peter11435
Well-Known Member
What more would you expect them to do?
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News Disney and Miral Announce New Seventh Theme Park Planned for Abu Dhabi
- Thread starter DCBaker
- Start date
Rescue Ranger
Well-Known Member
The only positive here and it's not even a positive but...at least Disney really has nothing to do with this. It's just a licensing deal. So technically it's a park with a Disney overlay that could one day be changed with a different theme?
Even still, this just seems so against everything Disney stands for and to be celebrating it the way they are comes across utterly tone deaf.
Even still, this just seems so against everything Disney stands for and to be celebrating it the way they are comes across utterly tone deaf.
Far from it, Disney is heavily involved, just as they are with Tokyo. It will be designed by Disney, and operationally supervised by Disney, However, the costs will be down to Miral.
There was quite a bit more fanfare when other international projects were announced internally... Even Tokyo, the one comparable to this "deal" the most.
BrerFoxesBayouAdventure
Well-Known Member
Despite its $1 billion price tag, the Warner Bros. park has really bad animatronics and uninteresting rides. I mean, these are barely a step above department store displays:Miral Group is an Abu Dhabi-based company specializing in the creation of leisure and entertainment destinations. These projects aim to enhance the region's leisure industry and support economic diversification. The company's operations include the design, development, management, and operation of various attractions on Yas Island and Saadiyat Island as below:
Major Attractions
- Disneyland Abu Dhabi: On May 7th, 2025, Miral and The Walt Disney Company announced a partnership to build Disney's seventh resort in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. An opening date is yet to be announced.
- Ferrari World Abu Dhabi: Known as the world's leading Ferrari-themed park, it offers over 40 rides and attractions inspired by Ferrari, including several record-breaking roller coasters.
- Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi: An Emirati-themed waterpark featuring a wide variety of rides, slides, shows, and attractions, catering to different levels of thrill seekers.
- Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi: This indoor theme park is the largest, showcasing iconic Warner Bros. characters and stories.
- CLYMB™ Abu Dhabi: A sports attraction renowned for its unique challenges, including the world's tallest indoor climbing wall and the widest skydiving chamber.
- Yas Marina: A fully serviced superyacht marina offering dining and entertainment options.
- Yas Bay: A waterfront destination that attracts residents and professionals, featuring various amenities and recreational facilities.
- Etihad Arena: The largest indoor entertainment arena in the UAE, with a customizable stage and seating for up to 18,000 spectators.
- The WB™ Abu Dhabi: The world's first Warner Bros. branded hotel, offering an immersive hospitality experience.
- Doubletree by Hilton – Yas Island Residences: Providing serviced accommodations in partnership with Hilton Worldwide.
- Yas Village: A modern, affordable accommodation development on Yas Island.
- Qasr Al Watan Experience: Located within the Presidential Palace compound, this cultural landmark offers insights into the UAE's heritage and features a visitor experience and light show.
- SeaWorld® Abu Dhabi: This marine life park includes a research, rescue, rehabilitation, and return center and is the first SeaWorld park outside North America.
Miral Group (Company) - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Disney Analyst
Well-Known Member
Certainly was unexpected. I did not think we'd be seeing a new Disney destination so soon, let alone in this area of the world.
ToTBellHop
Well-Known Member
He approved a ton for the parks during his first stint and has approved a ton since returning. Chapek couldn’t even fully commit to a Mary Poppins flat ride.
peter11435
Well-Known Member
This project was obviously kept tightly under wraps. Any major fanfare would have required more awareness. Give them time. Tokyo was announced nearly 5 decades ago….
WoundedDreamer
Well-Known Member
This anonymous X account might be the first one to break the story. This guy probably feels like a million dollars!
(Via Screamscape)
GenChi
Well-Known Member
Put aside all the baggage that comes with this for a minute.
Unless you live in the countries directly in the area around UAE I don't see how they can make any attractions that incentivizes a trip here vs any other Disney park.
With this we're on our 7th resort and 13th mainline park. We have a lot of Disney saturation now, and the other parks already cover every aspect of Disney and are closer to almost the entire world then this park. Most resorts will have more attractions then this will. I'm having a very hard time thinking of a single attraction they could do that would be show-stopping enough to convince people to travel here.
Frozen? Marvel? Star Wars? Avatar? Lion King? Zootopia? There might be exclusive rides or larger lands but ultimately these are things already done at multiple other parks, and would a slightly different attraction be worth a far higher cost for a vacation in 100 degree weather?
Maybe it's too heavy of a North American standpoint, but domestic parks already cover close to everything, and anything that wouldn't are covered by Paris or Tokyo. I just don't see any value unless you're closer here then any other park or are the diehard who wants to go to every Disney park
Of course Middle East, India, and parts of Europe would be more targeted then North America. But they'd have to hope people see the value of a slightly different Frozen land vs Paris and can pay for this since that this will be the most international tourist dependent park in the company's history. Not surprised this only happened if the government footed the entire bill since this will be a tough hill to climb.
Unless you live in the countries directly in the area around UAE I don't see how they can make any attractions that incentivizes a trip here vs any other Disney park.
With this we're on our 7th resort and 13th mainline park. We have a lot of Disney saturation now, and the other parks already cover every aspect of Disney and are closer to almost the entire world then this park. Most resorts will have more attractions then this will. I'm having a very hard time thinking of a single attraction they could do that would be show-stopping enough to convince people to travel here.
Frozen? Marvel? Star Wars? Avatar? Lion King? Zootopia? There might be exclusive rides or larger lands but ultimately these are things already done at multiple other parks, and would a slightly different attraction be worth a far higher cost for a vacation in 100 degree weather?
Maybe it's too heavy of a North American standpoint, but domestic parks already cover close to everything, and anything that wouldn't are covered by Paris or Tokyo. I just don't see any value unless you're closer here then any other park or are the diehard who wants to go to every Disney park
Of course Middle East, India, and parts of Europe would be more targeted then North America. But they'd have to hope people see the value of a slightly different Frozen land vs Paris and can pay for this since that this will be the most international tourist dependent park in the company's history. Not surprised this only happened if the government footed the entire bill since this will be a tough hill to climb.
Animaniac93-98
Well-Known Member
But the stock price went up and Iger gets to pretend to be a US ambassador again, and that's what's really important.
I asked ChatGPT this question:
Which country in the Middle East or North Africa - including Israel - would be the best overall location for a new Disney theme park when considering economic viability, tourism infrastructure, LGBTQ+ rights, civil liberties, potential public relations risk to Disney’s core U.S. audience, and proximity-based competition with Disneyland Paris. Generate an XSLX file.
Here is ChatGPT's response:
Which country in the Middle East or North Africa - including Israel - would be the best overall location for a new Disney theme park when considering economic viability, tourism infrastructure, LGBTQ+ rights, civil liberties, potential public relations risk to Disney’s core U.S. audience, and proximity-based competition with Disneyland Paris. Generate an XSLX file.
Here is ChatGPT's response:
BrianLo
Well-Known Member
He never truly believed in Parks and Resorts as a growth vehicle until potentially starting 2015-17. He has clearly come back a changed man in his old age.
But I’d never really call him risk adverse. He spends big tentpole money on everything and fiendishly has sought out major acquisitions during his tenure. Spending money has certainly never been a major issue for him. He’s always been a big swing, less frequently type CEO.
Wall Street approves. DIS gained 10% on the news.
Tha Realest
Well-Known Member
I don’t know how they can distance themselves from this - their CEO and Parks chairman did their earnings call from there.
I wish this would have existed a few years ago when I was creating these kinds of presentations and reports manually for grad school/undergrad. While I'd probably spend a fair bit of time checking it for accuracy, adding in some other bits, and getting more specific sources, this is game changing.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
Despite? A billion doesn’t buy a lot for Disney or Universal.