Bunker Buster Busting Disney's Plans for Abu Dhabi?

Just over a month ago the Walt Disney company announced plans to build a Disneyland theme park for Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It would be the seventh Disney theme park resort and the second to not be operated by Disney Experiences, with Miral Group handling development and operation under a licensing agreement with Disney. Disney CEO Bob Iger said the park will be "authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati," blending Disney stories and characters with the local culture.

Mentioned was that the park would be the most technologically advanced Disney park, with a modern castle design and potential for indoor and outdoor experiences. Disney would work with local developers to integrate Emirati culture into the park's design and experiences.

Disney’s plans and hopes were to tap into a large and growing market in the Middle East, with a focus on attracting new visitors to Disney experiences.

At the time of the announcement Disney experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro suggested the design phase could take a year or two, with construction taking another four to six years.

I remember my first reaction to this announcement and the first thing that came to mind is, “Why there?”

So we are talking the Middle East which has been a powder keg as long as I can remember.

What were Iger and D’Amaro thinking?

Would the economy in tht region of the world be robust enough to support such a resort?

Moreover, what type of attendance figures are they looking for and are those figures realistic?

And now this!

The United States gets in the middle of the conflict between Israel and Iran. For the record the shortest distance (airline) between Tehran and Abu-Dhabi is 795.47 mi (1,280.19 km). Abu Dhabi is south of Tehran.

So what happens now?

Do all plans for this new Disney resort go on hold?

Do they get scrapped?

Will Disney include bomb shelters for this new Disneyland Park?

Let’s face it…Middle East conflicts are not short-term events.

Also, since the Walt Disney Company is recognized as an American company doesn’t that place a target on any activity said US company is involved with over there?

Let me point out the most important consideration. When Disney has built resorts in various parts of the world…Paris or Shanghai for example…there were advisors and project leaders and imagineers who traveled to those sites to help in the creation and building of these resorts.

So tell me. If you were asked to go over to Abu Dhabi to do something like that would you feel comfortable? Would you feel safe? Especially now?

It’s just my $.02 but perhaps more so than ever Bob Iger and Josh D’Amaro need to sit back and think about this idea of a Disney resort in the Middle East.

What’s next? Plans to build in the Australian Outback or perhaps in the North Pole…or maybe a Disney resort based in the Bermuda Triangle.

One has to wonder.

See you next time.