Disneyland Abu Dhabi is breaking from Disney tradition by using biomes instead of traditional themed lands. This innovative approach was revealed in the Disney+ documentary Worldbuilders and was inspired by the diverse environments of Abu Dhabi itself. Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald explained that the region’s deserts and coral reefs shaped the concept of organizing the park around different settings rather than familiar areas like Fantasyland or Adventureland. Disney believes these environments can become backdrops for its stories and characters, giving Imagineers a new way to organize attractions across the park. This represents a major change from the formula Disney has used since Disneyland opened in 1955 and could give the new destination a completely different feel from other castle parks. The project is still years away but offers our clearest look yet at how different this new Disney destination could be for future travelers.
Key Points:
- Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be divided into biomes instead of traditional themed lands
- The biome concept was inspired by Abu Dhabi’s diverse environments including deserts and coral reefs
- Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald explained the idea behind organizing the park around different settings
- This approach differs from familiar areas like Fantasyland, Adventureland, or Tomorrowland used in other Disney parks
- Disney announced the Abu Dhabi resort in May 2025 with Miral developing and operating the destination
- Walt Disney Imagineering is handling the creative design for this new park