I want a Doctor Strange attraction at Walt Disney World, and not necessarily because he’s my favorite Marvel character. Instead, I think the Sorcerer Supreme could be an important chess piece in Disney’s ongoing battle against Universal Orlando for theme park dominance. As both companies continue investing in major attractions to draw guests to Central Florida, Disney needs to find creative ways to expand its Marvel presence despite the complicated rights agreements that limit what it can do. Doctor Strange could be the perfect character to help Disney make its next move, delivering a thrilling attraction while potentially strengthening Disney’s position in the larger Marvel theme park conversation.
The challenge is that Marvel signed a longstanding exclusivity agreement with Universal before Disney acquired the company. That agreement is why Universal’s Islands of Adventure features Marvel Super Hero Island and why Disney faces significant restrictions on using many Marvel characters east of the Mississippi River. However, there are still opportunities for Disney to work with certain Marvel properties that fall outside those restrictions. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT has already demonstrated how successful a major Marvel attraction can be at Walt Disney World. I think adding a second major Marvel ride that fits within the existing agreement could further prove that Disney doesn’t need access to every character to create compelling experiences. If Disney can build a strong Marvel lineup without relying on the characters protected by Universal’s deal, it could eventually change the dynamics of this long-running theme park rivalry.
That’s where Doctor Strange comes in. Imagine a high-speed attraction that sends guests on a journey through the multiverse, with the Sorcerer Supreme trying to repair dangerous distortions in time and space. The ride could transport guests between different eras and locations, using mystical portals, shifting environments, and mind-bending visuals to create an experience that feels unlike anything else at Walt Disney World. A combination of physical sets, immersive projections, and thrilling ride technology could make this a major headliner attraction rather than simply another screen-based Marvel adventure. Doctor Strange’s powers also offer Disney an enormous amount of creative flexibility, making it possible to build a ride that feels both familiar to Marvel fans and completely unique within the theme park landscape.
Even better, Doctor Strange wouldn’t necessarily have to make the adventure alone. Imagine guests traveling to ancient Egypt and encountering Moon Knight before jumping through a portal to China, where Shang-Chi joins the adventure. These stops could give Disney opportunities to explore different corners of the Marvel universe while creating visually distinct environments and exciting action sequences. Naturally, Disney would need to ensure that every character and storyline fits within its existing rights, and I believe those two do, but the creative possibilities are exciting. The result could be a thrilling, globe-spanning adventure that showcases the Marvel characters Disney can use in Florida while giving guests another reason to choose Walt Disney World over Universal.
Could a successful Doctor Strange attraction eventually put pressure on Universal to reconsider its Marvel exclusivity agreement? That’s certainly speculative, and Universal has plenty of reasons to protect a valuable arrangement regardless of what Disney builds. I wouldn’t expect one or two successful rides to convince Universal to give up its rights overnight. But if Disney continues proving that it can deliver major Marvel experiences without relying on the characters tied up in the agreement, the competitive landscape could look different over time. Disney doesn’t need to wait for the Marvel rights situation to change before making its next move.
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