This is no longer news since we’ve been talking about it for weeks now, but Marvel is finally coming to Disneyland Paris. It’s happened before in some other parks around the world, and in this case we’re thinking of the Tower of Terror, which became a Guardians of the Galaxy attraction a few years ago already in the California park. an event, because an entire area of the Parisian park has been under construction since the end of 2019 to get a makeover. As we learn today that all of this will be open to the public on July 20, and that we know more about the content, we were able to speak with Beth Clapperton, the artistic director of this Avengers Campus. Here’s what to remember. #1. The story of the Avengers CampusClapperton says that the first works, to be studied, started in 2017. The idea was first to think concretely about how to introduce Marvel into the parks. “We knew that we had to keep the epic side with the heart and a great humanity of the comics, but on the look side, we preferred to keep that of Marvel Studios”, that is to say films, she explains. Quickly, for a question of budget but not only (the idea is also to balance the different parts), the Imagineering team decides to recycle certain aging attractions. “It was hours of discussions to know what to keep”, says, amused, Clapperton, before specifying that the goal was to have a balanced experience. Bid farewell to Aerosmith and Armageddon, the Avengers are coming. Work begins in late 2018, with bits of scenery here and there – Clapperton says some elements were designed in the Netherlands, England and even Italy. The ships of the Spider-Man attraction are built at the same time as those of the American version. Meanwhile, in Paris, the area is closing, we are demolishing and rebuilding. The Covid blocked the work for only four months, before resuming with new protocols. It’s the assembling of the elements that amuses the Clapperton team the most, and for good reason: this is where the storytelling comes to life. The idea is to offer an immersive experience. That the visitor takes himself for a hero in the making, landing on a real campus where we all train together, where we eat, where we can meet real heroes. The goal is to make the Avengers Coherent campus. And besides, why do it in Paris? “Our story is that Howard Stark had factories for SHIELD in Paris, and his son, Tony Stark, took it over,” Clapperton tells us. Hence the presence of some old buildings reminiscent of Howard’s time, and others more modern which Tony is at the origin.#2. Aerosmith’s Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster becomes Avengers Assemble: Flight ForceIt’s a proper transformation, and arguably the biggest one. Already because this attraction remains one of the most sensational roller coasters in all of Disneyland Paris, but also because this new ride is exclusive to Europe, unique in the world. The story around it has therefore changed since we will “team up” with Iron Man and Captain Marvel – Brie Larson reprized her role on occasion for a video message, where it looks like Iron Man will be an audio-animatronic like Disney is so good at making them. The idea is to scare away a threat on Earth. The attraction nevertheless remains unchanged, that is to say that we will always have this ultra-fast departure (the carousel goes from 0 to 96 km/h in three seconds), and the structure and the course are the same. It is therefore the dressing, the cars, the music, the sets and the story, above all, that have changed. The little pride of Disneyland Paris, of course.#3. The Armageddon attraction becomes Spider-Man WEB AdventureIt is an attraction already available in California that is coming. Finally, yes and no. Because Clapperton explains to us that the two rides were designed at the same time, it is not just a simple copy. We are talking about an attraction that took five years to see the light of day. In replacement of the Armageddon experience, which was starting to date a little, Spider-Man WEB Adventure arrives. Here, you have to join forces with Peter Parker (Tom Holland) to help him capture all the spider-bots on the campus. This is a score attraction, like Buzz Lightyear, but the interactions are digital. In the room, we are faced with a Star Tours-style screen that recognizes our movements. So you have to wield your wrists à la Spidey to stop the little robots. A similar attraction having opened its doors in June 2021 at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, we have videos of what awaits us. #4. Restaurants, a hotel and moreIn addition to Marvel restaurants, such as the Pym Test Kitchen, linked to the world of Ant-Man (and Hank Pym in this case, who was looking for a solution to feed the world), which will offer food in unusual sizes. There will also be the Stark Factory, Tony’s favorite fast-food restaurant, the Super Diner or even food-trucks for eating on the go, a WEB (dedicated to Asian cuisine) or FAN-tastic Food Truck. worked hand in hand with those of “food & beverage” so that everything is consistent. In the same way, for the campus to work, you have to be able to see the heroes in action. The “meet-and-greet”, referred to here as “heroic encounters”, will take place in the Hero Training Center. “Because even heroes need to practice,” we are told. Regarding the hotel, we told you about it when it opened last June. The Avengers Campus will finally open its doors on July 20, 2022 at Disneyland Park in Paris.
