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Guardians of the Galaxy re-theme coming to Tower of Terror in California

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They’re really going to do it. The need for more Marvel presence in the Disneyland Resort is glaring and was one of the things new Disney Parks President Bob Chapek put a high priority on fixing. The rumor was hard to believe, but in the end analysis actually made sense.  The result is a re-theme of the popular Twilight Zone Tower of Terror thrill ride into an out of this world Marvel attraction — “Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!”

Debuting next summer, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! will take Disney California Adventure guests through the fortress-like museum of the mysterious Collector, who is keeping his newest acquisitions, the Guardians of the Galaxy, as prisoners. Guests will board a gantry lift which launches them into a daring adventure as they join Rocket Raccoon in an attempt to set free his fellow Guardians.

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Disney’s Imagineers will upgrade breathtaking free fall sensation with new visual and audio effects to create a variety of ride experiences. Guests will experience multiple, random and unique ride profiles in which the rise and fall of the gantry lift rocks to the beat of music inspired by the film’s popular soundtrack.

Joe Rohde, Portfolio Creative Director, Walt Disney Imagineering, is leading the project. He shared this preview of the new attraction: “The setting is a kind of fortress that’s owned by the mysterious Collector and it’s packed with creatures and his latest acquisitions from across the universe. Now he has imprisoned the Guardians of the Galaxy and they’re hanging in display cases over a giant abyss. The captor doesn’t know it but Rocket Raccoon has escaped and is enlisting our aid—all the guests—to help the Guardians in a breakout scheme. And the rest is comical chaos; a very funny, very irreverent story and a really wonderful addition to Disney California Adventure.”

“It’s such a thrill to be working alongside a true visionary like Joe Rohde and the entire Walt Disney Imagineering team,” said Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer, Marvel. “Like our stories and characters, projects led by Joe are the stuff of legend, so Marvel fans rejoice! The universe couldn’t be in better hands! Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! is going to be an out of this world experience and what has me even more excited are Joe’s ‘secret’ plans for the future. We’re just getting warmed up.”

The announcement was made today at San Diego Comic-Con by Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, who said: “The incredibly talented Disney Imagineering team has found a way to harness the spirit which drove Guardians of the Galaxy’s success to create this immersive experience. With its debut timed to the release of the film’s sequel, we are eager to present the attraction to the millions who visit Disney California Adventure and place them in the center of the action as they join in a mission alongside our audacious Guardians of the Galaxy team.”

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Fans of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror will want to experience the attraction from now until its final “drop day,” which will be celebrated in true Disney fashion in early January.

Also announced at SDCC yesterday, the new GOTG attraction will be the first ride in a growing new land of Marvel Super Heroes that will grow over time in Disney California Adventure Park. So we have more to look forward to. What Marvel Super Heros deserve their own attractions at Disney California Adventure?

3 thoughts on “Guardians of the Galaxy re-theme coming to Tower of Terror in California”

  1. As cool as it looks, I’m disappointed that they’re choosing to retheme an existing- and in my eyes a classic- ride instead of coming up with a concept for a brand new ride for Guardians of the Galaxy. It’s beloved by many people and it fits in with what I understood to be the “theme” of Calafornia Adventure.

    I do agree that it’s time for Disney to include Marvel in their parks (it’s clear it’s not going away) and Guardians is a good place to start (a great movie and I’m assuming one they can get away with per the agreement with Universal though I think that’s just Orlando? I’m not sure) but I don’t really think this is the place to do it. It really feels like the more appropriate option would be clearing the space that the nearby Monsters Inc. ride is currently occupying. Not that I’m from the area or get there more than once a year (I go after a Doctor Who convention in LA that I attend every year which sadly takes place after the close date for ToT next year) but Monsters doesn’t seem to have the popularity that Tower of Terror does. I mean normally when I go the wait time’s less than 10 minutes. I suppose with it being located somewhat near some of the stage areas they use for various shows through the year it could make construction tricky, but it seems like that’d be a better and more fan-friendly place to start.

    I’d rather that and a re-haul of Tower of Terror’s existing theme (adding the new visuals, the random drops) than a complete take-over. Though I’d seen rumors that the license for Twilight Zone was up for renewal so I suppose that might be part of it as well.

    Plus with a work time of “early January” (I’m guessing probably as soon as school breaks are over) to “summer 2017” that sort of seems like a crunch to deliver something that better be *ahem* out of this world amazing to make sure that fans of the ride are not disappointed or left feeling like they’ve been given a cheapy re-theme of their favorite ride. I mean hopefully it does work out, but it just seems like not a lot of time (but then I don’t have any experience re-themeing an amusement park ride so there’s that).

    I just hope that they leave Florida’s Tower of Terror untouched. But if it does go the way of CA’s, I hope it’ll at least stay open as it is until Star Wars and Toy Story are 100% completed and open. I don’t think the park can loose another big ride just yet… Plus I like the rumors/idea of a 5th gate that’s Marvel themed better (if they could come to an agreement with Universal, that is… and perhaps include some of their own super heroes *coughtheincrediblescough*).

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