Late 2007, United Arab Emirate-based Al Ahli Group and Marvel Entertainment, Inc. announced a partnership that will bring Marvel's full library of Super Heroes - including Spider-Man, Iron Man, The X-Men, Incredible Hulk, The Fantastic Four and Silver Surfer - to Dubai for a major new theme park destination being developed by AAG. The Marvel Super-Heroes theme park project was supposed to open in 2011 with an investment of over $1 billion USD but apparently it seems that it will open now in 2012. I don't know yet if the Disney deal with Marvel changed anything in the project, let's hope not.
The creative team who designed the park, in this case not WDI Imagineers but great creative minds from around the globe is based in Hollywood, Orlando and Dubai throughout the development process. When the project was announced the press release said that "New technology and unparalleled visitor experiences will be the hallmark of the theme park creating a new standard for theme parks around the world".
Thanks to Randy, a Disney and more faithful reader whom i thanks a lot, i've found some great artwork of this awaited theme park. All of the concept-arts below were designed by the Chimera Design company who did an absolutely fantastic job as you will see. Unfortunately i don't have a lot of details about the rides but what we can see on the pictures give some indications.
Most of Marvel super-heroes will have their own attractions including the Fantastic Four, Hulk, Iron Man, X-Men, Silver Surfer and of course Spiderman in what will be probably a different ride than the Spiderman ride at Universal Islands of Adventure. Also, according to a a recent post of Brady Mac Donald of the L.A Times "Off-site testing has already begun on three of the planned attractions: "Flying with Spidey", "Fantasticar" and "X-Men: Danger Room".
The first picture above shows the entrance of the park. Below, a night view as well as the map of the park with the four lands "City of Super-Heroes", "Oasis of Magic", "Marvel's Mythic Mountain", "Nick Neighborhood" and "Crater Lake" at the center of the park. As you can see on the night view, many coasters are envisioned for the park.
Although it's strictly my own personal deduction, this next artwork shows very probably the "City of Super-Heroes" land - and yes, it's a Wow!
This next rendering is apparently showing the arrival in the "City"...
And, as we can check on the night view above this great building with the Fantastic Four logo is located at the entrance of the "City of Super-Heroes".
The artwork below shows a 3D (4D ?) movie attraction with all Marvel famous super-heroes.
This next artwork may show a show. Does someone recognize who is the character in the center of the picture?
On the next artwork, obviously a Spiderman attraction - probably the one called "Flying with Spidey" - Spiderman is fighting with the Green Goblin and Dr Octopus. As we can see on the picture, the guests are not seated inside a vehicle (like IOA Spiderman ride). It could be a simulator attraction...or a free fall one like the Tower of Terror...or something totally new!
But in this next ride where we can see the Electro character, guests ARE seated in a vehicle which very probably is moving inside a decor - could it be an attraction using the same technique "decor+3D rear projection" like in the IOA Spiderman ride?
In other areas of the park - probably in the "Oasis of Magic" land - guests will find lush vegetation.
Even with my talent for deduction, i really can't guess what the next artwork is showing. May be one of you will know?
This next artwork, according to the night view and the park's map probably shows the entrance of the "Nick Neighborhood" land.
Below, the incredibly spectacular entrance of the "Stark Laboratories" and the Iron Man attraction. Another big Wow! A closer look reveals a "Rocket Jets"-like attraction and a coaster-like attraction on the top of it.
The artwork below is obviously showing a free fall attraction ( Edited: Or may be it's a new type of coaster designed by Mauher & Sohne, see comment of a D&M reader below ) and it looks like it goes down right inside the water of Crater Lake! Is such a thing possible!?! Or may be there will be a tunnel? I know it's bloody hot all year long in Dubai, but having the guests totally soaked could be a bit extreme...!
EDITED 11/19: A kind D&M reader told me in his comment that an attraction "plunging" under water exist already in Japan (but with a roller coaster) and provided me a picture. The idea looks similar to the one they will probably use on the free fall ride above and i won't be surprised if it looks like the picture below.
What a great theme park concept, isn't it? I really think that Chimera Design who designed all the concept-arts you've seen above did a stunning job, don't you think so? Also, you can see more concept-arts for other projects they've worked on on the Chimera Design web site.
If everything looks like this in real when the park will be built, i'm ready to reserve my plane ticket for Dubai right now!
Thanks to leave a comment or discuss this article on D&M english forum on Mice Chat
All artwork: copyright Chimera Design - Marvel Entertainment
