What’s it like to be a real-life superhero? The new Avengers Campus at Disneyland Paris is about as close as it gets, says Stephanie Krahn
“You are now a superhero!” the voice says as I cross the threshold into the Super Hero Station. They’re the words every little – and big – kid dreams of hearing.
And here you can literally step into Iron Man’s boots, get tips on saving the world from Captain Marvel and Black Widow, attempt to lift Thor’s hammer and, with some carefully placed upside-down furniture, give Peter Parker a run for his money.
The Super Hero Station is just one of the attractions at Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel in Disneyland Paris, and is part of the fully immersive experience of the new Avengers Campus.
It’s the first hotel in the world dedicated to Marvel art. In the rooms and around every corner the walls are adorned with pictures of superheroes, and with 350 pieces of art, including 50 that are exclusive to Disneyland Paris, it is one of the largest publicly viewable collections of Marvel art in the world. The hotel lobby also boasts three full-size iterations of Tony Stark’s Iron Man suits.
There’s a dedicated space for younger children, the Marvel Design Studio, where they can follow tutorials on how to be a comic book artist, enjoy Marvel-themed activities on tablets, read comic books and create their own adventures with Marvel toys.
Another world
The epic new land, the first Marvel-themed universe in Europe, is just a Thor’s hammer-throw away from the hotel in Walt Disney Studios Park, in the shadow of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
So the story goes, the Avengers Campus was created by Tony Stark – aka Iron Man – to discover, recruit and train the next generation of superheroes. And when you arrive it really does feel like you’re stepping into another world, with the rousing theme tune making you feel like you have a role to fulfil.
Music plays a big part in all areas of the campus, says Dan Fields, executive creative director at Disney Live Entertainment. “We use music to signify that there’s a larger story being told – an aspirational Avengers story. When you hear the drums of Wakanda, or the 70s and 80s pop music for the Guardians of the Galaxy, you are focused into another world,” he says.
Heroic encounters
Guests are no longer guests, but recruits. There are ample opportunities to see your heroes and heroines around the campus, interacting with each other – think friendly brotherly banter between Thor and Loki – but there are no meet-and-greets.
Fields says: “Changing a guest into a recruit unlocked a lot of storytelling. An audience observes something, whereas a recruit plays an active role. We have also changed the language of meet-and-greets; at Avengers Campus it’s a heroic encounter.”
My first encounter is at the glass-fronted Avengers Hero Training Center, where I forget my 45-year-old self and run into Spider-Man’s arms. He graciously accepts the hug and, after the overfamiliar introduction, it was down to serious business – learning how to throw a web and strike Spider-Man poses. Iron Man and Captain Marvel provide training here too: advise clients that pre-booking is essential.
The training was to come in very handy for the new Spider-Man W.E.B Adventure ride, where recruits team up with Spidey to help control and capture spider bots before they wreak havoc on the campus.
Disney Imagineers have outdone themselves with this 3D ride, allowing you to magically sling webs at the screen. It’s a dream come true for Spider-Man fans.
Disney Imagineers have outdone themselves with this 3D ride, with technology that recognises hand gestures and body movements, allowing you to magically sling webs at the screen. It’s a dream come true for Spider-Man fans.
Scot Drake, creative executive of the Marvel Global Portfolio at Walt Disney Imagineering, says: “What I love about Disney Imagineering is the technology and the engineering that goes into making these things – the magic is how we hide it. Guests aged from six to 90 know Spider-Man – stick out your arm and sling a web. It is magic, and it just happens because of all these technologies.”
After battling spider bots in different scenes as the Web Slinger vehicles move around, everyone comes out with huge smiles, comparing scores to see how many bots they’ve captured as a team. Some rub their aching arms. Be warned: this ride is a bicep workout!
Big and small
A refuelling stop at Pym Kitchen is required after all that exertion. Size-defying eats await in this ‘experimental lab restaurant’, where the serving staff wear lab coats and one giant pretzel is offered as an appetiser for the whole table to share.
It’s all in keeping with the story of Ant-Man and the Wasp using Pym particles to shrink and grow ingredients – feast on Pym-ini magdalenas (cakes) or enormous hotdogs! Order white wine and you can expect it to be blue and served in a glass beaker, while condiments come in test tubes.
Centre of the campus
The Quinjet and the impressive Avengers HQ are central to thecampus, and it’s on the facade where Tony Stark’s AI invention, Friday, comes to ‘life’. She welcomes recruits, looks out for threats and signals the arrival and departures of Avengers. “She’s the beating heart of the campus. She basically runs the place,” says Beth Clapperton, creative director at Walt Disney Imagineering Paris.
As we walk towards HQ, Friday announces that the Guardians of the Galaxy are here. The characterisation is spot on: Star-Lord is flashy and cheeky and Gamora looks on disdainfully as he invites the crowd to a dance-off. This was an absolute highlight for me, and Gamora eventually loosens up as the 70s and 80s tunes belt out across the campus.
Black Panther’s loyal warriors, the Dora Milaje, also put on an impressive performance, showing off their spear-handling skills and inviting recruits to join them to learn how to become warrior allies of Wakanda.
Flight force
The new rollercoaster Avengers Assemble: Flight Force, which replaces the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith, is housed at HQ. The ride has been reimagined and the preshow features a lifelike Iron Man, as well as the first-ever audioanimatronic figure in a Disney park.
John Mauro, executive producer, WDI Marvel Global Portfolio, says: “We really wanted to raise the bar with this ride. We wanted recruits to say ‘wow’ as they walk into the building. When they hear the music, the tension builds and they get their call to action when the door opens and Iron Man is there.”
We really wanted to raise the bar with this ride. We wanted recruits to say ‘wow’ as they walk into the building
Iron Man briefs recruits on defending Earth from a Kree missile attack. It’s the ultimate experience for thrillseekers and superhero fans alike. But a thrillseeker I am clearly not, as I have my eyes closed from the first 2.8 seconds – when it accelerates from 0-60mph – until the very end. My ride partner tells me it was ‘epic’ and loved every second.
From rooftop fights where Black Panther and Black Widow team up to protect the campus from Taskmaster, to ‘heroic encounters’ with the likes of Doctor Strange, Thor and Spider-Man, Avengers Campus is an all-action and immersive experience. And when you’re there, you start to believe your childhood dreams of becoming a superhero just might come true.
Refuelling stations
Pym Kitchen: A buffet of unusually sized food created by Ant-Man and the Wasp’s Pym particle ‘shrinking and growing’ technology.
Stark Factory: Quick-service eatery offering pizza, pasta and salad in a hightech space where superheroes’ costumes are built and repaired.
WEB: The ‘Worldwide Eating Brigade’ food truck offers noodle soups and other Asian delicacies.
FAN-tastic Food Truck: New York-style hot dogs and Vegan sausages.
Super Diner: Once popular with Shield agents, this 1950s-style joint is the place for a Reuben sandwich, coffee and ice cream.
Top tip
Capture magical moments forever with Disney’s PhotoPass+ for €75. Scan the card to get all character and ride photos as digital files.
Book it
Walt Disney Travel Company offers two nights at Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, including return Eurostar travel and access to the Disney Parks from £630 per person, based on two adults and two children sharing a Superior Room, departing February 13, 2023.
disneyholidays.co.uk
PICTURES: Benjamin Bonnay @Akabonni; Little Shao
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