Disney's New Spider-Man Ride Features Physical Microtransactions

Microtransactions have long been a lucrative market within video games, and sensing an opportunity to spin that idea off into its theme parks, Disney has revealed that guests can purchase a few power-ups for its new Spider-Man ride opening in June. Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure will open up on June 4 inside Avengers Campus at Disney's California Adventure park, with the attraction featuring an interactive ride that allows fans to fire off webs by moving their arms.

That's what the standard version of the experience will offer, but for a few dollars you'll be able to purchase a "WEB Power Band" and WEB Tech that unlock "multi-fire webs." The power band on its own will cost $35, and WEB Tech will be an additional $30, but unlike the digital nature of video game microtransactions, you can at least take these add-ons home and display them. To further entice Marvel fans to spend more cash, the WEB Tech add-on is available in Spider-Man, Ghost Spider, Iron Man, and Rescue variants.

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Spider-Man and Ghost Spider WEB-tech add electro-dynamic web-slinging actions, while Iron Man and Rescue unlock repulsor ray blasts. Disney didn't mention on its blog if purchasing these ride upgrades also gives visitors a chance to earn more points, but fans will likely be rushing to purchase these toys when the new attraction opens up.

Nintendo has a similar idea in its own theme park, as visitors can don a power band that can be used for some extra fun and a chance to earn exclusive gear within that zone. If your tastes lean more towards Star Wars, Disney also revealed a working prototype for a lightsaber that looks a lot more authentic than the usual plastic replica. Disney hasn't revealed when these souvenirs will be up for sale to the general public, but with its Star Wars hotel coming to Walt Disney World in Florida soon, it shouldn't be too much longer.