Marvel Area for Hong Kong Disneyland

[Gavin]

Screamscape reported this earlier and linked to this article in the Wall Street Journal:

Famed Marvel Comics superheroes like Spider-Man, X-Men and the Fantastic Four will soon call a part of Hong Kong Disneyland home, when the theme park opens an area dedicated to the comic-book stars.

On Wednesday, Hong Kong Financial Secretary John Tsang said the theme park, which is 52%-owned by the city’s government, will add an area featuring “Marvel heroes” as part of the resort’s expansion program.

Hong Kong Disneyland, the smallest of Walt Disney Co. DIS +1.06%’s parks worldwide, last week reported its first annual profit since its 2005 opening. The park has struggled over the years to boost attendance from its key target demographic—tourists from mainland China—many who aren’t enamored enough of Disney characters to make a special trip to the park. The park has also been competing with Ocean Park, a Sea World-type marine park in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Disneyland has added several new themed “lands” over the last few years to boost its size and attractiveness.

The addition of Marvel in Hong Kong will be the first of its kind of any Disney resort, and could be a big draw for mainland Chinese tourists after the success of several Hollywood smash-hits that featured Marvel characters. Marvel superheroes could also attract older and more affluent visitors, as opposed to the younger audiences that the traditional Disney characters target.

The Marvel addition is the latest move by Disney aimed at reaping the benefits of its $4 billion acquisition in 2009 of Marvel Entertainment. In May, “The Avengers”, the first Marvel film to be released by Disney since its Marvel purchase, shattered box-office records.

Earlier, Disney said it would prioritize plans to introduce theme-park rides based on Marvel superheroes.

http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2013/02/27/hong-kongs-disneyland-to-get-marvel-superheroes/

Personally, I'm pleased to see that the park has now started to turn a profit. Yes, it's been open since 2005, but, correct me if I'm wrong, I'm sure it took about the same amount of time, or possibly even longer, for the Paris park to start actually making any money.

I wasn't sure where this land could actually fit. There's a massive piece of land next to the park - about double the size of the current park - but this is almost certainly for use as a 2nd park later. Disney And More seem to think that this could go behind the current Tommorowland area, after the removal of a few administrative buildings:

Picture and more information here:

http://disneyandmore.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/hong-kong-disneyland-update.html

I know a lot of people have been against the idea of a Marvel area in a Disney park, especially a "Magic Kingdom" style park, but I think it's a good move for Hong Kong. The traditional Disney characters don't have as much of a draw for the Chinese audience, but a superhero area, with presumably some thrill rides, could definitely broaden the appeal.

Hong Kong have been one of the more innovative parks anyway, adding in some completely new rides and attractions (Mystic Manor, Big Grizzly Mountain, Stitch Encounter) and different versions of classic rides (Jungle Cruise, Small World, Autopia, Ghost Galaxy overlay of Space Mountain), so again it makes sense to debut a Marvel area there.

Plus, if it does end up behind Tommorowland, it will be away from the more traditional Disney areas anyway.

 

[tomahawk]

I like this. I'm excited (and scared) to see what they do with a marvel land as it is Disney, but seeing as the Hong Kong park isn't the same as the rest of the chain, I'm optimistic.

 

[marc]

The think with Marvel is its more adult base so I hope they go for thrill rides more than kid rides.

 

[Screaming Coasters]

Trial for DLP's 3rd gate, maybe?

 

[Gavin]

^ They need to sort out their second gate first, and develop it into more than a half day park.

I see this more as a preemptive strike against Shanghai to be honest. Hong Kong's target audience is mainland Chinese; they'll need to offer something that Shanghai doesn't in order to stay relevant.

 

[Screaming Coasters]

Well if Disney can swing this on the back of their anime culture, I reckon it could work.

 

[marc]

I agree with Gavin on this one and I think it's a good move and will be interesting to see what rides they come up with.

 

[insanecoastervids]

Will be a nice area

 

[Nemesis of oblivion]

Mmm...interesting. Would make sense to open the area when Avengers 2 is released. 2015??