Disney News, Discussion & an Element of Fun - 2025 Edition

[bryaalre]

According to Scott Gustin, it will be a mix of both indoor and outdoor experiences. How many outdoor, who knows?

 

[fatmanatee]

So I looked into the company that is building this park and found their portfolio:
https://miral.ae/miral-portfolio/

They seem to focus on hotels/resorts but the closest things I can find that could be similar to a Disney park are Seaworld, Ferrari Land and Warner Bros. Abu Dhabi. All 3 of these parks are indoor theme parks (due to how insanely hot it is climate wise) so I wonder if Disney will go the same route? I'm 100% ignoring that concept art; Disney are the masters of NOT following that LOL

I'm also wondering if this will ever be built to begin with. Six Flags and Universal had plans to build theme parks in the MIddle East but both were eventually canceled.

I've seen videos of WB and Sea World, both look really great. At the same time WB has looked very empty in all of them, it's kinda surreal.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I've seen videos of WB and Sea World, both look really great. At the same time WB has looked very empty in all of them, it's kinda surreal.

Warner Bros. is the one I had in mind for what this would look like and yeah it looks like a ghost town. A while back I remember watching videos about it and one of the reasons why it's so quiet are the ticket prices. They're too expensive for people that live in the area. So I'm wondering how Disney will price this *IF* it opens.

 

[OKW Lover]

A while back I remember watching videos about it and one of the reasons why it's so quiet are the ticket prices. They're too expensive for people that live in the area. So I'm wondering how Disney will price this *IF* it opens.

Ticket pricing won't be Disney's responsibility

 

[Minnie1222]

We shall see if Epic truly has any negative impact on Disney.

I doubt it! We just went to Epic last week. The target audience is completely different, but we already knew this.

 

[HokieRaven5]

I doubt it! We just went to Epic last week. The target audience is completely different, but we already knew this.

I also have my doubts because Epic did nothing to change the target audience for Universal.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Ticket pricing won't be Disney's responsibility

Right, forgot about that :L well given how this company runs their other parks I'm betting it'll be expensive $$$$$

 

[peder]

From the artist concept they posted, are we to think of the White and Red Towers as Genie-/Jinn-related? They mentioned they'll lean into Emirate culture with the design, so I don't think that'd be out of the question. Which leads me to think the area near the Red Tower would be a sort of Villains Land?

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

Abu Dhabi is a very inclusive place, so no worries about violating the 5th key for Disney.

This is precisely what my first thought was. TWDC has these keys for corporate customer service. The first key is "Safety". Homosexuality is illegal in UAE. In fact, I believe it is criminal behavior (Not sure about criminalization though). How is this safe customer service, let alone consistent with "Inclusion"? Do UAE laws not apply inside Disney parks and hotels? The fact of the matter is that it isn't at all compliant and this is when TWDC and its sycophants (for lack of a better term) will make all the excuses on God's great Earth to justify and support this nonsense.

I am fully aware that no one is perfect. Not Bob Iger. Not Walt Disney. Not me.

But, good Lord, I cannot wait to see the Gumby level flexibility and grace the folks that support the current corporate leadership (like Bob Iger and Josh D'Amaro, etc.) will give when justifying and excusing TWDC doing business in UAE. For instance: This land isn't meant for Americans to attend only people in the Middle East. What can TWDC do about another country's non-sensical and disgusting laws, after all this isn't Florida education laws were talking about here? TWDC has simply no choice in order to remain competitive and grow, so they have to do business in countries that refuse to criminalize marital rape.

I have said this before and I will say it again, I am old enough to remember as a young child walking through EPCOT Center and seeing the future pavilion billboards for Israel. Judas Priest, TWDC even had an agreement in place to build the pavilion. What are the odds that TWDC announces it is going to build the Israel Pavilion by replacing an existing pavilion (e.g. Morocco) or in new location (e.g. African outpost)? I'd put it at less than 5%. I'm not even Jewish and I still think Israel got jobbed.

Oh well...at least I can take comfort in knowing that the Parks division has storytelling at the forefront of all new projects and expansions, like Lightening McQueen's upcoming presence in colonial America and seamless transition as part of Liberty Square by replacing the riverboat and island with Cars. What other choice does WDW have here? Create an original attraction idea that fits and continues the story of Liberty Square. A land so well themed by the original 1970s creators and Imagineers that there isn't even a bathroom located in it because its inclusion would ruin the theme of the land. So these folks took the great care to build the bathrooms at Liberty Tree Tavern in a location that would actually be part of Adventureland. Now that, my friends, is in my opinion the greatest storytelling ever in Disney parks.

 

[mdmost]

It's an oppressive regime after all....

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

I also wonder if it'll be indoors, despite the concept art. The heat is pretty oppressive in the desert!
View attachment 963207

No doubt. In fact, the weather is far more temperate and better in Sochi, Russia. Wonder if that's the next stupid destination TWDC decides it needs a new park.

 

[peder]

No doubt. In fact, the weather is far more temperate and better in Sochi, Russia. Wonder if that's the next stupid destination TWDC decides it needs a new park.

Incidentally, there’s been some news stories about Russia buying a bunch of Boeing aircraft as part of a peace deal. I wouldn’t be surprised if economic integration is a big part of behind-the-scenes plans, but I do think it’s more about McDonalds and Coke than Disney.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

It's an oppressive regime after all....

Oh for sure. I don't think I'll be visiting this one anytime soon. But, pretty much every other Western company has a presence there so I understand the business and new-audience-reach decision.

The influx of cash, however, may help keep domestic expansions on track. And if UAE dollars finance R&D that we later see in the domestic parks or Paris, I'm fine with that!

 

[Elijah Abrams]

New Disney Park coming to Abu Dhabi. Not funded by Disney

https://disneyparksblog.com/disney-experiences/disney-announces-abu-dhabi-theme-park/

https://twitter.com/x/status/1920085721563414602

https://twitter.com/x/status/1920086311693688984

I don’t think this will be considered a "Disneyland", judging from the concept art.

 

[Brian Noble]

The UAE has been "sportswashing" for a long time now. This is just the next step in that---and Disney is arguably late to the game.

It's also worth noting that the UAE is not all that different from the PRC on the oppressive regime front. And, increasingly like some other countries in which Disney Parks find themselves.

TWDC is a for-profit enterprise, period, full stop. The Keys are all subservient to that, and always have been. That doesn't excuse it, but it also is why, quoth Iago: "I think I'm gonna have a heart attack and die from Not Surprise."

 

[Brian Noble]

(Am I the only person having a Severance/Lumon moment thinking about the Keys?)

 

[Smugpugmug]

(Am I the only person having a Severance/Lumon moment thinking about the Keys?)

Bob Iger's Innie and Outie having a conversation with each other would be hilarious to see.

 

[LKing]

Anyone know the size of this island? Talk about locking guests into staying in a Disney bubble.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Anyone know the size of this island? Talk about locking guests into staying in a Disney bubble.

This park will be located near other attractions Miral owns so it's not really a Disney bubble.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Anyone know the size of this island? Talk about locking guests into staying in a Disney bubble.

Well, within the island guests would have access to the other entertainment from Warner Bros., SeaWorld, the water park, etc. To me it seems like What Universal did in Singapore at Sentosa Island, except this UAE island is more theme park.