Importance Score: 42 / 100 🔵
Excitement Builds for New Disney Theme Park in Abu Dhabi
In exciting news for theme park enthusiasts, Walt Disney is planning a brand new Disney theme park, its first in nearly a decade, slated for development in the United Arab Emirates. Located on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, the immersive theme park is anticipated to open in the early 2030s, featuring a mix of classic favorites and innovative attractions.
A Fusion of Disney Magic and Emirati Culture
According to Disney CEO Bob Iger, the park “will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati—an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment that is at the crossroads of the world.” This upcoming venture will be the 13th Disney theme park in the company’s portfolio, joining existing locations in Florida, California, France, Hong Kong, Japan, and China.
A preliminary digital rendering offers a glimpse of the Abu Dhabi park, showcasing a central structure that reflects futuristic Emirati architectural styles.
Disney’s Imagineers to Curate Middle Eastern Attractions
Disney’s “imagineers”—the illustrators, architects, engineers, lighting designers, show writers, and graphic designers responsible for each new ride—will carefully assess the brand’s most successful attractions to determine which ones to adapt for the Middle Eastern audience.
However, not all Disney rides have stood the test of time. Let’s take a look at some theme park attractions that, with the benefit of hindsight, might be better left in the archives.
Controversial and Unusual Disney Park Attractions of the Past
Since Disneyland first opened in Anaheim, California, in 1955, there have been remarkable successes and notable missteps regarding park attractions. Certain attractions that were once “greenlit” might raise eyebrows among today’s Disney park fans.
Real Skeletons in Pirates of the Caribbean
The Pirates of the Caribbean ride, introduced in the late 1960s, remains a beloved classic thanks to the popular movie franchise. However, to enhance the attraction’s authenticity, Disney’s imagineers reportedly used real skeletons and skulls obtained from a nearby medical facility in the initial displays.
Although plastic replacements eventually substituted the human remains, early riders may have encountered genuine bones during their experience.
Tokyo Disneyland’s The Black Cauldron: Horned King
Tokyo Disneyland featured a rather eerie guided tour through Cinderella Castle, where guests encountered sinister Disney villains. The centerpiece of this experience was the Black Cauldron’s Horned King, the final antagonist that guests faced.
This themed attraction, based on the animated film “Black Cauldron,” which was not a major success for Disney, left a lasting impression on those who encountered the Horned King.
A Gruesome Safari Storyline
In the 1990s, the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride in Disney’s Animal Kingdom featured an educational film about poaching that some visitors found deeply disturbing.
The film told a somber tale of two elephants, Big Red and Little Red, where Big Red tragically died at the hands of poachers. This narrative played out on screens both in the queue and on the ride itself.
Eventually, the film was replaced with a less emotive, but equally informative, presentation.
The Stormtroopers Dancing to Michael Jackson: Hyperspace Hoopla
Star Wars Weekends, aimed at fans of the Star Wars franchise, included the Hyperspace Hoopla, which unexpectedly featured characters dancing to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”
This avant-garde dance event, where Darth Vader and Stormtroopers showed off their moves, thrilled some fans. The festivals, however, concluded in 2015.
Beware the Flying KiteTails
In 2021, Disney KiteTails debuted at Walt Disney World’s Discovery River Amphitheater as part of the 50th-anniversary celebrations.
While the concept—featuring popular Disney characters like Baloo and Simba soaring through the air—was appealing, some reported that the kites occasionally crashed into the stands. After a year, the show was discontinued.