There is a theme park industry news announcement coming this week - likely Wednesday morning.
I will be covering this announcement in person, but cannot say more about it at this time - mostly, because I do not have the details confirmed just yet. But if this is what I think it might be, this would be one of the biggest stories of the year.
So what is it? It involves names that you probably have heard of if you have been reading Theme Park Insider for some time - so no "left-field" surprises there. But these names are not often associated with one another, so that is something different.
I would love to hear your speculation about this announcement. In your dream scenario, what would be the names involved and what would they announce to make that one of the biggest stories of the year?
Have fun!
Are these names of companies or names of people?
If companies: Is Universal announcing the divestment of Marvel rights back to Disney? Or some sort of brokered deal where Superhero Island stays, but WDW can use Marvel properties?
If people: is something happening with Josh D'Amaro? Is he being elevated to Disney CEO (or co-CEO with Dana Walden)?
I don't want to spoil the surprise in case what I've been seeing in certain locations is correct, but if it is this is going to involve a major American theme park company moving into a region in which one or more theme parks by one or more operators are currently operating. If this is indeed the correct guess, I'm predicting a high probability of WTF reactions from a large segment of the theme park fan community, but I'm also predicting the location in which the project would be happening could become significantly elevated as a theme park travel destination once the project is complete.
If what I wrote above is a bit too cryptic, think about who has made a big announcement in recent weeks and who is most likely to respond to such a challenge, then think about where we've been seeing large scale activity in the themed entertainment industry in the past decade or so. If you still are lost, I'll post my decrypted guess on Tuesday.
Is Universal or Disney buying out, or into, United Parks ?
Universal or Disney moving into India?
Universal Studios Abu Dhabi.
Disney park in the UAE.
The first Disney store has just opened in Abu Dhabi hence a small sign of whats to come?
Alice Cooper being featured at Mickey’s Not So Scary Haloween Party
Ron DeSantis is going to be appointed CEO of Disney.
Disney is going to Vegas,
For better or worse
disney world gets released from disney company so they can funnel their own money into the parks (pleeeeezzzzz)
I think Disney and universal have struck a deal to allow more marvel characters east of the mississIPpi
wait i take it back (although i'll still hope)its lotr isn't it
A rat spotted getting into the oil game?? Just make sure it’s an indoors investment ;)
Based on AJ's cryptic hints, I'd guess Disneyland Abu Dhabi? Maybe on or near Yas Island? Call it Yas Disney.
“While we still don’t know exactly what it is, word has it that Disney will be making some kind of big announcement on Wednesday, likely involving some kind of project in the UAE. Look for this to get released first thing Wednesday morning on the East Coast, which also happens to be the day that Disney will release their Q2 2025 earning results that same morning.
Perhaps by coincidence, the official Yas Island IG page is promising that they will be holding their biggest fireworks show EVER that same night. Seems like they will have something big to celebrate, but they’re not saying what just yet…”
- Screamscape
my only question is... how do YOU know?
I know who is involved. I do not have the details yet of what, exactly, they are doing.
This is starting to sound like the opening chapter to a crime novel.
How’d you get the beans above the frank is what I wanna know?
I promised I'd decrypt my post today so based on what I've been hearing I'm suspecting it's this: Universal announced a their sixth resort earlier this year destined for the United Kingdom, and Disney is about to respond with the announcement of their seventh resort in the United Arab Emirates, likely somewhere in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, with a targeted opening date in the early 2030s.
This part is purely guesswork and not based on anything I've heard rumored, but provided it actually is Disneyland Abu Dhabi, I'm predicting a next generation castle park unlike any we've ever seen. Kept will be the traditional hub and spoke layout with a uniquely designed castle in the center (one that blends traditional fairytale elements with middle-eastern influence), but instead of the lands of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy, we'll see 4-6 singular IP lands for guests to explore, each completely immersive and blocking out the exterior whilst guests explore it. Some may be completely enclosed, others may be at least partially outdoors, but the hot and arid climate will definitely be considered when it comes to this park's design. Which IPs will be featured I doubt anyone could say at this point, but I'd project a mix of the staples and ones specifically targeted to the region and its core tourist markets. And yeah, we'll probably have a hotel or two attached to the project as well.
I think that would be worthy of being dubbed the biggest theme park news story of the year. Of course, this announcement could also be something completely different, in which case I'll be surprised to hear what it is.
Congratulations AJ! https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/202505/10865/
Hmm. For once, you have me stumped. I started about all of the big companies, and the collaborations they could reasonably make. If I had to make a normal guess, I would say confirmation of Universal and LOTR? Am I thinking too big or too small?