Why Going to Disney’s Abu Dhabi Theme Park May Actually Be Cheaper than Visiting Disney World in Orlando

Could a Disney vacation in Abu Dhabi be a bargain compared with the American equivalent? Travelers may think of the Middle Eastern destination as a place of unbridled luxury, replete with Michelin-starred restaurants and hotels whose rates can run as high as $1 million per week. But with the announcement that Disney is planning a new theme park in Abu Dhabi, travel experts are saying the United Arab Emirates capital city is not that expensive when looked at more broadly — and that a theme-park ticket there might be priced competitively. That’s especially true when you consider that other Disney parks outside the U.S. are cheaper — in some cases, far cheaper — than the ones in Florida and California, where the cost of visiting has increased significantly over the years. One recent survey found that single-day tickets at U.S. Disney parks now cost $100 to $200, whereas at the Disney parks in France and Japan, they can go as low as $60.“Disney typically adjusts its pricing to reflect local economic conditions,” said Alonso Marly, an expert with Skylux Travel, a travel agency. Disney itself will not build or operate the park, which will be called Disneyland Abu Dhabi and will be located on Yas Island, a popular entertainment destination. The project is being developed by Miral, an Abu Dhabi-based company whose portfolio includes other Yas Island attractions such as a SeaWorld, a Warner Bros. Continue reading here.