News Disney and Miral Announce New Seventh Theme Park Planned for Abu Dhabi

[LittleBuford]

To Arabs, it has always been the Gulf of Arabia.

This isn’t true. Until the twentieth century, the traditional Arabic names for the Gulf all described it as Persian.

 

[MisterPenguin]

On a more fun side- what do we think Disney will put in this park?

Whatever Miral asks for... within reason.

 

[Disstevefan1]

His Excellency: The dark rides in our parks are such a disappointment.

His Other Excellency: I know. I wish they could be like Disney dark rides.

...

<suddenly looking at each other excitedly> Both Excellencies at the same time: I know! Let's build a Disney park!!!

I sincerely hope they build some great attractions there.

I feel they wont be limited by budget and can build the attractions they want to build.

 

[DisneyJayBama]

Well, I’ll just keep on enjoying Disney while I can. Once it’s over, which looks like is soon coming, I’ll be good then too.

 

[larryz]

Just like Space 220 guests would be bothered by the Test Track door next door?

As if they can even see it...

 

[Disstevefan1]

You missed Space Trackgate.

In which many of our esteemed armchair imagineers very emphatically stated that the new Space 220 restaurant would be noise polluted by the TT cars whizzing by.

Our esteemed armchair Imagineers got this one wrong.

Whizzing is the perfect description, that's what they sound like when you are standing under the track at the entrance. Actually, its a futuristic sound to me.

I think Space 220 was a GREAT addition to EPCOT. As I have said before, very EPCOTy to me.

 

[larryz]

Yes they do , not so much in Dubai. When family visited Israel made mistake at immigration in Tel Aviv stamping our passports. When vacationing in Dubai we were questioned separately away from others - why we visited Israel etc etc since they saw the Israeli stamp on the passport.

Old habits die hard. The rapprochement occurred in 2020.

 

[larryz]

This isn’t true. Until the twentieth century, the traditional Arabic names for the Gulf all described it as Persian.

Every map I saw in Bahrain, Oman, the UAE and Saudi Arabia said خليج العرب

 

[MisterPenguin]

Well, I’ll just keep on enjoying Disney while I can. Once it’s over, which looks like is soon coming, I’ll be good then too.

I'm sorry to hear that. How much time do you have left?

 

[Disstevefan1]

Once it’s over, which looks like is soon coming

What???

I joke a lot about Disney but TWDC and WDW isn't going ANYWHERE!!

WDW will celebrate its 75th anniversary and beyond.

 

[LittleBuford]

Every map I saw in Bahrain, Oman, the UAE and Saudi Arabia said خليج العرب

Which is why I wrote "until the twentieth century". The current name is a product of nationalism; historically, it was always referred to by Arabic speakers as Persian.

 

[doctornick]

Just like Space 220 guests would be bothered by the Test Track door next door?

Um, once you’ve taken the Space Elevator to the restaurant, how you possibly hear anything back down on Earth?

 

[DCBaker]

And here's video from Disney of the drone and fireworks celebration show:

 

[Squishy]

The concept art looks like they took all the airport designers imagineering hired and put them onto this project.

 

[MouseEarsMom33]

This is not why halfway to Halloween was pushed back

Why was it pushed back and will it be next week?

 

[Comped]

This may have a detrimental effect on the quality of live shows in the park.

I know you're being sarcastic, but this could be an actual issue when it comes to park development, never mind entertainment. If you thought it was bad with the Lake Nona saga, this will make it look at the walk in the park internally.

Also, I'm very surprised how low key this was played internally. Just a post on The Hub (or Castlife if you prefer) as far as I know. Was very surprised there wasn't more!

 

[wdwmagic]

Hats off to Disney for keeping this under wraps. I don't think anyone got word of this before today's announcement. Very unusual.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Those races ie ( NASCAR , F1 ( you can hear the engines a few miles away ).

And people travel from even further to see them. Probably not a lot of people who get caught off guard that there is a Grand Prix going on.

 

[Robbiem]

On a more fun side- what do we think Disney will put in this park? Will it be IP lands like Epic Universe or traditional genre/theme lands like castle parks typically have? Will there be cloned attractions or only new attractions? What IP could we see there that we wouldn’t elsewhere? Could we see some park originals like Pirates or Mansion or even something entirely new?

I am leaning towards the “genre/theme lands” myself as that allows Disney to pull out of the deal if they need to, leaving Miral with something they can quickly rebrand. But they also seem confident with this deal so maybe it’ll be very very heavy on the “distinctly Disney”? Probably Frozen/Lion King/Zootopia/Star Wars/Avengers if I were to guess.

Maybe the pavilion type structures in the concept are large indoor air conditioned spaces to cope with the climate while still allowing some outside space. The original discovery mountain plans in Paris were a bit like that. You could have indoor lands with internal and external connections so you could go outside if you wanted to or stay inside if its too hot and humid. Speaking of weather I suspect there may be a flume somewhere

The concept art also looks like it has a lagoon with galleons so maybe a version of shanghai’s pirate show. I also think we may end up with an Arabian coast type land and Frozen in addition to your picks above.

 

[Casper Gutman]

No but my guide dog said your hilarious.

I’m very popular with dogs. It’s probably the smell.