New Destination
Disney announces new destination in Abu Dhabi
Rebecca Jarvis:
This is very very exciting. I am standing here on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, where Disney’s 7th global theme park will be built, and I sat down with our CEO Bob lger to talk about this whole new world.
Bob lger:
So I’m excited for the UAE in Abu Dhabi, bringing a Disneyland to a land in the world is I think a big deal, and it makes a big statement, and it’s just a great moment.
Rebecca Jarvis:
A new chapter of Disney storytelling begins, rewriting a land known for its architecture culture, coastlines and desert the Walt Disney company chair and CEO Bob lger says there’s already excitement brewing here in Abu Dhabi.
Bob lger:
You start thinking about what is possible, actually envisioning a castle rising up in the case from the sand and also being on the water.
Rebecca Jarvis:
I heard you say castle so you’re confirming there’s gonna be a castle, Bob.
Bob lger:
Yes, I’m confirming that, but we’ve decided that we want to build a very modern Disneyland, it will obviously incorporate a lot of our intellectual property, and some of the typical stories that we tell in our theme parks.
Rebecca Jarvis:
So this is the rendering we have?
Bob lger:
I’m smiling because it makes me smile. Yes so that rendering depicts the land on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, we haven’t decided everything that will go into it, but we knew do know it will be anchored by a castle, and again the modernization that is Abu Dhabi, the castle will be the first real modern castle that we built.
Rebecca Jarvis:
And this is it the start of a brand new park here in Abu Dhabi, i am standing 8,400 miles away from Anaheim California, the site of the very first Disneyland that opened in 1955.
Why here in Abu Dhabi?
Bob lger:
The UAE in Abu Dhabi is a crossroads of the world, this is a hub in many respects, but also because where it is located where it is. It’s accessible to so many different regions, places where we typically have, you know, only scratched the surface in terms of attendance to our parks.
Rebecca Jarvis:
With six theme parks across four countries around the globe. Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates will soon become lucky number seven. This project has been simmering since 2017, but crystallized after lger’s visit to the region last year. When he found there was already a lot of excitement surrounding Disney.
Bob lger:
This is a place that has a very ambitious and very exciting vision for its future. So this will give us an opportunity to build something very very high quality as evidenced by so much of what’s already been built here. But also the most technologically advanced theme park that we’ve ever built.
Rebecca Jarvis:
Disney partnering with Miral, the operators of world class immersive experiences and attractions in Abu Dhabi. Miral will oversee the development and building of Disney’s resort.