Hong Kong Disneyland will be get a boost from Iron Man. The Marvel character will be central to a new attraction being planned at Disney’s struggling theme park. They hope to have it open in 2016.
Thomas O. Staggs, Disney’s theme park chairman, said that the Iron Man area will open in late 2016, reports The New York Times. The area will feature a thrill ride, a shopping area and a photo pavillion. The Iron Man Experience will cost $100 million to build and is the first Disney theme park attraction based on a Marvel character since Disney bought Marvel in 2009.
Hong Kong Disneyland is the company’s most struggling theme park, as it only just recently turned a profit for the first time since its 2005 opening. The park has been hit by critics over its small size and it has to compete with Ocean Park. It has also failed to draw visitors.
During its last fiscal year, Hong Kong Disneyland showed just a $14 million profit and Disney is hoping that the Iron Man attraction could build on that. After all, Iron Man 3 just grossed $121.2 million in China.
“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 said in a statement, reports THR.
The Hong Kong expansions come as Disney tries to build a foothold in China just before the Shanghai park opens in 2015. The 11 Disney parks in total made a $1.9 billion profit and attracted a record 126.5 million visitors in the past year.
Disney did bring an Iron Man exhibit to Disneyland in Anaheim and opened an Iron Man-themed monorail in Walt Disney world in Orlando.
image: Wikimedia Commons