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With Universal's recent announcement of upgrades to its fantastic "Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man" attraction, it's pretty clear that Islands of Adventure does not intend on dropping Marvel (a brand Disney recently acquired) from its Florida resort any time soon. Since Marvel has an existing, strong alliance with Universal, this could be a creative way to give Spider-Man and the Marvel characters a stronger presence at Walt Disney World.
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If people are going to visit the very popular Wizarding World of Harry Potter anyway, it seems like the Mouse would want to get in on that action, with the help of Spider-Man and the Spider-Van. Disney's ABC Family already airs Harry Potter film marathons, so there's also that existing connection.
I visited Universal's Islands of Adventure for the first time in 2009, and had a blast. My favorite souvenir from this trip is a pressed penny of Spider-Man.
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Years before Universal's Islands of Adventure attractions were a twinkle in an ex-Disney Imagineer's eye, Spider-Man and the Hulk could be found with Universal characters like Frankenstein and Woody Woodpecker. The exciting new Flipits were available to order from comic books in 1979.
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There was no Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man attraction to dazzle folks back in 1982, but there was the Atari Spider-Man video game from Parker Brothers. Here, the game's graphics are drawn in comic book form, and the images are priceless.
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In 1995, McDonald's and the Fox Kid's Network (home to the Spider-Man animated series) teamed up for a contest for arcade games based on Spider-Man, X-Men and Captain America.
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Spider-Man Cereal, with its nutritious crispy rice spider webs and marshmallow cameras, was launched in 1995 by Ralston.
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In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Spider-Man and his friends appeared in comic book ads for Hostess Snack Cakes.
Spider-Man was featured in a very funny comic with June Jitsu for Hostess Twinkies.
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The Hulk takes on the Roller Disco Devils in a Hostess Fruit Pie ad from 1980.
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Are you Thor? Yes, it hurts. My sides hurt after reading this 1978 ad for Hostess Fruit Pies.
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Daredevil and Johnny Clymbe are featured in this 1977 ad. I don't know much about Daredevil. Was Johnny Clymbe an established character, or was he created for this ad, and named Clymbe because he climbed to the top of a building for Hostess Fruit Pies?
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By 1995, Spider-Man was the spokesman for Drakes Cakes.
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This 1980 ad from an Avengers comic book features Spider-Man action figures and The Empire Strikes Back, in comic book form.
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The Marvel Comics Fun and Games sound exciting! Really, REALLY exciting! Seriously, read what the Marvel Super Heroes are saying.
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Disney and Marvel have worked together before. In 1995, Marvel produced comic books for Disney. Some of the titles included Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and the Little Mermaid.
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Disney, Marvel and the Muppets could team up for a reboot of the 1980s official Marvel spoof, Spider-Ham!
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I think Miss Piggy could be the love interest in a new Spider-Ham series.
I can't wait for my trip to Orlando---I'm sure there will be a trip report here!
Wow, great idea for a Disney/Universal cross-promotion. So the rumor that Universal is going to have to completely change the name and theme of their Spider-Man attraction isn't true?
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the Spider-Man ride....it is on my list of favorite theme park attractions of all time! I can't wait for them to finish the Transformers attraction here at Universal Hollywood which Im hearing will use the same ride system. I'm surprised Disney has not tried to copy that. I think Disney should redo their Indiana Jones attraction with the Spider-Man ride system!
I'll be looking forward to your trip report/reports!!!
P.S. Gotta love the "Roller Disco Devils"!
Thanks, TokyoMagic! The updated Spider-Man at Islands of Adventure is supposed to be finished in 2012, and will feature re-animated graphics. So Spidey's not going anywhere. I guess they could eventually transform it to a Transformers attraction like Universal Studios in Hollywood.
ReplyDeleteI did read that a new Indiana Jones attraction was proposed for Disney's Animal Kingdom, next to Expedition Everest. I'm not sure if this would have been a new system or if it would have been the same as Animal Kingdom's Dinosaur and Disneyland's Indiana Jones. This Indiana Jones ride was then planned for Disney's Hollywood Studios, then shelved.
The best idea I've heard for Disney's Hollywood Studios is a Star Wars Land/Lucasfilm Land (they couldn't call it Skywalker Ranch, could they?). If they did it right, it would be a big hit.
Those Marvel Hostess Snack Cake Comics, including the "Roller Disco Devils" one, made me laugh out loud.