New Disney theme park to be fully indoors – and could open in seven years
DISNEY'S new theme park that could open by the early 2030s - and will be fully indoors in a first for the brand.
This week The Walt Disney company announced that it will be opening a seventh park and resort on Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates.
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The park will be created by immersive destination and experiences company Miral and will feature accommodations, unique dining experiences, retail opportunities and integrated storytelling throughout.
However, the park will be completely indoors - a first for Disney.
Miral Group CEO Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi told a local radio station, the Dubai Eye, that the park will be indoors.
He said: "As you know, all of are theme parks are indoors."
Miral is the owner of Yas Island, where all the other attractions are indoors.
Temperatures often surpass 37C in the Emirates and even 48C in the peak summer season.
As a result, parks in the country that are outdoors often have to close when it is too hot.
And Disney imagineers have already started to design the park.
The park will be located on Yas Island, which is a hub of entertainment and retail experiences.
It is already home to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterwold, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi.
Let Kevin Hart show you around Yas Island, the world's biggest indoor theme park
The Formula 1 Yas Marina Circuit is also on Yas Island and the area hosts Abu Dhabi's largest mall and an award-winning golf course.
Al Zaabi also shared that the new Disney park would be the most advanced in the portfolio.
He commented: "I would say it's too early to share details about the design, but I will say it'll be the most advanced Disney theme park in the world.
"Expect local tech companies to be involved, as well as Disney's experience from around the world.
"It's a resort, so it'll include many features and so many elements."
Abu Dhabi has developed heat management tech, for example, in March the capital unveiled what it dubbed as the world's first air-conditioned street, reports Skift.
In Dubai, a resort has also claimed to have built the first outdoor street where it can make rain on command.
When Al Zaabi was asked whether Yas Island would have to be expanded to fit a Disney park, he couldn't give a firm answer.
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"That will be considered. There will be an upgrade to services and infrastructure," he said.
Disney Parks chairperson Josh D'Amro said, in an interview on CNBC that Miral will fully fund this project, including eventually operating it with oversight from Disney.
Disney CEO Bob Iger, said: "As our seventh theme park destination, it will rise from this land in spectacular fashion, blending contemporary architecture with cutting edge technology to offer guests deeply immersive entertainment experiences in unique and modern ways."
Iger added that they do not yet have a pinned date for the opening of the park, as it usually takes "between 18 months and two years to design and dully develop and approximately five years to build", reports CNBC.
So this means the park could open in around seven years, following the design and building.
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Disney has slowly been entering the UAE in recent years, with retail locations and touring entertainment show sin particular.
Iger told CNBC that the company firsts tarted considering the region for a new resort back in 2017/2018.
D'Amaro shared that the "groundbreaking" resort destination represents "a new frontier in theme park development".
He added that the resort will be the most advanced and interactive destination in the portfolio.
He said: "The location of our park is incredibly unique – anchored by a beautiful waterfront – which will allow us to tell our stories in completely new ways.
"This project will reach guests in a whole new part of the world, welcoming more families to experience Disney than ever before."
Here's ev erything we know about the park so far.
Plus, the small English castle with ancient woodlands that people say looks just like a Disney film.
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