With this year’s release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and, more recently, Spider-Man: Homecoming, people are still on a Marvel frenzy—though most diehards always are. Anyway, in view of this, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort came up with Marvel Super Hero Summer, which runs until September 3, 2017. I came recently to the park and embarked on supercharged adventures this program has to offer.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: A HERO’S WELCOME
Near the park’s main gate is where Steve Rogers a.k.a. Captain America hangs out. Well, the good news is, he’s there most of the day, and he’s ready to welcome guests and join them for action-packed photo ops.
IRON MAN EXPERIENCE
The latest (permanent) addition to Hong Kong Disneyland’s Tomorrowland is the Iron Man Experience, which was just launched in January 2017. According to the press release sent to us leading to its opening:
The eminent innovator and pioneer, Tony Stark has selected Tomorrowland in Hong Kong Disneyland to host Stark Expo, where he will show off his latest high-tech creations in various exhibition halls – the Hall of Legacy, the Hall of Protection, the Hall of Energy and the Hall of Mobility. Guests will be among the first to explore Tony Stark’s latest innovations up close and fly in a gravity defying Iron Wing flight vehicle in Iron Man Experience. He has also made Hong Kong the Asia headquarters of Stark Industries hereafter.
The park has spent over three years to design and create Iron Man Experience – complete with flight simulators, 3-D projection, surround sound and other special effects that immerse guests in the Marvel story of a battle with the evil forces of Hydra.
For the first time, the park has integrated strong Hong Kong elements into a park attraction by using Hong Kong and its skyline for the flythrough ride. After putting on a pair of StarkVision glasses and taking off on Stark Industries’ special Expo-edition Iron Wing, guests will make their way to the Hong Kong Stark Tower powered by the arc reactor and whizz alongside Iron Man through streets that resemble those in West Kowloon and downtown, and fly over iconic Hong Kong landmarks like Tsing Ma Bridge, Victoria Harbour and the city’s pristine mountain ranges.
It was my first time trying it out, so I was excited! And honestly, it did not disappoint—it was fun and exhilarating at the same time. By the way, since the ride is still new, lines are expectedly long (especially during the peak summer months of June to August), so as a hint, go during the Flights of Fantasy parade.
Beside the Iron Man Experience is Iron Man Tech Showcase, which, as the name suggests, presents Tony Stark’s innovations. Boy, was I surprised when Iron Man himself came into the room to greet us!
MISSION: DIMENSIONS OF DANGER
My favorite part of my visit was Mission: Dimensions of Danger. It’s an interactive mission where superheroes of all ages are taken across the Marvel universe in a battle against evil forces. Black Widow and Hawkeye make an appearance in the Launch Bay, while Thor and Star-Lord, in the flesh, help Doctor Strange recover the powerful Portal Nexus artifact. In all, it was a fun treat.
SPIDER-MAN HEROIC ENCOUNTER
Fresh from Spider-Man Homecoming, the friendly neighbor superhero swings into Hong Kong Disneyland to meet with his fans and take photo ops at the S.H.I.E.L.D. Warehouse.
OTHER SUPERHERO ADVENTURES TO WATCH OUT FOR
Aside from the missions with superheroes above, there are so many things to watch out for during Marvel Super Hero Summer, such as the first-ever Marvel comic book exclusively available for Hong Kong Disneyland entitled Iron Man Experience: Hong Kong Heroes #1.
There are also nearly 300 Spider-Man, Captain America, and Avengers items in the Marvel Supply HQ, ranging from shirts to toys.
To fill superhero appetites, the park came up with 20 Marvel inspired food beverage choices. Personally, I tried the Hero Burger Combo at Starliner Diner.
Over at the resort’s hotels, namely Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Hollywood Hotel, and the brand new Disney Explorers Lodge, are Marvel-decorated rooms that come in packages. To complement the experience, there are a themed dinner buffet and cookie activity.
And to make the Marvel superhero experience more official, the park offers S.H.I.E.L.D. credentials and personalized ID, as well as face painting.
For more details on Marvel Super Hero Summer at Hong Kong Disneyland, check out this link.
