Last month, while heading home from a three-month-long campervan road trip around Europe, I thought it would be rude not to make a quick stop at Disney Village in Paris on my way back to the UK. So that’s exactly what I did.
I’d visited Disneyland Paris earlier this year and at that time, the Disney Village was under a huge amount of construction, with various stores closed as they were refurbished ahead of summer. Renovations were still going ahead during my visit last month, but thankfully, only to a small section of the Village itself and the newly refurbished shops were ready for me to shop in and enjoy the much-needed air conditioning!
Disney Glamour
First up, was the Disney Glamour store, home to various bits of Disney jewellery and expensive branded handbags. The store feels extremely premium and there was an overwhelming number of stunning Disney jewellery pieces. I didn’t hang around for too long in this section of the store, partly because of the price tags, but also because I rather embarrassingly walked into the sliding door by mistake! For reference, the door opens a lot slower than you think!
Some of the beautiful handbags on display!
Disney Style
The Disney Style store sits next to the Glamour store and actually opens up into it, but with Style focusing on clothing and there’s plenty of diversity between children’s and adults clothing. The layout is fairly similar to how it was previously, but the modern and clean aesthetic to the store makes it feel much more refreshed compared to how it was for many years.
A fantastic Up inspired handbag.
LEGO Store
Next up was the LEGO Store, which much like Disney Glamour retained much of its original layout, but all feeling much more refreshed. Outside, there is a brand new LEGO Disney themed statue featuring characters like Woody, Mickey, Minnie, Elsa and Peter Pan – a perfect place for a photo. Inside the store, there is a brand new centrepiece of a LEGO magical Mickey which honestly looks incredible. There are a number of other LEGO Disney statues and display pieces dotted around the store – I’d recommend spending some time looking out for them.
Perfect place for photos!
Deco by Disney
The final refurbished store to visit was Deco by Disney, offering Disney inspired homeware and artwork. This was always one of my favourite stores in the Disney Village as I loved all of the artwork and memorabilia that were on sale. Unfortunately, Deco by Disney appears to be much more focused on the homeware, rather than the one of a kind display pieces that were previously available. There was a small section dedicated to artwork, but I found it rather lacking.
Despite the omission of artwork and memorabilia, the layout of the store is fairly simple and easy to navigate, with wooden beams running along the ceiling, giving the store a vibrant, modern look. This store actually used to be two stories, with a long winding ramp taking shoppers to the 1st floor where the majority of the artwork pieces were showcased. The decision to condense the store does make sense and looks all the better for it, it’s just come at the cost of a severe lack of art and collectibles.
Even in June, there are Christmas decorations for sale!
Final Thoughts
All in all, the newly refurbished Disney Village stores look absolutely fantastic – more modern, inviting, and definitely more in line with the high standards you’d expect at a Disney resort.
It does beg the question though, when will the World of Disney and Disney Store get the same treatment? Compared to these new refurbs, they’re starting to feel pretty dated. With the Frozen-themed land set to open in 2026, I wouldn’t be surprised if those bigger stores are next on the list.
Have you visited the newly refurbished stores at the Disney Village lately? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Earlier this year, I stayed at Disneyland Paris’s Hotel Cheyenne and thoroughly enjoyed my stay. Hotel Cheyenne is a perfect blend of Disney theming, fun and affordability (in Disney terms that is!). I’ve broken this review down into four sections, the hotel itself, the room, the location and price.
The Hotel & Theming
Checking in to Hotel Cheyenne, you are immediately greeted with a fantastic Wild West themed lobby, complete with cast members all wearing authentic cowboy attire. The check in process was smooth and despite not being able to check in to our room right away, we were able to store our luggage securely to collect after our first busy day in the park.
The grand lobby of Hotel Cheyenne, setting the immersive Wild West tone from the moment you step inside!
The theming of Hotel Cheyenne is truly fantastic. Focusing on the Wild West theme, it leans into Toy Story to really provide that added Disney touch. There are numerous Toy Story posters, displays and statues located all around the hotel. There are a few areas where the theming could be a little more polished, but as a whole, I think it masters immersion very well.
Toy Story theming galore – found this classic poster brightening up the hotel halls!
Cheyenne is undoubtedly less classy than the likes of Hotel Marvel or the Disneyland Hotel, but it definitely focuses on the fun elements which are much more suited to younger children (or big kids like myself!).
The hotel itself is huge and actually more like a holiday village, rather than a standard hotel. Capitalising on that Western theme, there are numerous buildings that house their rooms, all aptly named to the theme, with the likes of Jesse James and Billy The Kid. All buildings are accessible and have ramps and elevators for those who need them, but the hotel grounds are pretty large so bear that in mind! It is probably a 10-minute walk from one side of the hotel to the other.
Dining
Hotel Cheyenne is home to the Chuck Wagon Café, an all you can eat tex-mex buffet. We didn’t eat here during our stay, however we did have a nosy around and looked at the food on offer, which mainly comprised chillis, barbecued meats and a few Asian dishes. As a vegetarian, there were some plant-based options, however not quite enough to justify the price tag (check out my top 5 plant-based meal options at DLP here). The restaurant’s theming perfectly complemented that of the rest of the hotel, designed to evoke a bustling wagon station.
Walking through Hotel Cheyenne’s main street feels like stepping straight into a classic Western movie after dark.
There is also a Starbucks at the hotel, located next to the General Store, however according to the Disneyland Paris website (as of June 2025), this is currently closed for renovation. I’m not really sure why it’s undergoing refurbishment – it looked great when we visited in January! But don’t worry too much, if you need your coffee fix, there is a Starbucks in the Disney Village which you will pass if you walk to the parks in the morning.
Shopping
As with all Disney hotels, there is a small shop onsite at Cheyenne which is aptly named the General Store. The selection on offer is fairly basic and pretty consistent with what you will see at some of the other hotel stores; mugs, pins, plushies, snacks. There were a few things we did see in the General Store which we didn’t actually see in any of the other shops, however, I don’t believe these were exclusives, more likely a matter of fluctuating stock.
We did utilise the Shopping Carry Service available at Disneyland Paris which worked an absolute treat; we purchased a few things in one of the parks that were too bulky to carry around all day so we sent them to our hotel and then collected them later that day from the General Store. We’ve used this before at various hotels and it is always a simple process that I’d highly recommend.
Things to do
There is a fair bit to do at Hotel Cheyenne to keep both children and adults entertained. For children, there is a very small ‘indoor play area’ located in the hotel lobby, which, in all honesty, is absolutely tiny and every time we walked past was consistently very busy with lobby traffic. There are some much more impressive outdoor fort style play areas for children scattered around the hotel grounds which provide countless fun, as well as the possibility to go for a pony ride – this was unsurprisingly closed when we visited in temperatures hovering above zero degrees!
The daily Cheyenne Gazette and our trusty MagicPasses – essential reading (and access!) for every stay.
For adults, Cheyenne is home to the Red Garter Saloon, a bar located along from the Chuck Wagon Café and the General Store. It has both indoor and outdoor seating and we popped in here for a brief drink one evening and we loved it. There’s a really nice vibe to the bar and there are even Western style drinks available on the menu like the Runaway Train (raspberry vodka, curacao, raspberry nectar and fresh lemon juice) and the Wild West Bandit (whiskey, peach liqueur, raspberry purée, passion fruit nectar and tonic water). We did visit in the evening but it wasn’t too busy and made for a cosy atmosphere.
Character Experiences
Whilst we didn’t do any character meet and greets at Hotel Cheyenne during our time there, it is possible to meet both Woody and Jessie at the hotel. These characters are generally considered exclusive to Hotel Cheyenne, so make sure you do not miss them if you want photos and autographs. During our visit, we were advised that you can meet Jessie or Woody at the entrance of the Red Garter Saloon between 8:15am to 11am.
NOTE: You don’t need to stay at Hotel Cheyenne to meet Woody and Jessie, or to visit the hotel for that matter. You can simply visit the hotel by walking from the Disney Village.
The Rooms
We stayed in a ‘Woody’s Roundup’ standard room and honestly, it was great! As with most Disney holidays, you never really spend too much time in the room itself as you are out at the theme park all day, but Cheyenne’s standard rooms are more than sufficient. The theming of the rooms is great; there are Toy Story pictures hung upon the walls, Woody lampshades, cow print pillows and even a horse shoe mirror! The theming works wonderfully and creates the perfect atmosphere to rest your head after a long day in the parks. I was a big fan.
Ready for a good night’s sleep after a long day of adventures – loving the subtle cow print touches!
There are tea and coffee making facilities in the room and complimentary bottles of water too. Unfortunately, these are not replaced with the maid service, however if you have a water bottle you want filling, I had no problem getting this topped up at the Red Garter Saloon by staff. It’s worth noting too, there is no mini-fridge in the room which isn’t the end of the world, however it would come in handy if you were preparing lunch or snacks to take into the parks.
There is a television in the room which has the standard international news channels available, as well as a few local French channels too. There is an on demand Disney TV where you can watch a handful of Disney documentaries, as well as a music channel where you can watch Disney hits in a video compilation; albeit this kept cutting out when we tried to watch it for some reason. The on demand stuff is pretty half-baked if I’m honest and I really think Disney are missing a trick by not installing Disney+ into every room, or at least giving users the option to sign into their accounts.
Even the TV screen gets in on the Wild West action, alongside our much-needed morning coffee fix!
The bathroom is fairly spacious and comes with a bath shower. Overall, the bathroom is fairly basic and doesn’t quite live up to the impressive theming of the bedroom. The shower curtain is a yellowish brown and is adorned with horseshows which on the surface looks quite cool but can actually look a bit dingy at first glance. Of course, this is just a minor gripe about the theming, the bathroom itself was absolutely fine, in fact the shower pressure was actually quite good!
Even the toiletries at Hotel Cheyenne are ready for a rootin’ tootin’ good time!
The Location
Located roughly a 20-minute walk from the Disneyland Parks and only a 10-minute walk to the Disney Village, Hotel Cheyenne offers the perfect balance of being close to the action whilst feeling out of the way. The walk to the village and parks is very nice, you essentially follow the river along to the lake at the Disney Village, before walking past the Marvel Hotel and then reaching the village.
If you don’t want to walk however, there is a regular shuttle bus which takes guests to and from the hotel to the parks. We never used this service as for us, on a cold winters morning, a brisk walk was the perfect start to the day. Plus, by the time you’ve waited for the bus and everybody is onboard, you will probably arrive at the park at a similar time anyway!
One thing worth mentioning about the location too is its proximity to Hotel Santa Fe. Santa Fe is the Cars themed hotel and sits directly opposite Hotel Cheyenne, on the other side of the river. There are a few bridges that do actually connect the two hotels, so it is possible to visit this hotel if you want to check it out. We did this and had a bit of a nosy round and in doing so, we found that there is actually a fuel station located a brief walk from Santa Fe. There is a shop here and they do sell snacks, drinks (no alcohol) and food, however the prices were just as expensive as those in the Disney complex. It’s handy for essentials that Disney may not stock, mind you.
The Price
We stayed during January, so managed to secure a good price on our hotel package and park tickets. In fact, Hotel Cheyenne was actually the cheapest Disney hotel available (bar Davy Crockett Ranch) to book for us at the time and this is something I’ve seen previously when looking at prices. This is despite Hotel Cheyenne being a 3 star hotel and Santa Fe being 2 star. It seems like these two both interchange as being the most affordable onsite hotels.
That being said, as with most things, prices can fluctuate very easily! Having looked at the DLP website and compared a few of the hotels for their cheapest nights in July of 2025, Cheyenne actually came in at more expensive than both Santa Fe and Sequoia Lodge (£218 versus £205 and £213 respectively, based on 3 days, 2 nights). It’s worth bearing in mind that price doesn’t always represent hotel quality class when it comes to Disney hotels, or all hotels for that matter.
Ultimately, if I were paying £218 a night to stay at Cheyenne in the summer (including park tickets), I would consider that fair value. There isn’t a huge amount to separate these three hotels; it’s more a case of personal preference.
The Final Verdict
Disneyland Paris’s Hotel Cheyenne is a fantastic, affordable option available for guests who want to stay on a Disney property and enjoy the perks that they have to offer. Personally, I’m of the opinion that if you have the budget to stay onsite, it’s well worth it to take advantage of the magic hours and fully immerse yourself in the theming; and this is what Cheyenne does brilliantly. With a mix of things to do, fun and vibrant rooms and a handy location, I can definitely recommend a stay at Hotel Cheyenne!
Have you ever stayed at Hotel Cheyenne, or is it on your Disneyland Paris wish list? Let me know your thoughts or questions in the comments below – I’d love to hear from you!
With last week’s announcement of a new Disneyland park coming to Abu Dhabi, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about what Disney’s seventh theme park might look like. From attractions to park pricing, here’s everything we could potentially see at Disneyland Abu Dhabi.
Location and Size
At first glance, it seems simple – Disneyland Abu Dhabi (DAD) will be located on Yas Island. But of course, it’s not quite that straightforward! The exact location of DAD has yet to be revealed, so there’s no clarity on how big the park will be. There has been a fair bit of speculation online as to how big the park will be, but nothing officially confirmed.
Putting on my digital detective hat, it looks like there may only be one possible location on Yas Island for DAD, if you look closely at Google Maps. Located on the north of Yas Island, there is a huge area next to the waterfront which looks suspiciously empty at this moment in time. We know DAD is on a waterfront, could this be the park location?
Could this empty stretch of Yas Island be the future home of Disneyland Abu Dhabi?
With regards to the size of the park, looking at the available space mentioned above, this looks roughly 4 or 5 times larger than the size that Warner Bros. World currently occupies. Warner Bros. World is 15.3 hectares in size, meaning the Disneyland Abu Dhabi park could be anywhere from 60 to 100 hectares. For context, the Disneyland Park in California is only 40 hectares in size, meaning DAD could potentially be double the size of this.
Pricing
I expect Disneyland Abu Dhabi’s pricing to be similar to other Yas Island theme parks and broadly aligned with global Disney parks. Below, I’ve compiled an overview of single-day adult ticket prices at Disney parks worldwide alongside the current Yas Island theme park prices (pricing and currency conversions accurate as of time of writing this blog post!).
Disney Theme Parks – 1-Day Adult Ticket Pricing
Theme Park
Local Price Range
USD Range
GBP Range
EUR Range
Notes
Walt Disney World (Florida)
$139–$199
$139–$199
£110–£157
€128–€183
Prices vary by park and date; Magic Kingdom is typically most expensive.
Disneyland Resort (California)
$104–$179
$104–$179
£82–£141
€96–€165
Pricing varies by day and park.
Disneyland Paris
€63–€123
$68–$134
£54–£106
€63–€123
Prices vary by season and park access (1 or 2 parks).
Tokyo Disneyland/DisneySea
¥7,900–¥10,900
$58–$80
£46–£63
€53–€74
Prices vary by date; Tokyo DisneySea is often considered a better value.
Shanghai Disneyland
¥475–¥799
$66–$110
£52–£87
€61–€101
Four-tier pricing: Regular to Peak Plus.
Hong Kong Disneyland
HK$639
$82
£65
€75
Standard adult 1-day ticket price.
Walt Disney World is the most expensive globally, with prices ranging from $139–$199.
Theme Parks on Yas Island – 1-Day Adult Ticket Pricing
Theme Park
Local Price Range
USD Range
GBP Range
EUR Range
Notes
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi (Yas Island)
AED 375
$102
£81
€94
Fixed price; includes 8 immersive realms and 15+ rides.
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi (Yas Island)
AED 345
$94
£74
€86
Home to the world’s fastest roller coaster.
Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi (Yas Island)
AED 295
$80
£63
€74
Fully indoor park with six themed lands.
Yas Island parks are generally more affordable, with ticket prices averaging around $86.
Looking at these figures, the average single-day ticket for Yas Island parks is around $86 (approximately £68 or €79). Interestingly, international Disney parks outside the USA tend to be slightly cheaper, averaging about $81 (£64/€75). Adjusting for inflation and the premium expected from a Disney-branded park, I speculate Disneyland Abu Dhabi tickets might be priced around $106 (£80/€95). Of course, this is just an estimate.
It’s also worth noting that all Yas Island parks offer fixed ticket prices regardless of the day of visit. Hopefully, Disneyland Abu Dhabi will follow this model, sparing visitors from the steep price surges often seen during peak seasons at other Disney parks!
Emirati Inspiration
Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be ‘authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati,’ according to the official announcement. This means the park is likely to feature Emirati-inspired architecture – think modern, geometric designs that reflect Abu Dhabi’s contemporary skyline – while still capturing the magic and storytelling Disney is known for.
I’m excited to see dining options that blend authentic Emirati flavours with classic Disney fare. Imagine something like the Agrabah Café at Disneyland Paris, but serving genuine Emirati dishes. That fusion could be a real highlight for visitors.
Of course, we can’t discuss the Emirati inspiration of the park without mentioning the local customs of the United Arab Emirates. While Disney parks generally have a relaxed dress code, in Abu Dhabi, there will likely be an emphasis on encouraging modest attire. Likewise, it’s likely that during the holy month of Ramadan, the park’s operating hours, dining options, and entertainment might be adjusted to respect those observing the fast.
There has already been a huge amount of criticism around Disney’s stated commitment to LGBTQ+ rights in other regions and its decision to build a major theme park in a country where same-sex sexual activity is criminalised. I think it’s safe to assume that LGBTQ+ visitors should not expect any specific recognition or celebration of LGBTQ+ identities within the park. I plan to explore this complex topic further in an upcoming blog post.
Attractions
The topic everyone has been waiting for: attractions! Now there is a lot to unpack here, so I am going to break it down into three subsections: the audience, the announcement video and the concept art.
The Audience
According to the press release, the UAE is home to the largest global airline hub, with 120 million passengers traveling through Abu Dhabi and Dubai each year. This makes the UAE a gateway for visitors from the Middle East, Africa, India, Asia, and Europe. It’s mentioned several times that this diverse audience will likely influence the park’s design and attractions.
Given the film’s Middle Eastern setting, I’d be surprised if Aladdin doesn’t feature prominently at Disneyland Abu Dhabi. The Magic Carpets of Aladdin ride already appears at three Disney parks worldwide, including Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Tokyo DisneySea, and Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris. So, a variation of this attraction is almost a given.
Backing this up, the 2019 live-action Aladdin remake is the highest-grossing film of all time in the Middle East, breaking records for the best Ramadan opening in the UAE and Jordan. As a fan myself, I hope to see immersive rides inspired by iconic scenes—imagine a journey through the Cave of Wonders! And of course, plenty of Aladdin-themed merchandise too (fingers crossed!).
Looking at some of the other box office data for the region, there are a number of films which I can definitely imagine seeing having an influence at Disneyland Abu Dhabi. These include, Frozen, Moana, Toy Story, Finding Nemo, The Jungle Book and somewhat surprisingly, Elemental (one of my favourite Pixar films!). Given the waterfront location, nautical-themed movies could be a natural fit.
Another franchise likely to feature heavily is The Lion King. Like Aladdin, its 2019 live-action remake saw massive success across the Middle East and Africa. Given the UAE’s proximity to Africa and the film’s setting, I expect rides, merchandise, and shows – perhaps even The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands – at Disneyland Abu Dhabi.
I can’t move on from this section without mentioning the Marvel franchise, given its HUGE popularity in the Middle East and Africa. Avengers: Endgame holds the record for the UAE’s highest box office, and Black Panther is the highest-grossing film across the combined region. Black Panther also marked a milestone as the first film publicly screened in Saudi Arabia after a 35-year cinema ban. I already have ideas brewing about what Disney Imagineers might create for a Marvel-themed area at Disneyland Abu Dhabi – but I’ll save that for later!
Announcement Video
There’s a lot to unpack in the announcement video, but a few key moments stood out to me as strong clues about what Disneyland Abu Dhabi might feature.
One segment, lasting about five or six seconds, focuses on Moana and the Journey of Water attraction, while highlighting that the park will be “anchored by a beautiful waterfront that will allow us to tell our stories in brand new ways.” Water will clearly play a pivotal role at DAD, and Moana’s inclusion suggests it will have a significant presence. I strongly suspect that instead of traditional fireworks behind the park’s central icon, we’ll see spectacular water fountain projections. These are very popular in the Middle East – the Burj Khalifa hosts one of the world’s largest fountain shows, for example.
Later in the video, Bob Iger says Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be “authentically Disney,” just as Anna and Elsa appear on screen. This feels like a not-so-subtle hint that Frozen will feature prominently at the park. It seems increasingly likely that the main castle will be Frozen-inspired, and the timing of that statement alongside the visual pretty much confirms it.
Beyond Moana and Frozen, the video also includes clips from The Lion King, Tron, Avatar, Zootopia, Cars, Marvel, and Star Wars. While some of these might be purely aesthetic for the trailer, I can easily imagine all these franchises having some presence at Disneyland Abu Dhabi. Disney tends to be very intentional with these kinds of choices!
Concept Art
The concept art for DAD may give us the largest number of clues as to what we may be able expect. First and foremost, we have to talk about the castle. Castles are undeniably iconic to the Disney brand and Disney theme parks and it looks as if DAD is going to be no different with a striking castle as the main centre of focus for the theme park. The one big difference to the standard Disney castle is the striking architectural difference.
Featuring a striking combination of white and blue colours with a spiral curvature, the castle unmistakably resembles Elsa’s ice palace from Frozen. Nestled on the waterfront, this icy design will undoubtedly be the focal point of Disneyland Abu Dhabi. The contrast between a shimmering ice castle and the surrounding desert landscape promises a visually stunning and unique centrepiece for the park. While Moana’s water themes also fit naturally with the waterfront location, the castle’s architecture clearly signals a strong Frozen influence.
Image Credit: Disney
One area that really grabs my attention on the concept art is at the very back right of the artwork. There is what appears to be two towers next to each other which I think hold a similar resemblance to that of the city of Wakanda in Black Panther. Given Black Panther’s popularity in the region, I’m confident in saying I think we can expect a few homages to the Marvel film and I wouldn’t at all be surprised to see the fictional African country brought to life. Whilst the concept art doesn’t appear to show the iconic gigantic Black Panther stone statue that appears in the films, don’t be at all surprised if the Disney imagineers are keeping a few tricks up their sleeves!
Given Abu Dhabi’s extreme summer heat, the popularity of fully indoor parks like Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi makes it likely that DAD will also incorporate significant indoor areas. Whilst I don’t think Disney necessarily want the full park to be indoors, I think it’s fair to say we can expect some indoor areas and this is what I think the two building type areas on the left of the concept art will be. While the artwork offers few concrete clues to their themes, I have a hunch that one of these could be a climate-controlled cityscape inspired by Zootopia.
Image Credit: Disney
The concept art gives us a few more clues as to what we might expect to find at Disneyland Abu Dhabi including:
A snowcapped mountain on the left of the artwork – could this be an Expedition Everest style ride?
To the right of the castle and nestled into the waterfront, there is what looks to be a large tree, half submerged into the water. Could this be one of the many symbolic trees we see in the Avatar franchise?
To the very left of the castle we see what looks to be an enclosed lagoon which, if you zoom in closely, appears to have a boat on it. Could this be Moana’s boat? Or perhaps a Pirates of the Caribbean inspired boat ride?
Of course, this concept art is an early look, so these predictions should be taken with a pinch of salt. But I definitely think Disney is already teasing some exciting ideas!
Nothing is officially confirmed yet, but I’m confident that Disneyland Abu Dhabi will draw heavily from its local culture and audience, shaping its attractions and theming throughout the park.
What are your predictions for Disneyland Abu Dhabi? Let me know in the comments!
Disneyland Paris has announced a brand-new seasonal outdoor terrace, Lounge Lightspeed, coming to Discoveryland from 31 May to 17 September 2025. Guests will be able to enjoy refreshing drinks or Star Wars-themed snacks before their journey “to a galaxy far, far away.”
According to the news article released on the Disneyland Paris news website, the lounge will have a capacity for 50 guests and will offer a unique view of the X-Wing, as well as the wider Discoveryland. The article goes on to say that the lounge will be directly linked to the attraction Star Tours: The Adventures Continues, and guests will be able to meet BDX droids, as well as other Star Wars characters.
It’s so refreshing to finally see some innovation and new ideas coming to Disneyland Paris! Discoveryland has for too long been at severe risk of becoming one of the blander areas of the Disneyland Park, so I’m very happy to hear of this new lounge, especially with it being Star Wars themed!
Looking at the concept art and images by DLP, it appears as if the lounge is going to be primarily based on the terrace area which sits above the Starport, underneath the large X-Wing model and next to the Star Tours: The Adventures Continues ride. Most recently, the Starport was being used as a Darth Vader character encounter, but looking at the digital DLP map, it appears as if this is no longer there (note, the Disney Photopass Service is still showing on the map there).
I do wonder if the Starport’s base will serve as the bar before guests take their drinks to the terrace. Of course, this is just speculation, but I’m keen to see how the lounge integrates with the Star Tours: The Adventures Continues experience and how Disney Imagineers utilise the existing space around the ride.
There’s no news yet on what to expect with the drinks or snack menus, but hopefully, this can match some of the unbelievable themed Star Wars offerings available at Galaxy’s Edge. The article does state that the lounge will be hosted by Coca-Cola – Wompa Cola anyone?
The only downside? Lounge Lightspeed is currently only planned as a seasonal offering. Here’s hoping it proves popular enough to become a permanent addition!
The Walt Disney Company has this week officially announced its intention to develop a seventh theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This expansion will see Disney partner with Miral, a prominent Abu Dhabi-based creator of immersive experiences.
The upcoming resort will be located on Yas Island, an established global destination for leisure and entertainment. This placement aims to attract a broad international audience, connecting travellers from the Middle East, Africa, India, Asia, Europe, and beyond. The project intends to integrate Disney’s renowned storytelling, characters, and attractions with the distinct culture and environment of Abu Dhabi, including its shorelines and architecture.
Image Credit: Disney
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman at Miral, commented on the collaboration, stating, “The collaboration between Abu Dhabi and Disney demonstrates the remarkable results of combining visionary leadership and creative excellence. What we are creating with Disney in Abu Dhabi is a whole new world of imagination—an experience that will inspire generations across the region and the world.”
Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, highlighted the significance of this expansion: “As our seventh theme park destination, it will rise from this land in spectacular fashion, blending contemporary architecture with cutting-edge technology to offer guests deeply immersive entertainment experiences in unique and modern ways. Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati—an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment at this crossroads of the world.”
Miral will oversee the development and construction of the resort, while Disney’s Imagineers will be responsible for the creative design and operational guidance to ensure a high-quality guest experience. Miral has a track record of developing family entertainment destinations on Yas Island, including popular attractions like Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, and will manage the resort’s operations.
Image Credit: Disney
Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences, emphasized the innovative aspects of the project: “Our resort in Abu Dhabi will be the most advanced and interactive destination in our portfolio. The location of our park is incredibly unique—anchored by a beautiful waterfront—which will allow us to tell our stories in completely new ways. This project will reach guests in a whole new part of the world, welcoming more families to experience Disney than ever before.”
Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral, noted the strategic importance for Yas Island: “Bringing a Disney theme park resort to Yas Island marks a historic milestone in our journey to further advance the island’s position as a global destination for exceptional entertainment and leisure.”
Upon completion, the resort will feature signature Disney entertainment, themed accommodations, unique dining and retail options, all designed to celebrate both Disney’s legacy and Abu Dhabi’s cultural identity.
While specific details regarding the park’s layout, attractions, and opening timeline are yet to be announced, this development marks a significant expansion for The Walt Disney Company’s theme park portfolio. It signals a strategic move to tap into a new and growing global tourism market.
Personally I’m super excited about the prospect of a brand new Disney park opening up! Living in the UK, this will be the second closest Disney park for us Brits (after Paris) and I’m really eager to see how Disney and Miral collaborate to bring Disney Abu Dhabi to life. Disney’s partnership with Miral follows a well-established trend of collaborating with local experts in destination development and management, as seen with the Oriental Land Company for the Tokyo Disney Resort and with Miral’s track record of current entertainment destinations, I have full confidence that the park will be first class.
What are your initial thoughts on this new Disney venture? What kind of unique integrations of Disney and Emirati culture are you hoping to see? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Steamboat Charlie 