Disney has shared new details about Rogers: The Musical at the Hyperion Theater in California Adventure. This limited time Marvel production will use a virtual queue, and have a variety of viewing options, food & drinks, and more throughout Summer 2023 at Disneyland Resort.
Rogers: The Musical is a classic tale of heroes, time travel and romance features a talented cast of singers and dancers telling the story of Steve Rogers – Captain America, joined by Peggy Carter, Nick Fury, and other members of the Avengers. Rogers: The Musical originated as a meta self-parody featured in the Disney+ series Hawkeye. It gained a bit of a cult following, and was presented at last year’s D23 Expo as a result, where it was met with rave reviews from fans.
This Marvel musical is based on the life of Steve Rogers, the first Captain America. The backstory in the Disney+ series is that “Rogers: The Musical” was produced at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in New York City in 2024. The Avengers were invited to see the premiere of the musical, but Clint Barton is the only Avenger who actually shows up. In the Disney+ series, the fictional musical features a show-stopping number called “Save the City,” which is based on The Battle of New York from the first Avengers film.
Disneyland has shared the official dates of Rogers: The Musical. The new one-act live theater production will perform just outside of Avengers Campus in Hyperion Theater for a limited-time engagement from June 30 through August 31, 2023.
Personally, I’m a little skeptical of that end date. As you’ll see from the following, Disneyland is doing a lot for Rogers: The Musical, which certainly suggests it’s not being viewed internally as a two-month production. If it were really this temporary, it wouldn’t be getting nearly this much attention.
While I could see Disneyland not performing this during the off-season due to the cost, the fall isn’t really slow anymore. The day after Rogers: The Musical is currently scheduled to end (September 1) is the start of Halloween Time at Disneyland, which is hugely popular. Immediately after that, Christmas kicks off.
More likely, Disney doesn’t want to commit to Rogers: The Musical beyond the first couple of months just in case response among Disney or Marvel fans is tepid, and demand is low. That gives them an “out” for ending it, as it was never technically scheduled to last longer. If it is well-received and popular, I’d absolutely expect the run to be extended indefinitely “by popular guest demand.”
Another possibility is that Disneyland throws Rogers: The Musical into the seasonal rotation like Soarin’ Over California, Hyperspace Mountain, and Main Street Electrical Parade–bringing it back whenever wanting to draw locals out to the parks. I hope this isn’t their plan.
If Rogers: The Musical is good and a hit with guests, it should just become permanent. Don’t play games to cut costs, create a false sense of urgency to see it, or artificially juice demand. Disney California Adventure needs more to do and Hyperion Theater has been vacant for two years. Enough with the monkey business, Disney.
With the confirmed dates and our speculation about the future of Rogers: The Musical (before it’s even debuted) out of the way, here are some tips and info to know before you go:
1. Free Virtual Queue for Rogers: The Musical
Rogers: The Musical is scheduled to perform several times per day, Tuesday through Saturday most weeks during its run this summer between June 30 and August 31, 2023 at DCA. You’ll be able to access viewing areas for Rogers: The Musical through a virtual queue system available only via the Disneyland app.
Each day that Rogers: The Musical is performing, distribution for the free virtual queue will begin at 10:30 a.m. Pacific for the first two show times of the day and 2 p.m. PT for the remaining performances of the day.
Here are other details about the virtual queue for Rogers: The Musical:
- If a guest gets into a virtual queue, they will not be able to choose which showtime they would like to have for Rogers: The Musical. Instead, they will be automatically given a showtime.
- There is limited capacity for each show. After attempting to join the virtual queue, Guests will be directed to a screen which shows whether or not they are added to the queue.
- Once a guest joins the virtual queue, they will be called back to the Hyperion Theater when the physical queue is ready to open, approximately 30 to 45 minutes before showtime.
- To access the virtual queue, guests must have entered Disney California Adventure or entered Disneyland Park with a Park Hopper ticket or Magic Key Annual Pass.
Joining the virtual queue is not required to view Rogers: The Musical, but it is highly recommended. If the virtual queue reaches capacity, you can check in at the Hyperion Theater before Rogers: The Musical begins for any walk-up viewing options.
In all likelihood, the virtual queue for Rogers: The Musical will fill up in seconds each time it opens, and speed strategy will be necessary. If that wasn’t the expectation, Disneyland wouldn’t be using the VQ in the first place. Accordingly, you’ll want to be ready and refreshing the app right as the virtual queue opens. Don’t even mess with the (potential) walk-up viewing options.
2. Paid Premium Viewing for Rogers: The Musical
You may choose to buy a Rogers: The Musical Premium Viewing Experience package from the Studio Catering Co. Truck in Hollywood Land. Available in limited quantities per performance, the package includes a Rogers: The Musical popcorn bucket with kettle corn and choice of bottled beverage, plus access to lounge seating before the show, priority choice of seating in the theater, a souvenir lanyard, and priority access to a photo opportunity. All for $29 per person.
The premium viewing experience package for Rogers: The Musical will probably be popular, especially since it “only” costs $29 per person. Disneyland diehards and Marvel fans will have FOMO about not missing out on the supposedly limited run of this production, and will want to get the best seats for Rogers: The Musical.
There’s no way we’d buy a Rogers: The Musical Premium Viewing Experience package. Sure, it’s only $29, but the virtual queue is free–and the popcorn and other stuff has zero value to us. To each their own, though. Maybe you love popcorn buckets and Coca-Cola, and value not having to stress with the VQ.
Hopefully we’re wrong and this actually is not popular, as this type of upcharge and VIP viewing is getting out of hand. However, Disney won’t stop offering this until there stops being a market for it. The ball is in the court of consumers.
3. Rogers: The Musical Food & Beverages
It wouldn’t be a limited-time celebration without food & drinks for Disney to sell! During the run of Rogers: The Musical, select locations across Disney California Adventure park will serve patriotic and heroically-themed food and beverages.
Here’s a list of the limited-time menu items at DCA:
- Red, White & Blue Shake at Schmoozies: Vanilla shake with wild cherry and blue raspberry slushes and whipped topping (Non-alcoholic)
- Patriotic Punch at Hollywood Lounge: Sprite and white cranberry juice with blue raspberry and cherry syrups topped with whipped cream (Non-alcoholic)
- Pastrami Pretzel Dog at Award Wieners: All-beef hot dog topped with pastrami, whole-grain mustard, provolone, sauerkraut, and thousand island dressing
- Shawarm-izza at Shawarma Palace: Italian sausage, pepperoni, mozzarella, and pepperoncini in a garlic-parmesan wrap with marinara dipping sauce
- Like an Apple Pizza Pie at Terran Treats: Cinnamon-sugar fried pizza crust topped with apple and cranberry filling, streusel, and cream cheese frosting
- Cap’n Everything Dog at Outdoor Vending Carts: Hot link wrapped in pizza dough topped with everything bagel seasoning and served with a side of mustard cheese sauce and potato chips
- Kettle Corn at Outdoor Vending Carts: Red, white, and blue caramel corn
- Rogers: The Musical Popcorn Bucket at Seasonal Snacks and Outdoor Vending Carts: Includes Kettle Corn
Okay, so this list actually has some potential All-American All-Stars on it. Schmoozies constantly delivers on the milkshake front and Award Wieners is a national treasure, so you know those two things will be fantastic. Then there’s the Shawarmizza and Cap’n Everything Dog…and maybe the Apple Pizza Pie.
We’ll be taste-testing all of those items and will report back with the results of our research!
4. Rogers: The Musical Merchandise & Photos
You can remember your Rogers: The Musical experience with themed offerings available during the show’s special engagement.
For a limited time, two Magic Shots from PhotoPass make you the main character with an opportunity to pose with Captain America’s shield in front of the Hyperion Theater marquee.
If you’re more into collecting things over memories, there’s also no shortage of stuff to buy. Rogers: The Musical merchandise will be available near the Hyperion Theater, including a T-shirt, magnet and ornament.
Additionally, at the Super Store Featuring Avengers Campus shop in Hollywood Land, you can gear up with a wide assortment of Avengers merch and apparel.
Ultimately, that’s what to expect for the first (and maybe only…but probably not!) summer season of Rogers: The Musical at Disney California Adventure. Our expectation is that this production is going to prove popular with both Disneyland diehards and Marvel maniacs (is that what they call themselves?)…and that Disney already strongly suspects that’ll be the case. Although new to DCA, Rogers: The Musical was soft-tested at the D23 Expo, and it’s likely that the company knows it has a hit on its hands.
In which case, Rogers: The Musical is not really a limited-time production and framing it as such is either a hedge or way to create hype and kick the FOMO machine into overdrive–perhaps a bit of both. Just something to keep in mind before going nuts and buying the premium viewing package or even park tickets just to see the show. We’ll be on hand for the opening of Rogers: The Musical and will report back with virtual queue and viewing tips, plus a review of the fun new foods and the show itself. Stay tuned!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think about “Rogers: The Musical” coming to Disney California Adventure starting on June 30, 2023? Do you expect this to actually be a limited time production, or is that a way to create an artificial sense of urgency/scarcity before the musical’s run is inevitability extended “by popular demand” from guests? Planning on purchasing premium viewing or trying your luck with the virtual queue? Think this will be a good addition to Avengers Campus, or does the production sound too cheesy to you? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
