It’s packed with high-tech effects and Spider-Man flair, but WEB SLINGERS can leave riders feeling more tired than thrilled. Here’s why.

I really wanted to love WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure when it first debuted. It’s one of the flashiest rides at Disney California Adventure — it’s an upgraded, higher-tech version of Toy Story Midway Mania!, packed with screens, special effects, and that cool “you’re actually slinging webs” motion technology. The concept alone sounds like every Marvel fan’s dream.

But after riding it numerous times, I’ve come to the conclusion that WEB SLINGERS might be one of Disney’s most frustrating attractions. It’s undeniably fun to experience, but it’s also chaotic and exhausting. 

What Is WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure?

Photo by Danny Shuster

WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure is Disney California Adventure’s high-tech, interactive Spider-Man ride located in Avengers Campus. The concept: Guests join Peter Parker (played by Tom Holland) on a mission to stop rogue Spider-Bots from taking over the campus.

As you ride, you shoot webs to capture those escaped Spider-Bots. The more bots you “catch,” the higher your score climbs. It’s meant to make you feel like you are Spider-Man, zipping through the chaos with precision and style.

While WEB SLINGERS is a screen-based ride like Toy Story Midway Mania!, it’s far more advanced when it comes to the tech used to get guests involved in the storyline. Instead of holding a blaster or aiming a toy shooter, you actually use your hands to sling webs, just like Spider-Man. That’s possible thanks to motion-tracking technology that detects arm movements in real time.

The idea is clever, and the tech is impressive — especially the first time you experience it. You board a WEB transport vehicle, put on your 3D glasses, and suddenly, you’re surrounded by Spider-Bots crawling across massive digital screens. It’s fast, frantic, and visually immersive.

Where WEB SLINGERS Goes Wrong

Unfortunately, for all of its cool tech, I find WEB SLINGERS falls short. Once you’ve ridden this immersive attraction, you’re not really keen to do so again. Sure, it’s competitive and engaging. Sure, the ability to seemingly shoot webs yourself is cool. 

But, as I noticed the first time I climbed out of my ride vehicle, it’s not exactly an easy game to play.

WEB SLINGERS is fun — for about two minutes. Then it turns into a kind of chaotic web-slinging arm workout. You’re so busy flinging your arms, chasing points, and competing with your ride partners that you barely have time to take in what’s happening around you.

The gameplay dominates the experience, and not in a good way. Instead of being immersed in a story, you’re trapped in score-chasing chaos. The ride’s pacing is frantic, the visuals blur together, and there’s not much of a payoff. There’s no sense of victory beyond a quick leaderboard flash.

Then there’s the issue of accessibility and fatigue. If you don’t have the best reflexes or you’re not feeling up for a high-energy arm workout, WEB SLINGERS is hard to enjoy. Some players naturally dominate the scoring system while others barely register hits. While it’s purely a game, this can be frustrating, especially for families with younger kids. 

I myself, an adult who’s completely capable of participating in the game, found myself desperate for a break in the last third of the ride. Afterwards, I wasn’t so sure I wanted to give it my all again… right away or on future visits.

Because it’s so much more physical than other similar attractions, both at California Adventure and other Disney Parks, WEB SLINGERS is a tougher sell. It can frustrate riders more easily because it requires more physical skill, and it can downright exhaust you. And, in my experience, it’s simply harder to love.

What WEB SLINGERS Gets Right

Photo by Cliff Wang

For all its flaws, WEB SLINGERS does get a lot right, especially when it comes to innovation. The web-slinging tech itself is genuinely impressive. The fact that the ride can track your arm movements with such precision without a controller or wands is a huge leap forward in interactive theme park design. It’s the kind of technology that makes you excited for what’s possible in future Disney attractions.

It’s also got an undeniably fun, contagious energy. The music, the Spider-Bots flying everywhere, and Tom Holland’s fast-talking Peter Parker keeping the chaos (sort of) under control come together to draw guests in and make it feel like a game you genuinely do want to participate in. When the ride hits its rhythm, it’s easy to get swept up in the action.

And if you’re riding with family or friends, the competitive element can be a blast. Comparing scores, swapping strategies, and laughing about how tired your arms are afterward all make for a memorable shared moment. It’s not emotional storytelling, but it is kinetic fun that older kids (and Marvel fans) will love.

Plus, the queue and pre-show do a great job setting the stage for Avengers Campus. You get to step into a world where young geniuses are developing superhero tech, and Peter Parker feels every bit as charming and awkward as he does in the movies.

So yes — WEB SLINGERS might not be California Adventure’s best ride, but it’s also far from the worst. It’s ambitious, inventive, and a glimpse into the interactive future of Disney attractions, even if it doesn’t quite stick the landing.