TPG received an exclusive preview of Avengers Campus at Disneyland -- and it was fantastic

Disclaimer: The author attended a media preview of Avengers Campus as a guest of Disneyland on June 2, 2021. She plans to revisit Avengers Campus later this month to experience the land as a regular guest with her family. Stay tuned for more updates from that visit.

Avengers Assemble! Marvel enthusiasts of all ages will soon have the chance to meet their beloved superheroes at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Avengers Campus, a newly developed area themed around characters from comic books and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, will open on June 4, 2021, in Disney California Adventure park.

New attractions and themed lands at amusement parks, especially those from Disney, are typically highly anticipated events. But does Avengers Campus meet expectations? I had the opportunity to spend a few hours in the land during a media preview to provide you with this initial look and my thoughts on everything Avengers Campus.

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Avengers Campus highlights

Avengers Campus will launch on June 4, 2021, in Disney California Adventure. This new area takes the place of the former A Bug's Land, located next to Cars Land.

No additional ticket is required to enter Avengers Campus, but accessing it does involve some planning and maybe a superhero skill or two. First, you must purchase a theme park ticket for Disneyland. Then, you'll need to secure a reservation to enter Disney California Adventure for that day (or, if you have a park hopper ticket, a reservation for either park). Additionally, until June 15, only California residents are permitted entry. The parks will open to out-of-state visitors starting on that date.

Keep in mind that theme park reservations for both Disneyland parks are filling up fast. As of this article's publication, nearly all dates in June are fully booked, with some dates in July also starting to sell out.

The area is relatively small (especially when compared to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge), so it may hit capacity during its initial opening days or weeks. If that occurs, a standby line will be established at the main entrance to the land near Carthay Circle theater.

Attractions in Avengers Campus

Currently, there are two rides in the land: one new experience and one beloved classic. A potential third attraction may be introduced in a future expansion phase (as hinted at during the D23 Expo in 2019), but no new information has emerged recently.

Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure

The new attraction debuting with the land is Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure. The title gives a clear hint about the ride experience. Guests hop into a vehicle equipped with sensors that translate their hand movements into superpowers, allowing you and your loved ones to swing webs like Spider-Man. Wearing 3D glasses, riders team up to combat Spider-Bots, which are mischievous creations from a well-meaning Peter Parker.

This ride has no height limit and isn’t particularly frightening, making it suitable for the whole family to enjoy together. Web Slingers operates much like other screen-based shooting attractions (think: Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters or Toy Story Mania), but with a modern twist. The technology is more advanced and requires no slingshot or ray gun.

Here's the catch: you can only experience it once per day. Due to park capacity limits and expected high demand, Disneyland will implement a one-time virtual queue for Web Slingers.

Queue slots (referred to as "boarding groups") are made available twice a day, at 7 a.m. and noon, and are likely to fill up in a matter of seconds. If you've attempted to secure boarding groups for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at either Disneyland park or Disney's Hollywood Studios, the system will be quite familiar.

It’s crucial to understand how the distribution works on the Disneyland app and to follow the steps quickly yet carefully. And if it's anything like Rise of the Resistance, a bit of luck will also come in handy.

I managed to ride Web Slingers twice and was definitely left wanting more. The ride's repeatability suggests a promising future for its popularity. However, it poses a challenge for guests who can only afford a limited number of expensive theme park tickets at the moment, as they get just one chance—if they even succeed in securing a boarding group!

Keep in mind that annual passes at Disneyland have been completely canceled, meaning even locals cannot return to experience this attraction multiple times without purchasing several tickets.

Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: Breakout!

The beloved attraction in the area is undoubtedly Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: Breakout!. This ride, revamped in 2017 from the former Tower of Terror, offers more thrilling drops, surprises, and a fantastic soundtrack. It has a height requirement of 40 inches, making it perfect for the adventurous members of your family.

With the debut of Avengers Campus, expect a spike in interest for this ride, leading to longer wait times for Guardians this summer. However, the queue tends to be quite manageable during the first hour after the park opens, as guests hurry to Radiator Springs Racers—the top attraction for rope drop at DCA.

Cuisine worthy of superheroes

In recent years, Disney dining has evolved into an attraction of its own, adapting for each holiday and special occasion. Consequently, my expectations for the food at Avengers Campus were quite high. I sampled several dishes and was pleasantly surprised by the flavors and quality, all while appreciating the storytelling aspect behind the meals.

The standout restaurant in the area is Pym Test Kitchen, offering both breakfast and a lunch/dinner menu throughout the day. The food is crafted using the same technology that Ant-Man and The Wasp utilize to change sizes in the film, resulting in visually delightful creations—giant meatballs and pretzels, tiny sandwich buns, and fried eggs, for example. My personal favorite was the Not So Little Chicken sandwich, featuring a sizable crispy chicken patty topped with coleslaw and two sauces on a mini bun. The kids' menu is also well-equipped, providing a variety of dishes that even the pickiest eaters will be tempted to try.

Adjacent to Pym Test Kitchen is the Pym Tasting Lab, a bar catering to adults. Don't miss the bartenders as they pour beer from the bottom of the glass! Additionally, there are several food carts in the area. Shawarma Palace offers a chicken or vegetarian variant of a Middle Eastern wrap, while Terran Treats presents exotic and vibrant desserts sourced from across the galaxy.

The future of food operations will become clearer in the days ahead. Since Disneyland reopened earlier this spring, managing food and service demand has posed challenges. Most restaurants have transitioned to a mobile ordering system exclusively through the Disneyland app, but pickup time slots for these orders are filling up rapidly—often several hours in advance.

Anticipate that mobile ordering slots for Avengers Campus will fill up even faster than anything seen so far. Disneyland is clearly preparing for this surge by introducing a second Shawarma Palace cart in the area and adding extra seating in what used to be the queue for the Hyperion Theater. Guests should also be ready for this demand by placing their mobile food orders early in the morning on the app to avoid potential sellouts.

Entertainment, characters, merchandise, and more

Typically, I prioritize attractions at Disney parks, often opting to skip shows and parades to maximize ride time. If you relate to this approach, you'll need to explore Avengers Campus differently. The entertainment options here are definitely worth your time. After all, this area is designed around characters—bringing together heroes from across the universe into one cohesive space.

A standout moment for me was witnessing General Okoye from "Black Panther" and the Dora Milaje confidently march into the heart of the land. Their brief performance trains recruits in the traditions of Wakanda.

Elsewhere in the land, Dr. Strange showcases the mystic arts at the Ancient Sanctum. Additionally, there's an exhilarating stunt battle featuring Black Panther, Black Widow, and Captain America facing off against Taskmaster. And let’s not forget to mention Spider-Man soaring above the area. Many other superheroes are also set to make appearances.

You really don’t need to be a Marvel superfan to enjoy these encounters. I’ve seen most of the Avengers films, so I’m familiar with the main characters and references. However, even without that background, most guests will recognize several characters and can definitely appreciate the talents of the performers and stuntpeople in Avengers Campus.

Naturally, there are many other attractions to explore (and purchase) in the land. Instagram-worthy walls and photo spots are plentiful, with several being particularly well-crafted.

A new shop, Web Suppliers, has opened in the area, alongside a fresh merchandise cart. Parents with kids who love the films will likely find it difficult to leave without a Spider-Bot or a themed T-shirt.

Reflections on Avengers Campus and overall impressions

Although my visit to Avengers Campus was brief, the area truly delivered on its promise, showcasing superheroes in a playful and cheeky manner that aligns perfectly with the Marvel movie ethos.

Avengers Campus may not have generated as much buzz or anticipation as Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. It has been slightly overshadowed by Disneyland's reopening and the ongoing updates regarding pandemic measures and theme park operations. However, that's perfectly fine. While it may not be as grand in scale as Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, it doesn’t need to be to achieve its goals. In fact, it may resonate even better with its primary audience: kids! The food, entertainment, and new attractions keep young fans at the forefront while still catering to adults' needs.

Disclosure: I was invited to a media preview of Avengers Campus as a guest of Disney on June 2, 2021. I plan to revisit the campus later this month to enjoy it as a regular guest alongside my family. Stay tuned for more updates from that visit.