Iron Man Experience is a 3-D motion simulator attraction in Tomorrowland at Hong Kong Disneyland, which opened on January 11, 2017. The attraction is based on the Marvel Comics character Iron Man, becoming the first Disney attraction to be based on a Marvel property.[2] Set at the fictional Stark Expo, the attraction features Tony Stark recruiting guests to fend off Hydra Forces that are attacking Hong Kong.[3]
Iron Man Experience is located in Tomorrowland, and is planned to be reincorporated into Stark Expo.
History[]
Discussions of creating Marvel attractions at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts' theme parks began in 2009, with The Walt Disney Company's acquisition of Marvel Entertainment. In his 2013-2014 budget speech, Hong Kong's financial secretary John Tsang announced that a new nighttime parade as well as a themed area featuring characters from the Marvel Universe would be built in Hong Kong Disneyland.[4][5] On October 8, 2013, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts chairman Thomas O. Staggs announced that Hong Kong Disneyland would be adding the Iron Man Experience.[2] Walt Disney Imagineering designed the attraction and Industrial Light & Magic created the computer-generated visual effects.[6] Due to the construction of Iron Man Experience, Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad was suspended from February 17, 2014, until June 29, 2015, and the Fastpass service of Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters was suspended until late 2016. Testing for the ride began in May 2016.[7]
On August 28, 2019, the attraction updated the view of the park, such as Castle of Magical Dreams and World of Frozen.
Attraction[]
The attraction is estimated to have a cost of $100 million and employs a newer generation model of the Advanced Technology Leisure Application Simulator, currently used in Star Tours: The Adventures Continue.[3] The attraction is located at the park's Tomorrowland section, in an area named "Stark Expo", adjacent to Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle!.[8] Set a few years after the 2010 New York Stark Expo,[9] Tony invites the visitors aboard the Iron Wing Mark VIII for a tour of Hong Kong, including the newly constructed Stark Tower.[10][11] However, HYDRA launches an attack on the city that lead by Arnim Zola, forcing Tony to don the Iron Man armor and fight the menace alongside the Iron Wing.[11]
Stark Expo[]
Arriving visitors enter the Stark Expo, where they can learn the history of Howard Stark, the founder of Stark Industries, before meeting current president Tony Stark, who is introducing a new invention known as the "Iron Wing". [11] At the expo, guests can experience the history of Stark Industries through inventions by Howard Stark, and into the present day, where Tony Stark is inspiring his team of scientists and engineers to make our lives better, more convenient, and safer through technology. At the back of the area, guests can enter the simulator attraction.
The Marvel-themed area also includes a cool interactive “Become Iron Man” experience in Expo Shop, exclusive themed merchandise, and an immersive, story-driven character greeting with Iron Man.[12]
Expansion[]
On November 22, 2016, Disney Parks announced a multi-year expansion to the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. This expansion will include an expansion to Tomorrowland which will include new attractions, meet-and-greets, shops, entertainment, and dining locations. The Stark Expo area is the first phase of this expansion. Three years later, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle!, a re-imagined version of Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, opened in March 2019. In 2023, an Avengers attraction is scheduled to open. It will be on the land that was Autopia.
Trivia[]
- In the Hall of Legacy, guests will see a historical collection of historical items, including items from Captain America: The First Avenger, Iron Man, and Iron Man 2, the first Flying Vehicle Controller and its "Gravitational Retrograde" engine, the String Reactor Energy Model, the Armored Fantasy Mark I Armor replicas, and the American Captain, exhibited at the World Exposition of Tomorrow in 1943 Shield prototype.
- During the introduction of the M.A.R.I.A. flight concept car in the science fiction city, Space Mountain appears. This is a tribute to the 2015 movie Tomorrowland rather than Tomorrowland in the Disney parks.
- The picture of Howard Stark introducing the history of science and technology exhibition in 1974 features a cameo by Walt Disney talking about his plans for Disney World.
- In Hall of Protection, there is a "My JARVIS" that features some codes in the intelligent system prototype, including:
- A Hidden Mickey with "M2" ("MM", as Mickey Mouse)
- "HKDL 11- 05" ('HKDL" meaning Hong Kong Disneyland, "11" meaning HKDL is the eleventh Disney theme park and "5" meaning HKDL Resort is the fifth Disney Resort in the world)
- "WED 52" (WED Enterprises was founded in 1952)
- "140FLWR-ST" (the location of Walt Disney Imagineering Company)
- "TR 7-18" (Ted Robledo)
- "Fe" = (the chemical symbol for iron)
- "63" = (Iron Man's first explosive appearance was in 1963)
- Some Marvel Comics characters are referenced in the binary numbers:
- 01001000 01001111 01010111 01000001 01010010 01000100 (Howard Stark)
- 01001010 01000001 01010010 01010110 01001001 01010011 (J.A.R.V.I.S.)
- 01001110 01000001 01010100 01000001 01001100 01001001 01000101 (Natalie Rushman/Natasha Romanoff, a.k.a. Black Widow)
- Stan Lee made a cameo in the security instructions video before the ride.
- A magic coin press machine that looks like Dum-E appears in the exit of the ride. Iron Man says "Ah-ar! No, Dum E! Don't even... Yeah, yeah, that's it! I am turning you into a coin press machine." when Dum-E wants to issue an extinguishing agent to the smoldering Iron Man.
- This attraction is connected to Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! as in the pre-show of that attraction Iron Man called Ant-Man and the Wasp to help him because he is too busy with his battle. You can also hear Ant-Man and Iron Man comparing their bots.
Gallery[]
Photos[]
Videos[]
See also[]
- Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
- Avengers Assemble: Flight Force
- Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT!
- Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle!
- Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure
References[]
- ↑ Smith, Thomas (November 11, 2016). "Opening Date Set for Iron Man Experience, Hong Kong Disneyland’s Marvel-Themed Ride". Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved on November 11, 2016.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Chu, Karen (8 October 2013). "Hong Kong Disneyland to Open 'Iron Man' Experience in 2016". Retrieved on 8 October 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Barnes, Brookes (8 October 2013). "To Lift Hong Kong Park, Disney Deploys Iron Man". Retrieved on 8 October 2013.
- ↑ Ng, Jeffrey (27 February 2013). "Hong Kong’s Disneyland to Get Marvel Superheroes". Retrieved on 28 February 2013.
- ↑ John Tsang (27 February 2013). "The 2013-14 Budget - Promoting Tourism Industry". Hong Kong Government.
- ↑ "Soarin’ With Parks and Resorts at D23 EXPO 2015". Disney D23. Retrieved on August 9, 2016.
- ↑ "Ride Tests Begin for Iron Man Experience at Hong Kong Disneyland" (en-us). Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved on 17 May 2016.
- ↑ Yung, Chester (8 October 2013). "Iron Man to Join Hong Kong Disneyland". Retrieved on 8 October 2013.
- ↑ Davis, Brandon (November 8, 2016). "A Look Inside Of Hong Kong Disney's Iron Man Experience Ride". Comicbook.com.
- ↑ "Iron Man Experience ride at Hong Kong Disneyland gets open date", Orlando Sentinel (November 7, 2016). Retrieved on November 12, 2016.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Erin Glover (16 August 2015). "Iron Man to Appear at Hong Kong Disneyland; New Details Unveiled for Iron Man Experience". The Walt Disney Company. Retrieved on 17 August 2015.
- ↑ https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2016/05/ride-tests-begin-for-iron-man-experience-at-hong-kong-disneyland/
