Imagine the Fantastic Four Transforming Disneyland’s Tomorrowland!

by

As an expert on theme parks for TopMob, when a new film like “Fantastic Four: First Steps” is released by Disney (or any studio, including Universal), my mind naturally starts thinking about potential ways to bring those characters or stories to life within theme parks. After watching the latest trailer, I’ve been pondering how the Fantastic Four could make an appearance at Disneyland, and my idea isn’t your typical one.

It’s highly likely that you’ll find the Fantastic Four in Disney California Adventure’s Marvel-themed area, the Avengers Campus. This is where most Marvel Universe characters pop up from time to time, especially when a new movie or Marvel TV series brings them into focus. However, I’d prefer if they weren’t just confined to Avengers Campus or Disney California Adventure. Instead, I’d love to see the comic book family residing in Disneyland’s Tomorrowland.

Disneyland (And Walt Disney World) Need A More Timeless Tomorrowland

At both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, Tomorrowland consistently requires attention and updates. Over its 70-year history, it’s fair to say that no other area has needed assistance as frequently as Tomorrowland. The issue lies in the fact that tomorrow, by definition, is always approaching, which can make maintaining a futuristic theme challenging.

A forward-thinking land like Tomorrowland thrives when it continually advances with time, and to stay relevant, it must adapt. Initially, one of its attractions was the Rocket to the Moon, but after humans managed this feat in reality, the novelty wore off significantly.

At Walt Disney Imagineering, this particular issue is thoroughly grasped. This understanding led to the construction of Disneyland Paris not featuring a Tomorrowland, but instead a Discoveryland. The intention was not to depict our actual future, but rather an imagined steampunk-style future that never transpired in reality, yet was born from the pages of fiction.

It’s proposed that Disneyland and Disney World’s Tomorrowland areas undergo significant updates to a related concept. To keep them timeless, it would be beneficial to detach them from our current time and transport them into a futuristic world that remains unattainable, much like the new Fantastic Four movie setting.

The Fantastic Four’s Retro-Future Look Belongs In Tomorrowland

The upcoming trailer for Fantastic Four reveals that the movie takes place in a ’60s decade unlike any we’ve known before. Rather than our historical past, it delves into an alternate universe’s interpretation of the ’60s, creating a unique atmosphere reminiscent of Tomorrowland.

A significant portion of Tomorrowland’s appearance harks back to the 1960s, with the Peoplemover debuting in 1967. Space Mountain, however, didn’t appear until the 1970s; it was initially conceptualized and designed during the 1960s. Out of all possible modifications Tomorrowland could undergo, this approach seems to be the most straightforward and swift.

Tomorrowland doesn’t necessarily have to transform into a realm inspired by the “Fantastic Four,” it can continue to be Tomorrowland, but with a unique perspective on tomorrow from another world. However, incorporating the Fantastic Four as interactive characters within this land would significantly strengthen the vintage-future ambiance we aim to create.

Just like other theme park areas, Tomorrowland will keep improving and changing. However, since it represents a future that doesn’t exist, there’s no need to rush updates as we can always strive for its continuous advancement without worrying about falling behind an unattainable future.

The Aesthetic Has A Disneyland Connection Outside Of Marvel

While it might appear risky to revamp a renowned location such as Tomorrowland based on a single film, which has yet to secure a box office success, it’s essential to note that the movie is not the sole factor justifying the feasibility of this design within Disneyland.

1964 saw Disney playing a significant role in the New York World’s Fair, with WED Enterprises (later known as Walt Disney Imagineering) providing four captivating attractions for the event. These included It’s a Small World, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, the renowned Carousel of Progress, and Ford Magic Skyway – the latter utilizing Omnimover technology that would later be integrated into several attractions at Disneyland. Eventually, these attractions, along with their distinctive features, found their place in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

In August, I was part of an audience at D23’s panel discussing the 1964 World’s Fair. To our delight, Kevin Feige, leader of Marvel Studios, shared insights. He explained that design aspects from the fair significantly influenced the visual style of Fantastic Four. He stated…

Currently, our project is a film titled “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” which draws significantly from the optimism and progressive spirit of the ’64 World’s Fair. We are constructing massive sets in London that depict New York City as it might have appeared in the ’60s, envisioning a scenario where that time wasn’t just hosting a World’s Fair, but rather, those buildings represented the entire world. That’s the essence we’re trying to capture in our Fantastic Four movie.

Regardless of whether the Fantastic Four characters are present, the overall design maintains a historical link to Walt Disney’s creations, which makes it suitable for Disneyland. In case the Marvel Cinematic Universe version of the Fantastic Four becomes less significant in the future, they could be phased out, allowing the focus to shift towards a broader retro-future theme without requiring major alterations or modifications.

Walt Disney World Could Get The Same Overhaul, If Disney Shells Out The Money

In my discussion, I’m primarily focusing on Disneyland’s Tomorrowland because while Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland also needs attention, the task of renovating it in California might be feasible. However, if Walt Disney Imagineering were to take on this project in California, executing a similar update in Florida would present much greater challenges.

This situation arises due to a contract Marvel previously made with Universal Destinations & Experiences, prior to Disney’s acquisition of Marvel (House of Ideas). As a result, Universal holds the rights to many Marvel characters for theme park applications, thereby restricting the characters Disney can utilize for their attractions.

At Universal Studios’ Islands of Adventure, you’ll find Cafe 4, a fast-food restaurant themed around the Fantastic Four. Although they don’t have their own ride or portray characters within the area, the presence of these characters in the park sets it apart from Disney World.

Unless Disney and Universal manage to reach an agreement and terminate their current contract, it appears there may be whispers about the possibility. Some speculate that this could occur if Disney is willing to pay a significant sum of money for it.

It’s likely that Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland could evolve into a distinctive yet timeless area by taking a new direction, given that Disney World already boasts Tron: Lightcycle Run. Perhaps an emphasis on advanced technology or digitization would be fitting for this transformation.

An Updated Tomorrowland Is Probably A Long Way Off

Regarding the array of fresh attractions set to debut at Walt Disney World and the forthcoming DisneylandForward project in California, it seems that Tomorrowland will remain untouched by these updates. Consequently, significant changes to this area may not occur for quite some time, and if they do, they likely won’t resemble what is currently planned.

Even though it seems unlikely, I can envision it. As I watch the latest Fantastic Four film, I find myself yearning to explore such a world. Perhaps, if many share my sentiment, there’s a possibility that it could become a reality – a theme park destination.

Read More

2025-02-09 00:08