The United Arab Emirates, and Dubai in particular, are trying to disrupt the theme park industry by creating the world's largest collection of major theme parks. To understand where Dubai fits in the world's pecking order of theme parks, I introduce my idea of Tier 1, 2, and 3 parks, then describe where I think Disney, Universal, Dubai, and the rest fit on that scale.
I also explain why I think Dubai started the way that it did, spending far less per park than Disney as it tries to establish itself as a major theme park destination. Dubai's primary market isn't America — it is aiming for to develop and attract fans from the Middle East, South Asia (e.g. India) and Europe, instead. But since so many Europeans also visit Orlando and the American parks, an emerging Dubai theme park market could disrupt what's happening here in the United States. I hope you will watch the show, and share it with other fans.
This week's coverage from Dubai:
Rate and Review:
Tweet
Given the number of Europeans who are working in Dubai and treating it like a party town, you'd be wrong. Yeah, you can get in trouble if you do the wrong thing at the wrong time in the wrong place, but Dubai has shown time and time again to be very tollerant of Westerner's behaviour, so you need not worry about it. They are about as western as the middle east gets.
What we saw there wasn't one continious theme, we had a barely-themed coaster, next to the Ghostbusters HQ, Next to a Transylvanian Castle, next to some other stuff.
That gets you a well themed ride, and thats certainly Tier 2 territory, but to get to even have a shot of getting into Tier 1, you've got to be able to create a completely immersive expererience that has consistency across all the rides in the land... On that basis although the Smurf Village definately qualifies, the Columbia area fails - it is just a bunch of (indivdually well themed) rides.
But, it doesn't have to be a Tier 1 park. There's a reason why they serve Salads and Vegetarian Burgers in McDonalds and Burger King, and its not because they are particularly attractive options in their own right... Its about getting a group in the door who otherwise would otherwise discount your business because one member of the group would object - to make the example clearer, if you have a group of 5 people and one is vegetarian, then it doesn't matter how much the other 4 might like a Whopper, they're not going to want to see their 5th friend sit there and be miserbable becaue they can't eat anything - stick a veggie burger on the menu and the problem goes away.
If you're trying to attact European Families, and they're asking "Well, thats all well and good, but what are the kids going to do" an answer like "Well, they can come see Shrek and the Smurfs at Motiongate" stops the conversation from turning to "Well maybe we should go to Florida instead, that way we can at least visit Disney/Universal" or "Maybe we should go to Spain and take the kids to Port Adventura one day".
But it is very interesting to see what happens there, and only a fool would take their eyes off it.
Or at least put them on the same level....
You can attract rich people with empty brains and 90% indoors hangout, but not any public expecting a great mix of culture, amusement and relax, in a comfortable climate ....
VOID for the future.
Brian, did you listen to the whole thing? He put Disney at tier 1, with Universal joining it there since WWOHP. Prior to that hes saying it wasn't quite in the same league.
Yes it's hot, but it's amazing the ways that this is dealt with both indoors and outdoors there. There's is an incredible amount for a family to do, with an immense amount of culture (going to the Souq, old town or any of the interesting developments that have been created blending eastern and western culture). There is far more culture accessible here than in most tourist destinations in the USA (as an Australian, maybe part of the problem is that our culture's are inherently very similar). The argument that "apart from theme parks" there is no culture there is laughable. Theme parks are generally a culturally devoid place, particularly in the US. I would not go to a theme park seeking a cultural experience, even Epcot is a watered down, Americanised and dated version of the real things. I'd you want culture, I'm sure some of the regional parks offer a far superior experience.
It's true, a lot of it is about trying to make a profit. Please don't kid yourself that this isn't the case anytime you spend money on recreation - from a ball game, to Las Vegas (also coincidentally in the desert, just without a beach or river), to the movies or to a day at Disney or Universal, all of these things are about making money.
As for it being a rich person's destination, this isn't quite true. It's expensive, yes, but most of that is because demand for hotel rooms etc has far outweighed supply. In time it will become more affordable. That being said, I'm not rich, my friends who have been aren't rich, and we've all had fantastic family holidays there.
You didn't mention their Human Rights issues, which is a valid reason for not travelling there. I would argue that in the region they have one of the best track records for this, but still clearly a long way to go. I think that if they wish to become the tourist destination they aim to be, that this is an area they will need to improve on immensely. The argument should also be made that when visiting a country, you should try to respect the culture and traditions of the land (IE - avoid drinking in public, public displays of affection etc).
Dubai will not get many U.S. tourists. I get that. And you know what? Neither does Tokyo Disney. That doesn't stop it being a great theme park resort. Just because you can't or won't go somewhere (that isn't marketed at you) doesn't make it inherently bad.
Robert, you need to stop on these rants. It's getting us all to fired up!
As far as people being disappointed in the park. To be fair they did throw a lot of hype out about it.
I generally wouldn't visit a place just for theme parks, yet I have been to Orlando, and I can't really say there's any reason I went there other than the parks. I stopover in LA for the soul reason of visiting the parks - I don't like LA much. Certainly I didn't find the area culturally stimulating (having been to the US a number of times, maybe that's partly why). If Dubai reaches an Orlando-like level, then I can see I would travel there just to visit the parks, but admittedly the flight is shorter and cheaper than to Orlando (or probably LA).
I think some people think of Dubai as being like Iran or Saudi Arabia (or what they imagine those countries to be like - I've never been to them).
For a Middle Eastern country the UAE is incredibly progressive and westernised - perhaps not as much as we'd like sometimes, but it is a country that has the potential to change. As far as it being a nasty dictatorship, I think thats laughable. Yes, it is an autocracy, but the government has diverted much of the money from oil into healthcare, education and the infrastructure to establish the UAE as an independent and flourishing country once the oil runs out (rather than simply line their own pockets). The Emirati people are incredibly well looked after.
I think most of Dan and my frustration is due primarily to a blatantly ignorant post here previously.
Thank you Dan and Grant. I agree with both of you
Tier 1 theme parks are not the eminent domain of Western Democracies although some people think that way.
Just because people in some places in this world of ours cannot elected their their leaders does not mean they should be avoided and not visited
"When in Rome, do as the romans do."
Some of these places have better affordable universal healthcare and education standards than developed democracies.
Some people seem to forget than the original theme park plans for Dubai was a resort that would dwarf WDW but the 2008 financial shrunk those plans to what we have currently there.
If and when things get better there in terms of visitor numbers and feedback then grand old original vision could be fully realized. It is then they will seriously challenge Orlando as a theme park destination.
After all many never thought Las Vegas as a gambling destination would be eclipsed by places such as Singapore and Macau but it has.
That doesn't really work for those of us that are gay.
There are a few horror stories in Dubai, so for a westerner this may actually be a factor. There is the obvious suggestion of "If you're not overt with your relationship then you'll have no trouble" response, but thats hardly a good one - the point of a relationship (in my view) is to be overt with it.
Dare I say for the majority of the parks target market - that is to say the Middle east, Wealther parts of north Africa, and western asia/south east asia - this isn't really an issue as homosexuality isn't even tolerated in much of that area, never mind accepted, but it could potentially be an issue when attracting westeners.
Its not exactly inconceivable that a large group of friends would have at least one gay member, if Dubai wants to position itself as a replacement to Eastern Europe for Hens and Bucks parties (for our American friends, spending a weekend, or perhaps a week, in an Eastern European country has somewhat become the replacement to the Bucks/Hens night for Western Europeans (and Brits)as its cheap to access and cheap to do things in). Their Gay Rights record would be the converse to the McDonalds Salad problem I mentioned before - if someone in the group has that particular "objection" (I only say this as it is a term of art - overcoming "No" is "Objection Handling" in corportatese) thats not one that Dubai is going to be able to overcome easy.
This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.
I think the future of theme Parks will be a wonderful thing, and I hope that Dubai does develop to challenge Florida as a destination. While theme park visitors benefit from the rivalry between Disney and Universal, I think we may benefit even more if Dubai can one day rival Orlando.
Fortunately for me it's a stopover on the way to Europe, so it doesn't need to be a destination unto itself.