Iron Man is incredibly popular in China. For example, Iron Man 3 took in $121.2 million in China and The Avengers just $84.1 this year. Disney is hoping to capitalize on this momentum to help boost Hong Kong Disneyland. To do this, Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs announced that an Iron Man thrill ride, photo pavilion and shopping area will be opened at Hong Kong Disneyland by 2016. The Iron Man Experience is expected to cost around $100 million and will be the first Marvel based ride since Disney purchased the company for approximately $4 billion.
Iron Man Experience Coming to Hong Kong Disneyland in 2016The Iron Man Experience will be found in Tomorrowland with suits of armor, the main Iron Man attraction itself, shopping, and photo locations. It will also offer guests a chance to meet and take photos with Iron Man himself. The main attraction will feature Iron Man flying around Hong Kong fighting aliens.
“It’s important for us to have a story for our Hong Kong guests, a little bit of bragging rights that they have something that nobody else has,” Bill Ernest, the president of Disney’s theme parks in Asia told the New York Times.
Iron Man Experience Coming to Hong Kong Disneyland in 2016Beyond a little bragging rights, this is also about adding to the draw of the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. It just recently turned profitable and Disney would like to see this profit grow beyond the $14 million it pulled in last year. Shanghai Disney will also be opening in 2015 which will be another big draw in Asia for Disney fans. The Walt Disney Company will want to attract people to both parks by creating unique quality experiences.
Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs said in a recent email to reporters, “We are confident that Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland will complement and reinforce each other.” The goal is to create a complimentary market much like is found in the United States with the Disneyland Resort and the Walt Disney World Resort. This delicate balancing act will be crucial to the future of Hong Kong Disneyland. Guests visiting the park already yearn for more attractions. Local officials are concerned that Hong Kong will be overshadowed as a financial market by Shanghai and do not want the same to happen with the resident Disney parks. There is also the issue of over theme parks being developed in China along with the nearby Ocean Park. “Combined with Toy Story Land, Grizzly Gulch and Mystic Point, this new themed area underscores commitment to and confidence in the continued growth of Hong Kong Disneyland,” Staggs.
Hong Kong Disneyland does continue to grow and as Disney invests more in it, the number seem to keep growing. The next big bet on Hong Kong Disneyland will be Iron Man. So far, Iron Man has not failed but he will be tested in Hong Kong Disneyland.
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