Disneyland's Avengers area to open in June with Spider-Man, shawarma

LOS ANGELES -- A new Avengers-themed area featuring a Spider-Man ride, roaming superheroes and a shawarma food cart will open at Walt Disney Co’s Disneyland Resort in California on June 4, the head of the company’s parks division said on Thursday.

The debut will come weeks after the resort in Anaheim, about 35 miles southeast of Los Angeles, begins welcoming back guests for the first time in a year starting on April 30.

Disneyland, the original Disney theme park, and neighboring California Adventure were closed in March 2020 to help prevent spread of the novel coronavirus. The shutdown thwarted plans to open the Avengers Campus in July 2020.

Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney parks, experiences and products, announced the new opening date as he offered a glimpse of the Avengers attractions during a pre-taped video shown to reporters.

In a new Spider-Man ride called “Web Slingers,” which combines physical and virtual environments, guests will team with Spidey to capture out-of-control Spider-Bots.

“You will swear Peter Parker’s right there,” said Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, referring to Spider-Man’s alter ego.

A swinging Spider-Man character also will perform acrobatics above the park’s rooftops. The character is a “stuntronic” robot designed to perform somersaults while flying 60 feet in the air, Disney said.

Black Panther, Black Widow, Doctor Strange, Iron Man also will found in the park, as well as a Quinjet, an advanced aircraft used by the Avengers.

“There’s only one place you can see one of our Quinjets,” Feige said. “It’s either in the movie or it’s here.”

Food options will include a cart offering shawarma, a nod to a scene at the end of the 2012 “Avengers” movie when various superheroes ate the Middle Eastern dish together after saving the world.

Visitors to Disneyland will need advance reservations and must follow COVID-19 safety precautions including wearing masks and social distancing.

-reuters-

Canyon fire affects SoCal residents, businesses

ANAHEIM, California - The hills along the 91 freeway in the Anaheim Hills area now look like a barren, burnt wasteland as the massive Canyon 2 fire continues to burn in Southern California.

Now on its third day, the blaze has scorched 8,000 acres and is at 45 percent containment as of Wednesday morning, according to authorities.

Cooler overnight temperatures and the return of the marine layer has helped the over 1,600 firefighters from all over California fight the blaze, which has destroyed 15 structures, damaged 12 and has injured three people.

Orange County fire officials say most evacuation orders have been lifted and all residents should be able to return to their homes by late Wednesday.

The effects of the fire can be felt by residents all over Orange County, including Filipino-American business owners just down the hill from the fire line.

“Malapit po ang bahay namin sa Disneyland, sa Katella and Brookhurst, pagdating ko po sa bahay kagabi, nakita ko po 'yung maraming ashfall at leaves na marami,” said Norma Seriano.

“'Yung ibang mga customer nandito sila, kumain sa amin, sila ninenerbiyos, nanginginig, dahil sila mismo ang nasunugan ng bahay,” she said.

Roman Calica, another business owner, encountered one customer whose house was at risk of being engulfed by the blaze.

“One of my customers said that the fire was just behind their house, so they are really scared and panicking,” said Calica.

“Basta 'yung mga important documents lang na kailangan natin, kailangan naka-safety 'yun para in case na may sunog, madali natin makukuha at maililigtas," he said.

Schools in the immediate area of the fire remain closed due to possible fire danger and the extremely poor air quality.

The fire was first reported Monday morning near the 91 Freeway and Coal Canyon. The 241 toll road connecting the 91 freeway to the 261 remains closed. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

Full containment is expected by Saturday.

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source: news.abs-cbn.com