I think this was an arrogant move on Disney's part. I mean...lots of people know Disney owns Marvel but because of the pre-existing contract with Universal, can't showcase the major characters in the WDW parks. I think...if there was any doubt that Comcast might consider letting Disney buy the characters back, this pretty much sealed the deal for Comcast to hang onto the characters for spite...if nothing else.
I think this is going to put the CMs in uncomfortable positions when WDW newbies who don't know the Marvel characters advertised cannot and will not be found in WDW start asking them where they can see Spiderman and Hulk. Or the little kids who want to meet Spiderman and will not be able to. Or as others have mentioned might think there is now a bus to IOA. Or that Disney now owns IOA because of these characters plastered on the buses. Disney has 1000's of Marvel characters to use and to pick Hulk and Spiderman to help their advertising is pretty arrogant...IMHO.
I wonder if Universal will decide to come up with an advertising campaign of their own and stress the only place to actually meet these characters is at IOA. I think too this pretty much shows that Disney didn't really care about Marvel for the parks and if anyone still thinks they will invest in a Marvel park at WDW, they are crazy. Disney should be advertising their minor characters throughout the park but this shows me they won't build anything until they can use the major characters...with mouse ears of course.
Universal made a MAJOR bonehead mistake by letting the rights for the West coast expire. Can you imagine how ticked off Disney would be if they couldn't use the major Marvel character anywhere in the US? But that won't happen now.