When Disney purchased Marvel Entertainment on December 31, 2009, everyone wondered when we would start seeing Marvel characters in the Disney Theme Parks. It took a long time due to prior contracts with other theme parks, but in 2021 Disneyland finally brought us Avengers Campus and Spider-Man. While Disney World isn’t allowed to have a similar Marvel land due to the other theme park in Orlando, the resort has officially opened its first major Marvel attraction in Epcot, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
While this is a major milestone for Walt Disney World, incorporating IPs (intellectual properties) into the theme parks isn’t anything new, and is becoming more and more common as of late. With new lands themed to Toy Story and Star Wars opening in Disney’s Hollywood Studios to Frozen Ever After and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure being added to World Showcase in Epcot, Disney movies are more represented than ever at the North American parks in Disney World and Disneyland.
There is only more to come with “The Princess and the Frog” retheming of Splash Mountain, the Journey of Water Moana inspired attraction coming to Epcot and the recent rumours of a new “Encanto” attraction coming to Disneyland. Yet, there is still a large list of Disney IPs that feel widely underrepresented at the North American theme parks, and we want to highlight those films and characters and offer a couple of potential suggestions to any Imagineers who may come across this article.
1. Tangled
Sure, Magic Kingdom has the “Tangled” themed bathrooms, but for a move this incredible, that’s simply not enough. Rapunzel and Flynn know how to take guests on an epic adventure and a log ride in which the boats are designed to look like Rapunzel’s hair would be the ultimate thrill. Perhaps the Splash Mountain “The Princess and the Frog” retheme doesn’t need to be at both parks, and “Tangled” can take over one instead. Another option was presented right in the movie – The Snuggly Duckling. Fantasyland in Magic Kingdom could definitely use a fun and engaging pub with performers dressed like the characters.
2. The Jungle Book
“The Jungle Book” has seen its fair share of short-lived attractions at Disney’s Animal Kingdom including The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic nighttime show and Journey into the Jungle Book stage show. However, this great Disney film, the last one Walt Disney himself worked on, deserves a more permanent home at Animal Kingdom. The park is magical but lacks a classic Disney dark ride. With its catchy songs and loveable characters, “The Jungle Book” was made to be a dark ride.
3. Captain America
Due to Universal’s rights to the character, we won’t be seeing the former leader of the Avengers anytime soon. However, Captain America can be seen roaming around Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure from time to time. But can there really be a Marvel land without a Captain America attraction. In the films and comics, Steve Rogers drives a 1942 Harley-Davidson WLA Liberator. With a bit of retheming, the Tron Lightcycle Run, which will be opening in due time at Magic Kingdom, could be the perfect ride system to tell a Captain America story. Who knows, maybe Black Widow, Falcon and Winter Soldier could join him?
4. Black Panther
It’s unclear whether this is possible due to Universal Studio’s rights, but the chances of Black Panther being spotted at that park is pretty slim. So, if Disney World is allowed to incorporate this character into their parks like they did with the Guardians, wouldn’t Wakanda be the perfect new land to bring to Disney’s Hollywood Studios? The park has become known these last few years for its intricately themed lands, bringing guests into the movies. We’ve seen in “Black Panther” that Wakanda is a stunning backdrop for both a thrill ride similar to Flight of Passage and an interactive show with the Dora Milaje. There is no doubt they have some delicious cuisines in Wakanda as well that would have line ups out the door.
5. Turning Red
The Canada pavilion at Epcot has always been lacking, and what better way to spice it up than with one of Pixar’s newest films set in Toronto! There is no need for this attraction to be a technical marvel. A simple attraction for families and kids such as an interactive show similar to Turtle Talk with Crush, but with Mei Mei. We would even settle for a little meet and greet area set up, with 4*Town music playing in the background. We just want to cuddle with our favourite Red Panda.
6. Wreck-It-Ralph
One of Disney’s newer film franchises, Ralph and Vanellope can be seen around the parks on occasion and there is a Ralph Breaks VR game at the Void in Disney Springs. However, given that Ralph has two films under his belt, he definitely deserves a ride at Magic Kingdom or Disneyland. Situated in Tomorrowland, Wreck-It-Ralph and his gang of video game character could be the stars of an Omni-mover 4-D theme park shooting game attraction just like Toy Story Mania. There has never been a Disney IP more perfectly suited for this particular type of ride system.
7. Zootopia
Besides the occasional character sighting at holiday events in the parks, “Zootopia” is a rare find at Disney World or Disneyland. Although at first thought, Animal Kingdom seems like a good fit, the vibe of the movie doesn’t really fit with the theme or vision of Animal Kingdom. Instead, a “Zootopia” themed ride, similar to Roger Rabbit Cartoon Spin, would fit perfectly in Disney’s California Adventure. Picture it: zipping along in a spinning cop car seeing characters from the movie as you help Nick and Judy solve a big case, it practically writes itself.
8. The Mandalorian
Disney World and Disneyland have plenty of Star Wars rides and attractions. However, there is one thing missing and in this writer’s mind, Galaxy’s Edge will never be complete without it – a Grogu (aka Baby Yoda) meet and greet. With the high-tech advancements we’ve seen at the Disney Parks recently, this could very well become a possibility and if it does, we are ready to wait in that 3 hour plus line to meet the cutest creature in the galaxy.
9. Big Hero 6
While “Big Hero 6” gets a lot of love at the theme parks in Asia, the Baymax presence in the North American theme parks is certainly lacking, especially since the March 2020 closures. However, there is an easy fix. Although the film takes place in a fictional city, San Fransokyo, “Big Hero 6” has a strong connection to Japanese culture. And if “Frozen” is allowed to be in the Norway pavilion in Epcot despite Arendelle being a fictional city, “Big Hero 6” should most definitely be allowed to have an attraction at the Japan pavilion. There is no need to bend the wheel either, just import The Happy Ride with Baymax from Tokyo Disneyland. A family friendly spinning ride is certainly missing in this park.
10. The Emperor’s New Groove
“The Emperor’s New Groove” is one of the most underrated Disney films of all-time. Over the years, it’s gained a dedicated cult following that clamors to one day see their favourite Disney film represented at the theme parks. The best part for Imagineers? The film already created a roller coaster ride for them to emulate. In the ride, Yzma and Kronk ride a roller coaster down a dark tunnel to enter Yzma’s evil lab. It could emulate the same ride system as Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train with a mix of high speed thrills and animatronic set pieces. It would be such a fun addition to Disneyland or Hollywood Studios that would be sure to have guests stomach hurting from laughing so much.
11. Lilo & Stitch
We will be the first to admit, Stitch’s Great Escape! wasn’t the greatest attraction and not a lot of people were sad that it closed. However, that attraction never captured the true spirit of what “Lilo & Stitch” is all about: Ohana. Instead of a dark and disturbing attraction, why not have Lilo and Stitch be the stars of a classic Disney stage show with Elvis Presley music to sing and dance to, and silly Stitch antics to be had. With the recent closure of Spirit of Aloha, the Polynesian resort is missing that live entertainment that made the resort so special. This would be such a great offering for kids, families and Stitch lovers like myself to visit the Polynesian more frequently.
12. Hercules
Seeing anything Hercules related at the Disney Parks is incredibly rare. Despite being a very popular character for young boys who grew up in the 90s and 2000s to look up to, Hercules has never gotten an attraction or ride to call his own. Yet, there are ways to change that and make it right. Given that “Hercules” is based on Greek Mythology, Epcot could open a new Greece pavilion for World Showcase with Hercules being the star of the area. If searching for something simpler, perhaps Hollywood Studios could open up a jungle gym themed to Hercules’ gym for the little tykes to run around, climb things and get strong like the Greek demi-god.
13. Mulan
There is a meet and greet at the China pavilion in Epcot for Mulan, but Disney’s first Chinese princess deserves to be the face of the pavilion, not a sideshow. Instead of a dark ride or roller coaster, “Mulan” can be the backdrop of an interactive show for kids and families. Like the Jedi Training Academy at Hollywood Studio’s, Mulan can host an entertaining live performance in which she trains a select group of girls and boys to be elite warriors like herself. Perhaps, between training sessions, she and Shang can sing a few songs from the movie. Come on, it’s the show we never knew we needed until now.
14. 101 Dalmatians/The Aristocats
These two classic Disney films are being lumped together because the ideas we could come up with are almost the exact same. So, the imaginative plan would be that Disneyland lands “101 Dalmatians” and Disney World gets “The Aristocats”. There are a handful of ways, these films could be better integrated into the parks. The first would be a traditional Disney dark ride but with new technology similar to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. For “101 Dalmatians”, guests could ride in Cruella’s car trying to “capture” the puppies, but ultimately losing. For “The Aristocats”, the ride vehicles could be shaped as fancy Marie cars. If that doesn’t work, there is no doubt everyone would love to experience a Dalmatians or Aristocats themed character dining, maybe even with actual Dalmatians and cats (one can dream)!
15. Bambi
It’s hard to believe that Disney has an entire park dedicated to animals and yet this beloved Disney film has no representation at Animal Kingdom whatsoever. Besides a topiary at Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival, Bambi and his friends are hardly ever seen at Disney Parks. This is another film that doesn’t require a major Disney creation. Instead, a simple retheming of Rafiki’s Planet Watch and the Affection Section would be enough to feel as though Bambi, Thumper and Flower are getting the appreciation they deserve.
Which Disney IP do you wish to see more of at the theme parks and what are your thoughts on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind? Let us know in the comments below or on one of our social media channels. And make sure to follow Frozen Mouse Fever for all your Disney needs.
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