Disney4me Posted 8 hours ago Report Share Posted 8 hours ago Disney recently held its second quarter earnings call for Fiscal Year 2025, and we got a huge announcement — a brand-new, seventh landmark Disney theme park is being built in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). ©Disney During the call, CEO Bob Iger said that there are “hundreds of millions” of “income-qualified” people who were a significant distance from a Disney park, and that they wanted to bring the parks to them. But, what exactly did Iger mean by income-qualified? Disney’s new Abu Dhabi theme park is expected to connect travelers from the Middle East and Africa, India, Asia, Europe, and more. According to Disney, the theme park “will combine Disney’s iconic stories, characters and attractions with Abu Dhabi’s vibrant culture, stunning shorelines, and breathtaking architecture.” ©Disney During the May 7th Disney earnings call, just shortly after the new park was announced, CEO Bob Iger said, “This is a thrilling moment for our company as we announce plans to build an exciting Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, whose culture is rich with an appreciation of the arts and creativity.” He continued, “We did study the region very carefully and we know that we had many opportunities…Obviously, building a theme park in a location is a huge endorsement of that location. It speaks volumes in terms of the ability of that location to sustain a theme park.” ©Disney Iger also said that many “income-qualified” people weren’t anywhere near a Disney park. “It was very obvious to us that there were many people, basically hundreds of millions in the world that are income qualified — where a trip to one of our six locations was pretty lengthy in nature and expensive. And so, we felt the best way, obviously, to reach those people is to basically bring our product to them.” He continued, “We talk about it being at the crossroads of the world — 500 million income-qualified people live within four hours, 120 million people will come through Dubai and Abu Dhabi this year alone. Abu Dhabi estimates that 39 million tourists will visit Abu Dhabi by 2030, that says a lot.” ©Disney But what do Disney and Iger actually mean by “income-qualified”? In general corporate-speak, it means that someone or something meets the specific income requirements or standards necessary to be eligible for something. In Disney’s case, it likely refers to people with enough disposable income to visit one of its theme parks. ©Disney Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates as a whole certainly fit that bill. According to the S&P Global Ratings from 2023, the GDP per capita of Abu Dhabi was $84,900 USD. For comparison, the United States’ GDP per capita was $81,633 USD in 2023. The response to the announcement has been mixed, however. While some fans are excited — especially those living near the new park — others are concerned about Disney partnering with a government that seems to go against what Disney has previously maintained as a goal: inclusivity. ©Disney According to Wikipedia, “Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the United Arab Emirates face discrimination and legal challenges. Homosexuality is illegal in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and under the federal criminal provisions, consensual same-sex sexual activity is punishable by imprisonment; extra-marital sexual activity between persons of different sexes is also illegal. In both cases, prosecution will only be brought if a husband or male guardian of one of the participants makes a criminal complaint.” ©Miral Disney went through a battle with the Florida government regarding the Parental Rights in Education bill, also known as the Don’t Say Gay bill, in the not-so-distant past. The bill did pass, despite Disney being the largest employer and taxpayer in the state and voicing its opposition. Disney later dropped a lawsuit against the state for what the company viewed as retaliation with the takeover of Disney’s special taxing district. The company has also made a very clear focus on ensuring a comfortable and accommodating work environment with its Inclusivity Key, so the choice of Abu Dhabi as its next park destination is controversial. Yas Island Celebrates Disney Theme Park Resort Show While we may not have many details so far, keep an eye out for the latest updates on Disneyland Abu Dhabi and beyond. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more Disney news. When Will Disneyland Abu Dhabi Open? Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you planning a Disney trip soon? Tell us in the comments.The post Disney's Talking About "Income Qualified" Theme Park Guests, But What Does That Mean? first appeared on the disney food blog.View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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