Here’s why Marvel Land won’t be called “Marvel Land”

Marvel is one of The Walt Disney Company’s most successful franchises, so it’s not surprising that beloved characters like Spider-Man, Iron Man and Captain America will soon be making their way into their very own “Marvel Land” in Disney California Adventure Park. A Bug’s Land will be closed in order to make way for new attractions and a live show based on Marvel characters and stories. “We are excited to bring these stories and their compelling characters to life with a new land in Disney California Adventure park,” said Disney spokeswoman Suzi Brown.

But while Marvel takes center stage, The Walt Disney Company won’t be calling this new space “Marvel Land,” simply because they legally cannot.

Though The Walt Disney Company has technically owned Marvel since 2009, Marvel Entertainment is still obligated to comply with certain legal restrictions in relation to other companies, including one of Disney’s biggest competitors: Universal Studios. As a result, Disney cannot use certain characters or names – including “Marvel” within their theme parks.

Despite this restriction, The Walt Disney Company is moving forward with its plans for a Marvel-themed land, anchored by the “Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!” attraction. Other Marvel-themed lands are planned to open in Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland, and it’s safe to say that neither of these lands will be called “Marvel Land,” either.

And so, the Marvel “areas” are scheduled to open in 2020, starting with the one at Disney California Adventure park.