Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
On May 7, Disney CEO Bob Iger shocked fans and shareholders when he announced that the company would be building a new theme park in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. Iger said that the company’s seventh theme park will be full of cutting-edge technology, “contemporary architecture”, and nothing ever before seen at other theme parks.
Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be located on Yas Island, an artificially created island known for its entertainment and leisure activities. It would not be the first theme park on the island, which is also home to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, and SeaWorld Yas Island Abu Dhabi.
Credit: Disney
Related: Left at the Altar? Countries Are Wondering Why Disney Chose the UAE and Not Them
From the outset, there have been many opinions about Disney’s decision to build a theme park in the Middle East. Other countries, like Australia, felt that they would be a better place to build a theme park. But Disney promises that its new Abu Dhabi park will become a top vacation destination for fans from around the world.
It was also a big plus to Disney that they wouldn’t have to pull money from their own coffers to fund the building of the new resort. Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be completely funded and operated by Miral, an Abu Dhabi-based leisure and entertainment company. The deal will be similar to the one that Disney has in Tokyo, where Tokyo Disneyland is owned and operated by The Oriental Land Co.
And now, Disney is getting praise from an unlikely person — President Donald Trump.
Credit: Gage Skidmore, Flickr
Related: The Former Disney Star Behind Trump’s “Make Hollywood Great Again” Movement
In speaking with reporters, Trump revealed that Iger had come to the Oval Office and shown him the plans for the new Abu Dhabi theme park. He also spoke about American companies that were doing more business with companies in the Middle East. He spoke about Disney and praised its decision to open a theme park in the UAE.
“Disney – I see their new theme park is going to be incredible. Bob Iger was in my office the other day and he was showing it to me and it’s going to be incredible.”
Credit: Disney
These comments were an abrupt departure from the president’s typical rhetoric surrounding the company. Trump has frequently referred to Disney-owned ABC as “fake news”, and even sued them for millions of dollars after longtime anchor George Stephanopoulos called him a rapist during an interview with Congresswoman Nancy Mace. Disney has since settled the lawsuit.
Mr. Trump is also close friends with Ike Perlmutter, a former Marvel executive who was laid off from the company in March 2023. Mr. Perlmutter has since made his dislike of the Mouse House very clear, and was one of the main supporters behind activist investor Nelson Peltz’s attempt to take control of Disney’s Board of Directors.
At one point, Trump praised Perlmutter and claimed that the executive left Marvel because the company went “woke” and Perlmutter didn’t want “woke Donald Duck.”
Credit: Disney
Related: In an Abrupt About-Face, Disney Says It’d Be ‘Happy’ To Work With Trump
Of course, it’s not too surprising that the president is happy with Disney’s choice of a theme park in the Middle East. Mr. Trump does a lot of business in the area and has been encouraging U.S. businesses to do the same.
Trump is famous for his close ties to Middle East and has made the most of them. His comments about Disney come at the end of a week-long trade mission to the Middle East which has seen him secure $200 billion of deals in the UAE alone. They include a $14.5 billion commitment for local flag-carrier Etihad Airways to buy 28 Boeing aircraft and a $60 billion partnership between the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and American energy companies including ExxonMobil.
Credit: Gage Skidmore, Flickr
Choosing to build a theme park in the Middle East has led to a lot of backlash and fans being upset with Disney. The main issue is human rights in Abu Dhabi, especially when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community. Homosexuality is illegal in Abu Dhabi, and those who are found guilty of being gay can be sent to prison for up to fourteen years.
Women who live in Abu Dhabi are allowed to do things like work, drive, get an education, and own property. However, they are only allowed to do some of these things when they have permission from a male guardian, like their husband or father.
Censorship is also an issue that Disney will have to deal with as plans for its new theme park come together. Characters like Minnie Mouse and Ariel will have to receive makeovers to make their outfits more modest. While female tourists will not have to adhere to the same standards as women who live in Abu Dhabi, they are expected to dress modestly. It is considered respectful for women to be covered from their shoulders to below their knees.
Credit: Disney
At this time, Disney has not said when construction will begin on its new indoor theme park, and we do not have an estimated opening timeline. And while a lot of people might have concerns about building a theme park in the Middle East, Wall Street was excited about the prospect. Immediately after Disney made the announcement, its shares jumped more than 10%.
Do you think Disney should build a theme park in the Middle East, or should they have picked a less controversial area? Will you be willing to travel to Abu Dhabi when the new park opens? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
