Iron Man to rescue Hong Kong Disneyland

Hopes to pack in the tourists.

Hong Kong Disneyland will add the “Iron Man Experience,” a separate theme area, set to open by late 2016. It is HK Disneyland’s latest effort to boost sagging visitor numbers.

The park said the Iron Man Experience will include a thrill ride that will let visitors fly with Iron Man on an epic adventure in a battle against alien invaders across Hong Kong. Fans will also be able to take photos with Iron Man, view the different Iron Man suits created by Iron Man’s creator Tony Stark and visit a gift shop.

The Iron Man ride will be the first based on a Marvel franchise for Disney, which bought Marvel for US$4.2 billion in December 2009.

Some US$465 million in new attractions at were added at Hong Kong Disneyland over the past two years. These include rides based on the "Toy Story" movies.

The expansion appears to be working. The park earned a profit of US$14 million in its latest financial year, its first after losing hundreds of millions since opening in 2005.

"Iron Man 3" was the No. 2 movie in China in the first half of the year, raking in US$118 million.

Hong Kong's Disneyland is a joint venture between the Hong Kong government, which owns 52%, and Walt Disney, which owns the rest.