Disneyland Abu Dhabi

[Myah1220]

I think it’s important to keep in mind that the United States has one of, if not the, most brutal track records in its behavior abroad. Even going “back to brunch” in four years will not wash those stains clean. I suppose my point is that this badness is not new, nor unique to other parts of the world.

Agree fully. It's important to recognize this too so we don't "otherize" another nation without looking at our own dirty hands...

Florida is a theme park bastion and take a look at the state/country at large's politics here...not exactly a safe haven for folks here either...

Feels kind of like this thread has gone off the rails. I get the issue of it being in the middle east, but this thread should be about the park not politics (especially US).

Obviously, I'll let the mods decide, but I don't think it's inappropriate. This is a theme park forum and as potential guests/tourists of said theme park, I think it's valid for people to discuss potential safety concerns.

Edit: sorry did not mean to double post. I thought someone posted after me.

 

[Altonsky]

I don’t disagree with any of this — but isn’t there legitimate reason for visitors to the United States to have similar fears?

I think that’s a bit ott tbh.

I’m British and also gay but comparing a first world country with western values to one that’s the anthesis of that is like comparing apples to oranges.

 

[Jerroddragon]

For those trying to downplay the region or try to say the US is as bad or worst.

1) Most of us here were born in the US, so sucks we have to deal with this BS but it's not like many of us can just move
2) Two wrongs don't make a right, so we have done bad, so we should ignore others doing as bad if not worst? As far as I know no slave labor was used in building the MK or Disneyland
3) People on this board would have to go out of there way to go to this part, so if your supporting it your making a choice, its your choice and thats fine but I'm not a fan of making excuses its ok to stomp on human rights (slave labor) and not at least be called out for it
4) Disney choose this location, they didn't have to so to me its not political to point out human

Its hard to live in this world where people just basically are cool with bad things that keep happening because other bad things happened before them, or your not affected by them. To me Covid has really made people just give up on even resisting the worst kinda human behavior we just accept everything sucks and keep supporting bad behavior so if people want to do it cool but please for those doing it lets not pretend the cost of this park is worth it

Theme parks are suppose to be explore fantasy, connecting with others and escaping the world but the cost for this park to me is too high even if it means new tech, it sucks that even if we in the US parks get this where the tech comes from....the hard work of those who are unable to say no, oil that is literally destroying the world and people who want to keep woman down as second class citizens, not to mention they kill people for who they love.

I just don't see it as a political thing to be against building a Disney park in an area with Slavery, Woman not being equal to men and LGBQT+ people being killed because they love someone, these are basic human rights whats political about being against people being treated like they are? Its also just kinda a sick Joke the company that makes movies about accepting your self and saying the Empire is bad but then instantly gives into the evils of this world for money but here we are and I hate it.

 

[Jake S]

I’m British and also gay but comparing a first world country with western values to one that’s the anthesis of that is like comparing apples to oranges.

there are residents of other countries being detained at customs in the united states because of things they’ve posted online. that’s what i was referring to. and this “first world country” bit is utter nonsense.

For those trying to downplay the region or try to say the US is as bad or worst.

it’s not about comparison shopping bad things. it’s about noting that americans have a tendency to complain about the way they’re treated in other countries while completely ignoring how their country treats other people. i understand that you can only live your life, but i think it’s worth looking holistically at what these “human rights” values actually mean to the united states (literally nothing).

but that’s the last i’ll say on this to keep from being repetitive.

 

[Tbad556]

there are residents of other countries being detained at customs in the united states because of things they’ve posted online. that’s what i was referring to. and this “first world country” bit is utter nonsense.

it’s not about comparison shopping bad things. it’s about noting that americans have a tendency to complain about the way they’re treated in other countries while completely ignoring how their country treats other people. i understand that you can only live your life, but i think it’s worth looking holistically at what these “human rights” values actually mean to the united states (literally nothing).

but that’s the last i’ll say on this to keep from being repetitive.

I mean, we can hold issue with both. This isn't an either-or situation. Americans aren't a singular people. Quite literally we're split nearly down the middle politically as seen by every election ever. I have many, many issues with America. I also have issue with this park being inevitably built with slave labor, straying away from certain cultures (and that's putting it kindly), etc. My issues with this country doesn't typically coincide with the parks. The same can't be said here.

 

[Brian G.]

Since this was an obvious loaded topic, I’ve let the political talk go.

But ultimately, there’s a reason why we try to avoid bringing politics in the forums.

At 10pm EST, that rule will be reinforced.

Anything posted beyond that gets an automatic 1-month ban. I don’t care about any “last words”.

Thanks.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Since this was an obvious loaded topic, I’ve let the political talk go.

But ultimately, there’s a reason why we try to avoid bringing politics in the forums.

At 10pm EST, that rule will be reinforced.

Anything posted beyond that gets an automatic 1-month ban. I don’t care about any “last words”.

Thanks.

Question

Are we allowed to post articles later on if someone dies in the making if this park or them even using slave labor can we bring that up?

 

[TheUniC6]

Mouseinfo has some early speculation of what the lands could be:

 

[UNIrd]

I don't even see how you can discuss the creation of this park without leaning into politics. They're already repeating the same PR verbiage they did when they launched Shanghai: "Authentically Disney, Distinctly Emirati," whatever that means. You might as well ban discussion on this park altogether.

This announcement got more "yikes" than anything from the coverage I saw because of exactly where it is. Women started researching what they consider appropriate dress code for a theme park as to not be deemed respectful of cultural norms.

LGBTQ+, forget it. They're really struggling with the announcement & skeeved out by it. I get it and will think long & hard before I decide to visit, when I've been lucky enough to visit every other Disney resort in the world.

Let this be a reminder to us all. As much as we love Disney (and I do love Disney), it is a business. It doesn't love us back. And it will continue to make decisions that chase the almighty dollar over anything.

I actually wrote a letter to Universal in 2007 after they announced Universal Studios Dubailand expressing my disappointment that they would open their next park in a region that was actually dangerous to a portion of its fans and that a brand I held in such high esteem would align themselves with this ideologies.

If that's political, so be it. But you can't ignore the people these policies affect and these parks are nothing without the people.

 

[Michael S]

Hate to say it but… I don’t remember any of this talk in the WB or SeaWorld Abu Dhabi threads… maybe I missed it tho. Those are large American corporations going into the same region. I’m not going to say my opinion on this topic, cuz it’s irrelevant. I’m just shocked how this thread has been so different from those

 

[Tbad556]

Hate to say it but… I don’t remember any of this talk in the WB or SeaWorld Abu Dhabi threads… maybe I missed it tho. Those are large American corporations going into the same region. I’m not going to say my opinion on this topic, cuz it’s irrelevant. I’m just shocked how this thread has been so different from those

Almost as if those brands are far less interesting to theme park fans. I'm on here more than I'd like to admit and never saw either thread. I don't get the bizarre defenses of the park whatsoever.

 

[Michael S]

Almost as if those brands are far less interesting to theme park fans than "the big 2". I'm on here more than I'd like to admit and never saw either thread. I don't get the bizarre defenses of the park whatsoever. So much "whataboutism".

Almost as if that wasn’t my point…

 

[Tbad556]

Almost as if that wasn’t my point…

If you want me to hop in those threads right now and roast them, I gladly will. It's a weird point to make when people are just upset about blatant human rights issues.

 

[Brian G.]

Almost as if those brands are far less interesting to theme park fans than "the big 2". I'm on here more than I'd like to admit and never saw either thread. I don't get the bizarre defenses of the park whatsoever. So much "whataboutism".

I think his point is "wrong is wrong." Yes, Disney is bigger, but it seems they're getting yelled at because they are Disney, while in other threads, the same folks were talking about visiting.

I don't even see how you can discuss the creation of this park without leaning into politics. They're already repeating the same PR verbiage they did when they launched Shanghai: "Authentically Disney, Distinctly Emirati," whatever that means. You might as well ban discussion on this park altogether.

This announcement got more "yikes" than anything from the coverage I saw because of exactly where it is. Women started researching what they consider appropriate dress code for a theme park as to not be deemed respectful of cultural norms.

LGBTQ+, forget it. They're really struggling with the announcement & skeeved out by it. I get it and will think long & hard before I decide to visit, when I've been lucky enough to visit every other Disney resort in the world.

Let this be a reminder to us all. As much as we love Disney (and I do love Disney), it is a business. It doesn't love us back. And it will continue to make decisions that chase the almighty dollar over anything.

I actually wrote a letter to Universal in 2007 after they announced Universal Studios Dubailand expressing my disappointment that they would open their next park in a region that was actually dangerous to a portion of its fans and that a brand I held in such high esteem would align themselves with this ideologies.

If that's political, so be it. But you can't ignore the people these policies affect and these parks are nothing without the people.

The park is happening no matter what anyone on this forum says, and everyone here knows the deal; but ultimately, @Alicia said it best:

 

[Michael S]

If you want me to hop in those threads right now and roast them, I gladly will. It's a weird point to make when people are just upset about blatant human rights issues. I truly just don't see why we need the staff to hop in with "what about US issues?" "what about WB Dubai?" etc here.

Cool it.

 

[Tbad556]

Cool it.

Genuinely and with all sincerity, please kindly ban me if I can't even answer you. These are human rights issues and the snark and whataboutism from the staff in here simply feels like writing certain communities off that are voicing incredibly valid concerns. Especially since there wasn’t really any disagreement in here prior to these comments.

 

[familylovemichael]

I think his point is "wrong is wrong." Yes, Disney is bigger, but it seems they're getting yelled at because they are Disney, while in other threads, the same folks were talking about visiting.



The park is happening no matter what anyone on this forum says, and everyone here knows the deal; but ultimately, @Alicia said it best:

Coming in just under the 10pm deadline, but please don't listen to theme park experts for any truthful statements on international matters and how a Western brand will be "good for human rights actually" in a region famous for lacking human rights. give me a break, lol.

I guess we now need to find a word for the theme park version of sportswashing, and it seems like plenty of influencers are lining up to help them out.

 

[Myah1220]

Idk we’ve got less than ten minutes til the censorship ban kicks in, I’ll respect the rules because it’s not my site, but it is kind of disappointing that the solution to queer voices expressing being validly concerned about safety in a theme park on a theme park forum, is to just be quiet. But I’ll see myself out.

 

[Brian G.]

Coming in just under the 10pm deadline, but please don't listen to theme park experts for any truthful statements on international matters and how a Western brand will be "good for human rights actually" in a region famous for lacking human rights. give me a break, lol.

I guess we now need to find the theme park version of sportswashing, and it seems like plenty of influencers are lining up to help them out.

I think someone in @Alicia's position is more than capable of having that take, considering her significant history of supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

Idk we’ve got less than ten minutes til the censorship ban kicks in, I’ll respect the rules because it’s not my site, but it is kind of disappointing that the solution to queer voices expressing being validly concerned about safety in a theme park on a theme park forum, is to just be quiet. But I’ll see myself out.

I think our history of LGBT+/human rights, etc., speaks for itself. For the record, I don't like it, either.

What would you like the solution to be? It's a very slippery slope if we go down that path. Is anyone here going to cancel their Disney AP or stop going? What about China and its internment camps? That's also human rights being suppressed. Unfortunately, the rule exists because all it takes is one take to set off a chain reaction, even with threads with the best intentions.

I'll extend the deadline til 10:30 pm because I just don't want to cut off anyone.

 

[quinnmac000]

The announcement of this so far online has been relatively negative across multiple sites.

It is truly the fact that the country building this park (since that company is gov funded) goes against the ethos and message Disney has been putting out for years of be yourself and be true to who you are.

Building a park likely with staff from a third world country people getting extremely underpaid, with likely Disney not allowing all their staff to be able to work there freely with how the Middle East is with working with women, and additionally a decent amount of talent being part of and/or allies of the LGBTQ community. This is extremely tone deaf and brand damaging for no good reason.

I understand the thought process of build it and the world influence can change and shape the area but that is not proven. It is hopeful thinking that may not happen especially in a time of people going back to isolating people who don't fall under a set of "norms".