If you thought Disney’s decision to replace Tower of Terror with Guardians of the Galaxy was controversial, wait until you hear about plans to swap the iconic attraction for Doctor Strange.At Disney California Adventure, the original Tower of Terror closed in January 2017 and reopened that May as Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, retaining the drop system but replacing the Hollywood Tower Hotel with the Collector’s fortress. The decision was fiercely opposed, including a petition that drew more than 35,000 supporters.Credit: DisneyThe backlash highlighted just how protective Disney fans can be of Tower of Terror. Mission: BREAKOUT! ultimately became part of Avengers Campus when the land opened in 2021, and the California overhaul has continued to fuel concerns that Disney could eventually make a similar move with its remaining versions.Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida and Disney Adventure World in Paris are the obvious subjects of that anxiety (including for Tower of Terror mega-fan Ariana Grande), although Disney has announced no plans to replace either ride. Paris attracts particular speculation because its Tower sits directly beside Avengers Campus, while Disney has already used the building itself for Marvel-themed entertainment such as the Avengers: Power the Night projection and drone show.And based on a recent report, Guardians of the Galaxy wouldn’t necessarily be the theme.Original ‘Doctor Strange’ Attraction Plans RevealedBefore Guardians of the Galaxy took over Disney California Adventure’s Tower of Terror, Disney Imagineering considered a very different Marvel hero for the building.Credit: DisneyRetired Imagineer Joe Rohde revealed that his first pitch for the attraction was based on Doctor Strange, currently played by Benedict Cumberbatch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The existing hotel facade, he believed, could be transformed relatively easily into a mysterious sanctum suited to the sorcerer (via Los Angeles Times).Disney executives rejected the concept, however. According to Rohde, the concern was simple: Doctor Strange was not considered popular enough to anchor the new attraction. Instead, executives asked Imagineering to explore using Spider-Man.Credit: DisneyRohde pushed back on that idea, arguing that the Tower of Terror ride system was fundamentally wrong for the character. “Spider-Man needs room to swing,” he wrote. “We only go up and down. There’s nowhere for Spider-Man to be!”Eventually, Guardians of the Galaxy became the compromise. The resulting Mission: Breakout! opened in 2017, replacing the original Tower of Terror and later becoming the dominant visual centerpiece of Avengers Campus. Doctor Strange, meanwhile, ultimately received a smaller live entertainment presence elsewhere in the land.New ‘Spider-Man’ Attraction PlansIronically, Disney is now doing something very close to the Spider-Man concept Rohde dismissed. Hong Kong Disneyland is building a new Avengers attraction using a drop-ride system comparable to the Tower of Terror, with Spider-Man playing a central role in the story.Avengers Attraction “drop tower” model for Hong Kong DisneylandAvengers Attraction “drop tower” model for Hong Kong Disneyland pic.twitter.com/UU2eDBtFb7— DLP Report (@DLPReport) August 14, 2026Set inside the Avengers Research Testing Labs, the attraction sees Peter Parker working with Stark Industries on powerful new technology before villains intervene. Disney says guests will travel through more than 120 feet of “storytelling tech,” moving across locations including Wakanda and Asgard alongside Spider-Man and other Avengers.Unlike Mission: Breakout!, however, Hong Kong’s ride is being built from scratch rather than replacing an existing Tower of Terror.Do you think Doctor Strange 0r the Guardians of the Galaxy work better for Tower of Terror?The post REPORT: ‘Doctor Strange’ Attraction Planned to Replace Disney’s Tower of Terror appeared first on Inside the Magic.