Disney to Build First New Theme Park in 15 Years

Get ready for Disney magic in the Middle East! For the first time in 15 years, Disney is set to unveil an all-new theme park, unlike anything the world has seen. Announced during a recent earnings call, the entertainment giant revealed plans for its most technologically advanced resort yet, set to rise in Abu Dhabi. This bold expansion marks a historic move for Disney, promising next-level experiences that push the boundaries of theme park innovation.

A New Era of Magic: Disney Unveils Plans for Cutting-Edge Abu Dhabi Park

Fresh off the heels of a triumphant second-quarter earnings report, Disney dropped some enchanting news on Wednesday: the Disneyland Abu Dhabi resort is officially in the works, and is set to become the seventh jewel in Disney’s global theme park crown. The most recent Disney park to open was Shanghai Disneyland, which was first announced in 2010 and officially welcomed guests in 2016.

Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be fully developed, built, and operated by Miral, a leading Abu Dhabi-based company that has developed other resorts, including SeaWorld YAS Island Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, and Warner Bros. World.

Disney Imagineers will spearhead the creative vision for Disneyland Abu Dhabi and provide operational oversight. The initial blueprint for the new Disney resort includes a theme park and an unspecified number of hotels.

What Makes Disney’s Abu Dhabi Resort a First of Its Kind?

Disneyland Abu Dhabi won’t be a carbon copy of existing Disney parks. As Josh D’Amaro, the chairman of Disney Experiences, emphasized in an interview with CNN, “Every time we open a new experience or a theme park… it’s really important not just to take a theme park that might exist somewhere else and plop it into the ground in that new area that we would be going into.” He further elaborated on the importance of cultural integration, stating, “Each park needs to reflect, in its design, its food and more, each specific location, he added. “And so here in, in Abu Dhabi, we want the same thing.”

According to Disney, the Abu Dhabi resort will be its most technologically advanced to date, aligning with the city’s forward-thinking vision. While every Disney resort traditionally centers around a castle, this one breaks the mold. Concept art reveals a striking, spiraling crystal-like structure towering over the park — a dramatic departure from the classic fairytale silhouette.

In another exciting first, this resort will be Disney’s inaugural property with direct waterfront access. While the Tokyo Disney Resort graces the edge of the Pacific, its waters remain beyond the park’s perimeter. In Abu Dhabi, guests will be able to immerse themselves in the waterfront experience.

Furthermore, Disney is poised to leverage its recent forays into immersive gaming to elevate the park’s offerings. D’Amaro highlighted the potential use of Unreal Engine — the powerful rendering software employed in many Disney films — to enhance attractions within the park.

“So that the real-time translation of stories from film, from game, to theme park, it’s right there for our guests to enjoy,” he explained. “So we’re very, very bullish on this space, and I think for this part, particularly given how tech-forward it’s going to be, we have a huge opportunity.”

Why Abu Dhabi? Inside Disney’s Bold New Expansion Choice

The choice might raise eyebrows for some, but Disney’s decision to plant its next magical kingdom in Abu Dhabi is rooted in strategic foresight and the unique opportunities the region presents. Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai harbor ambitious visions for their airports, aiming to become a powerful duo of global aviation hubs connecting a staggering third of the world’s population within a convenient four-hour flight radius. This impressive reach includes the 1.4 billion residents of India, many of whom would find Abu Dhabi a significantly closer gateway to Disney magic than the existing parks in Shanghai or Hong Kong.

According to Josh D’Amaro, the chairman of Disney Experiences, the region boasts a potential market of 500 million people with the economic capacity to visit a Disney theme park. This accessibility, combined with the nation’s unwavering commitment to future-forward development, proved to be a compelling combination for the entertainment giant. “There was no question that for our seventh resort, this is where it was going to be,” D’Amaro confidently stated.

The chosen location for Disney’s newest resort is Yas Island, a vibrant hub already developed by Miral and home to other prominent leisure destinations. These include the previously mentioned SeaWorld Yas Island Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, and Warner Bros. World.

Strategically situated, Yas Island offers easy access, being just a 20-minute drive from downtown Abu Dhabi and a 50-minute drive from Dubai. The island is already a thriving entertainment district, boasting multiple theme parks, a golf course, a marina, a picturesque waterfront, and a sprawling mall with a diverse array of 165 dining options.

Will Disneyland Abu Dhabi Be a Hit or Miss?

While the allure of a new Disney resort in Abu Dhabi is undeniable, some industry experts caution that the path to profitability in this region may not be a straightforward fairytale. “The Middle East has seen hits and misses as it relates to theme park and leisure development,” noted Dennis Speigel, owner and founder of the consulting firm International Theme Park Services. He pointed to Dubai’s earlier ambitious endeavors, stating that the emirate “early on…planned and opened a slate of theme parks which were overcapitalized and frankly overbuilt.”

Speigel, who has no direct involvement in the Disney project but has consulted for investors in Middle Eastern theme parks in the past, highlighted a concerning trend. He stated that several theme parks in Dubai and across Saudi Arabia “struggled and showed no profit for at least 10 years.”

However, Speigel also offered a more optimistic perspective on Disney’s specific location choice. “I was surprised to hear the announcement at this time, but not surprised to learn Disney chose Abu Dhabi,” he commented. “The critical mass of leisure development already established in the area provides the necessary elements required by Disney to come into the area in a more manageable way.”

Disneyland Abu Dhabi is slated for a potential opening in the early 2030s.

Source: CNN

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