When compared to the American equivalent, might a Disney holiday in Abu Dhabi be more affordable?
With Michelin-starred restaurants and hotels with weekly rates as high as $1 million, travelers may perceive the Middle Eastern resort as a haven of unrestrained luxury.
However, given that Disney (DIS) has announced plans to open a new theme park in Abu Dhabi, travel experts argue that, when viewed in a broader context, the capital of the United Arab Emirates is not so expensive, and that theme park admission prices there may be competitive.
This is particularly true when you take into account that other Disney parks outside of the United States are less expensive—in some cases, much less expensive—than those in Florida and California, where admission fees have risen dramatically over time. According to a recent poll, single-day tickets at Disney parks in the United States currently range from $100 to $200, but they may be as cheap as $60 at Disney parks in France and Japan.
Alonso Marly, a specialist with the travel company Skylux Travel, stated that Disney usually modifies its prices to take into account regional economic circumstances.
The park, which will be called Disneyland Abu Dhabi and be situated on the well-known entertainment island of Yas Island, will not be constructed or run by Disney itself. Miral, an Abu Dhabi-based corporation, is working on the project. Other attractions on Yas Island include the car-focused Ferrari World (RACE), a Warner Bros. (WBD) amusement park, and SeaWorld (PRKS).
In addition to reportedly receiving royalties from the partner arrangement, Disney will have a say in how the new park is designed.
Disneyland Abu Dhabi will combine “contemporary architecture with cutting edge technology to offer guests deeply immersive entertainment experiences in unique and modern ways,” according to a statement from Disney CEO Robert Iger.
The potential opening date of Disneyland Abu Dhabi was not disclosed. Disney representatives also directed inquiries over ticket costs to Miral representatives, who did not reply to a request for comment from BourseWatch.
The Abu Dhabi park won’t be as inexpensive as some other Disney parks outside of the United States, but it also won’t be more costly than the American ones, according to experts. Additionally, they indicate that the whole trip can be more affordable than a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida or Disneyland in California when multiday park passes and other travel expenses, such a hotel stay, are taken into account.
Despite its reputation for luxury, analysts suggest Abu Dhabi may be reasonably priced in several ways. Standard hotels can cost $100 to $150 per night, which is far less than the comparable rates in some more expensive U.S. destinations, like New York, according to Ben Armstrong, owner of the travel service Famvia Travel.
“Deals are always available,” Armstrong remarked.
Examining the ticket prices for SeaWorld, the aquatic-themed attraction with several locations around the United States and one owned by Miral in Abu Dhabi, may assist determine the potential cost of park entrance.
According to the websites of the individual parks, a single-day ticket to SeaWorld in the United States presently costs $90 in Orlando, $74 in San Diego, and $52 in San Antonio. These rates reflect a considerable special discount that is in effect through May 11. (For instance, the typical price in Orlando is $144.) When converted from local currency, the current single-day pricing in Abu Dhabi is around $102.
Additionally, Miral offers passes that let customers visit several Yas Island parks at considerable discounts each park. According to the SeaWorld Abu Dhabi website, a six-day package that includes admission to four parks costs $184. This lowers the cost per park to less than $50. (Disney also provides reduced multiday and multipark passes for its parks in the United States.)
There’s more to theme parks than just saving money, according to some fans. They think the Disney park in Abu Dhabi may provide a very different Disney experience, thus they welcome it. This is partly due to the fact that it will need to be planned with the intense heat of the Middle East in mind, which may result in more nighttime special events or inside attractions.
Additionally, since the Abu Dhabi site is being constructed from the ground up, theme-park designers will have more freedom to use their creativity, something that isn’t always feasible when adding attractions to an already-existing Disney park, according to Eric Wooley, a staff writer for Coaster101, a website that covers the theme-park industry.
According to him, “there are all these things you can do” with a new park.
