Marvel characters are worth bringing to WDW. What Marvel would you like to see in the parks that UOR doesn't have?

Very exciting!! Thanks for posting!!

 

[FeralCatRogue]

From what I understand of the Universal contract, Disney can not feature any Marvel character that is either featured in or is a member of the "comic family" of any Marvel character featured at Universal. That means no Avengers for WDW since they belong to Universal, at least as far as theme park rights in Florida go. Marvel Superhero Island features the Hulk coaster and Captain America Cafe and in comic canon Spider-man is also a later member of the Avengers family which means Disney can not use the Avengers in their Florida parks at all or they will be in direct violation of the contract.

As it was there was reports that Universal pulled out the lawyers when Disney made the "Avengers monorail" to make sure it stayed on the resort line and not the Epcot line because the Epcot line goes into the park and that is a big no-no.

Thanks for the clarification. I didn't ever hear of the Avenger's monorail.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Please no superheroes in Disney World!

What would you call the Incredibles then? We already have "superheros" at Disney