Mouse Extra

I know when I first heard the news that Disney bought Marvel for over 4 billion dollars, my first thought was “is Disney Hollywood Studios getting a Wolverine or Spider Man ride?” But then I thought they couldn’t do that, right? Well, it appears they can’t. At least, not at this time.

As everyone knows, Universal Florida has a Marvel Super Hero Island at their Islands of Adventure park. That section contains two of their most popular rides, the Amazing Adventures of Spider Man and the Hulk Coaster. When do those contracts run out, you ask? Apparently, never. Rumors swirled around the internet yesterday that the contract between Universal and Marvel ends in 2012. Not so far off in theme park terms. But that appears to be false. Instead, it seems the contract runs for the life of the ride itself. In other words, Universal can have the Spider Man ride forever.

Surely, Disney did not spend 4 billion just to set up their own Captain America ride. There is much more to this deal than that. The Marvel movies based on characters like Spider Man and Iron Man are huge hits. However, the pending movies like Iron Man 2, The Avengers and X-Men Origins: Magneto are all subject to other agreements. Spider Man is licensed to Sony, for example. Disney has stated they will honor those agreements. But those agreements are quite lucrative. And eventually, Disney will distribute Marvel movies.

Marvel also makes money in the comic book industry. Comic books as a whole a way down from their hey day in 90s but they still make money. Merchandising like toys and t-shirts do well. And how long will it be before we see an Avengers prime time cartoon on the Disney channel? Apparently, that cartoon is already in the works and looking for a channel.

But that brings us back to the theme parks. As far as I can see, Universal can keep that Spider Man ride operating for the foreseeable future. But will they want to? Surely, it will irk Universal to no end that every time they sell a Fantastic Four t-shirt part of the proceeds will go to Disney. You can bet they won’t spend a great deal energy promoting the new marvel movies. Will Universal want to trash this part of the park and cut ties? Will they cease selling all merchandise from marvel characters? Will Marvel Super Hero Island eventually become Transformer Island or GI Joe Island? I am sure this is being debated by Universal execs right now. Once Potter is up and running, Universal will mull their options. Everyone has been wondering what Disney would do in response to the Harry Potter land coming to IOA. Well, I think we have our answer.

And here’s another little tidbit about the arrangement between Universal and Marvel: the rights to theme park attractions are limited to east of the Mississippi. Thus, Disney could put on real pressure by designing attractions for marvel characters and putting them into their California parks or even the studios in Paris. In Florida, you may see merchandise. Perhaps, there will be meet-n-greets with Wolverine. Maybe even they will paint a Baxter Building in the scenes of New York streets at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

You can bet though there will be something.

Today’s posting is from Mike, contributing writer to Mouse Extra.