4. Iron Man Experience – Hong Kong Disneyland

Image: Ngchikit, Wikimedia Commons

Until Disney California Adventure and Disneyland Paris open their gates on as-yet unnamed Marvel lands in 2020, Hong Kong Disneyland has the market cornered on Marvel attractions. In addition to the newly-opened Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! dark ride, the park also features a Star Tours-like motion simulator featuring playboy-turned-super-robot, Iron Man.

The Iron Man Experience dispenses with the idea of space travel, choosing instead to focus on the implications behind robot-based transportation: specifically, transportation via large pods called ‘Iron Wings.’ Before Tony Stark can ditch his superhero responsibilities to play tour guide in Hong Kong, however, Hydra’s spider-like robots show up to filch the Arc reactor and wreak a little havoc throughout the city.

It’s a spirited ride, both in premise and execution, and one that blows almost every other superhero-themed attraction completely out of the water. In fact, the only thing it doesn’t do is capitalize on the randomized storytelling feature that made its sister attraction, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, so successful at Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris, and Tokyo Disneyland. With a few more storylines, battles, and rescue missions thrown into the mix, Iron Man Experience could significantly increase its repeatability and adapt to different films and comic book plotlines—something that, given the development of quantum realm time travel, may even be possible in a post-Endgame world.

5. Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! – Disney California Adventure

Image: Alex, Wikimedia Commons

As far as thrill rides and superhero stories go, there may be no better match than Guardians of the Galaxy and the drop tower technology that once served the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney California Adventure.

Well before riders are placed on gantry lifts (a much more reassuring term than ‘faulty elevators’), they are ushered into Taneleer ‘The Collector’ Tivan’s personal collection of artifacts and specimens, including Cosmo the Spacedog, Kree weaponry, Hydra uniforms, a trio of inquisitive Vyloos, and the Guardians of the Galaxy themselves, among a smattering of other MCU and Disney Parks Easter eggs. Once aboard the lifts, riders help Rocket Raccoon activate the vehicles via hand scans and are catapulted through different levels of the Collection as the Guardians fend off a variety of hostile creatures en route to their eventual escape.

A noted improvement over the former Tower of Terror attraction, Mission: Breakout! frequently randomizes the soundtrack, drop pattern, and screen-based plot of the ride, giving guests six potential rescue missions to sing—and scream—their way through, whether they’re watching Gamora take on a tentacled monster, fleeing security drones, or panicking as Baby Groot fiddles with the artificial gravity controls.

With its pitch-perfect blend of immersive world-building, interactive story, and unpredictable, spine-tingling thrills, the beauty of Mission: Breakout! is that it allows riders to appreciate the continued adventures of much-beloved characters while also experiencing something brand-new every time they step into Tivan’s colorful, dangerous Collection. And if that’s not the ideal way to both enjoy superhero lore and feel like a superhero yourself, we’d be hard-pressed to find another theme park attraction that manages to do just that.

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What superhero rides stick out to you for their superb storytelling or character integration? Do the rides listed above hit the mark—or leave you wanting more?