Hong Kong Disneyland announces opening date for Iron Man Experience

November 8, 2016, 3:51 PM · We've finally got a date for the official opening of the new Iron Man ride at Hong Kong Disneyland: January 11, 2017.

Initially slated for debut this year, Disney's first Marvel-themed ride slid off the summer debut schedule. But guests staying at one of Hong Kong Disneyland's on-site hotels will be allowed on the ride starting Dec. 23, according to a statement from the park. The ride will open officially to the public about three weeks later.

Iron Man Experience is a Star Tours-type motion base theater attraction. Flying in an "Iron Wing," guests will follow Iron Man in flight around Hong Kong after their trip to the Stark Expo is interrupted by Hydra attempting to steal the world's largest arc reactor. Here's a preview, along with some hype from Stan Lee. (Or, "Stanley," as Disney Parks Chairman Bob Chapek likes to call him.)

Even though the ride won't open to the public until next month, Hong Kong Disneyland visitors can get a first look at the park's Stark Expo in its Expo Shop merchandise location, which is now open.

Iron Man Experience is Disney's first theme park ride based on its Marvel franchise, to be followed next May by Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout, the retheming of the Tower of Terror ride at Disney California Adventure. In addition, Disney has a Marvel-themed meet-and-greet pavilion, including an Animation Academy-style interaction, at Shanghai Disneyland.

Disney has the rights to use all Marvel properties at its theme parks in Anaheim, Paris, and China, but is restricted in its use of Marvel characters at Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disney, where it can't use the name "Marvel" at all. That's due to a 1990s agreement between Marvel and Universal Studios, which came years before Disney bought the comic book company.

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Replies (7)

November 8, 2016 at 4:20 PM · I expect that after Star Wars Land opens at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Star Tours will be fitted to a Marvel simulator experience. Obviously the can't use Iron Man in Orlando, but I'm sure Disney will find a Marvel experience that their legal people can get the rights to.
November 8, 2016 at 6:20 PM · Doesn't this ride answers your question "Which theme park company will do the best job over the next four years?"

Disney rolling out an old simulator with a new theme and pretend it is a new ride. (In fact some says the simulators are from Epcot's Body Wars.) This is no Spider-man ride.

November 9, 2016 at 12:19 AM · The timing of this couldn't have worked out better for us, we are visiting on the 8th and 9th Jan and staying at the Hong Kong Disneyland hotel so will be able to experience the attraction on the 8th (it is shut on the 9th and 10th apparently, I'm guessing to prepare for opening on the 11th). Very glad this worked out so we can hopefully experience the attraction! Thanks so much for the heads up and your awesome reporting as usual!
November 9, 2016 at 12:53 AM · I don't think it does answer the question because this is at Hong Kong Disneyland where a simulator doesn't exist. Besides Spiderman is old now too. But Universal Studios is building a new park in China that will blow Orlando out of the water so Universal wins there. This looks like a nice addition to HKDL!

November 9, 2016 at 4:18 AM · Looks like a really cool addition to HKDL. With their mine train, Mystic Manor and this, HKDL will have three very unique e-ticket rides. Awesome!
November 9, 2016 at 8:21 AM · Sounds broadly similar to Batman: The Ride, formerly of Warner Bros Movie World.
November 9, 2016 at 10:52 AM · The Stark Expo and the Iron Man ride seems to fit Tomorrowland just fine. If it comes to Anaheim, it would seem to strange to change the location to California Adventure. It belongs in Disneyland's Tomorrowland.

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