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

[Sir_Cliff]

I think they told the artist it would have rides and attractions that fit within the local religion. The artist realize nothing would really fit so he just pained colors and hoped nobody would notice. There are so many things that can offend the locals I'm not sure what they could use from a Disney park and not run afoul of the local authorities.

Maybe it will be like some of the places in that part of the world that are designed for foreigner and off limits to locals.

I suspect you are presuming that a lot more things would be offensive to people and authorities in the UAE than really are. The country is already full of glitzy, elaborate tourist attractions, including theme parks. Disney release their films there, too. I very much doubt there is much in a Magic Kingdom-style park that would run afoul of local authorities.

What might appeal to a local audience and the degree to which there are any concrete plans at this stage, however, are probably reflected in the very 'impressionistic' concept art.

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

So is this going to be a "traditional" Disney castle park a la Shanghai, or just a collection of IP-themed lands? Either way, color me intrigued.

I would say IP lands ala Epic, but given they’re licensing for this park, they may make it so they can pull out if they have to and the park can just easily retheme things to non-Disney. But, then again, they could do IP and then screw over Miral anyways if they pull out on licensing.

 

[WoundedDreamer]

I’m so excited that Iger is reusing his old catchphrase from the Shanghai Disney days! “Authentically Disney, Distinctly Chinese” was just so clever that it had to be reused!

I’m wondering what the thinking behind this project is. An immediate red flag is the lack of any actual investment from Disney. If this Disneyland is going to be successful, wouldn’t you want an equity stake in the project? Disney is supposedly investing $60 billion over a decade, and they can’t find one or two billion to invest in this property? This doesn’t make sense unless they’re expecting a poor performing park. Disney can still profit from a failing park through licensing fees. Moreover, the more parks there are the more demand for WDI there is. Disney can offset the cost of their creative unit through diversifying their partners. Is this risk aversion? What’s going on here?

 

[BrianLo]

Well, I for one am excited.

I went to Abu Dhabi in March. It does strike me as one of the most logical places to support a Disney destination along with South Korea (though that would be more another local than destination).

The culture island they are building is quite something and Abu Dhabi is less gaudy than Dubai.

 

[Drdcm]

Bob won’t be around when the park actually opens, so the fresh meat gets to take the fall when there are consequence. Bob only stands to gain from this, and there is virtually no risk to him… who would have expected that?

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

Here’s the quote on what they said when WaPo asked them how they plan to deal with the criticism:

“Disney is a global company with operations all over the world,” the company said in a statement. “We are always respectful of the countries and cultures where we do business, while always adhering to our own standards and values.”

Unless those standards and values get in the way of making a BOAT LOAD of money.

The hypocrisy and hubris is amazing.

Well, you see, Walt Disney once said he dreamed of building EPCOT in Abu Dhabi and compromised with Orlando, so that’s Iger’s justification. /s

 

[Tha Realest]

Disney release their films there, too. I very much doubt there is much in a Magic Kingdom-style park that would run afoul of local authorities.

I was going to make a joke about how this would be the first Kingdom within a literal kingdom (UAE is a monarchy) but…that’s not true! Japan is still considered a monarchy, as is The Bahamas (where Disney has two leased properties) by virtue of its commonwealth status re: the Charles III.

 

[pdude81]

Garfield predicted this!

Universal could have had an exclusive Nermal M&G there. Or dig site

 

[Purduevian]

Not sure if disney would get all of this... but ~400 acers.

If my bad paint job is right... DHS for scale

 

[Comped]

My biggest issue is that this is a licensing play on a space constraint island. Disney could have afforded to build it themselves. In a bigger spot no less with room to grow for several expansion parks. The UAE government and local government in AD (or Dubai) would have had no issue with Disney going by themselves, this was merely Bob deciding to make licensing money over actually trying to build a destination long-term. Either it works out really well, and Disney regrets not building it and operating it from its own terms at the beginning, or it fails horribly. There's no real middle ground here.

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

I'm honestly surprised Disney chose Abu Dhabi as the location for the 7th theme park instead of the UK, Australia, South Africa, Brazil, or even another USA location like Texas. Though this does seem more like a Tokyo Disneyland situation where some company asks "Hey can we build a Disneyland here?" and Disney says "Sure why not" and lends their IP out to them.

I really hope we get a new castle park somewhere that most people can actually realistically go to. I doubt this park is going to be anything special or truly unique. Paris is an amazing evolution of the original Disneyland, and I would love to see the next true reimagining of it. This park is likely going to be made in a way that Disney can drop out if they need to, and all the IP gets quickly washed off.

My first pick would be somewhere in the US just because it’s closer, but then I think Australia would be second, as the UK would eat into Paris.

 

[DCBaker]

Bob and Josh on CNBC this morning:

 

[Justin Walker]

I’m so excited that Iger is reusing his old catchphrase from the Shanghai Disney days! “Authentically Disney, Distinctly Chinese” was just so clever, so it had to be reused!

I’m wondering what the thinking behind this project is. An immediate red flag is the lack of any actual investment from Disney. If this Disneyland is going to be successful, wouldn’t you want an equity stake in the project? Disney is supposedly investing $60 billion over a decade, and they can’t find one or two billion to invest in this property? This doesn’t make sense unless they’re expecting a poor performing park. Disney can still profit from a failing park through licensing fees. Moreover, the more parks there are the more demand for WDI there is. Disney can offset the cost of their creative unit through diversifying their partners. Is this risk aversion? What’s going on here?

Its just like Tokyo. Disney owns no part of that park- yet it is widely successful. Disney would not license its IP and image to this project if they did not think it was going to be successful. No company wants negative headlines

 

[thomas998]

I suspect you are presuming that a lot more things would be offensive to people and authorities in the UAE than really are. The country is already full of glitzy, elaborate tourist attractions, including theme parks. Disney release their films there, too. I very much doubt there is much in a Magic Kingdom-style park that would run afoul of local authorities.

What might appeal to a local audience and the degree to which there are any concrete plans at this stage, however, are probably reflected in the very 'impressionistic' concept art.

Regardless of what they end up allowing, how many people want to visit a theme park in 110 degree weather. Frankly the location is the biggest problem unless they find a way to build the entire park indoors.

 

[Tha Realest]

I’m wondering what the thinking behind this project is. An immediate red flag is the lack of any actual investment from Disney. If this Disneyland is going to be successful, wouldn’t you want an equity stake in the project? Disney is supposedly investing $60 billion over a decade, and they can’t find one or two billion to invest in this property? This doesn’t make sense unless they’re expecting a poor performing park. Disney can still profit from a failing park through licensing fees. Moreover, the more parks there are the more demand for WDI there is. Disney can offset the cost of their creative unit through diversifying their partners. Is this risk aversion? What’s going on here?

It is giving me the same vibes as WB/DC just licensing out its IP to Six Flags and the Abu Dhabi consortium.

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

Disney CEO Bob Iger Explains Why Disney Chose Abu Dhabi for Its Next Theme Park Resort​

Disney CEO Bob Iger Explains Why Disney Chose Abu Dhabi for Its Next Theme Park Resort

Disney CEO Bob Iger Explains Why Disney Chose Abu Dhabi for Its Next Theme Park Resort

www.wdwmagic.com

Bob Iger simply said:

 

[Disstevefan1]

Not sure if disney would get all of this... but ~400 acers.

If my bad paint job is right... DHS for scale
View attachment 857487

Who knows, they may build out more into the Sea.

I did not hear a timeframe?

Its not Disney's money building it, they may be open before Monsters land in WDW

 

[Tha Realest]

Bob and Josh on CNBC this morning:

Isn’t Josh going to be at Moffatt Nathanson’s confab soon?

Big glamorous deal and high profile. His stock is rising (though I still think it’s Dana)

 

[Tha Realest]

Can they retheme this to Blizzard Beach?

 

[Sir_Cliff]

My biggest issue is that this is a licensing play on a space constraint island. Disney could have afforded to build it themselves. In a bigger spot no less with room to grow for several expansion parks. The UAE government and local government in AD (or Dubai) would have had no issue with Disney going by themselves, this was merely Bob deciding to make licensing money over actually trying to build a destination long-term. Either it works out really well, and Disney regrets not building it and operating it from its own terms at the beginning, or it fails horribly. There's no real middle ground here.

I don't think the park would make sense if Disney was running it themselves. This resort is opening in a country with a population smaller than Epcot's annual attendance and international tourism can only make up so much of that. It's the kind of venture that needs someone with deep pockets behind it who is not so concerned about immediate ROI.