Ultimate Guide to Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi

Recently, the Attractions Magazine team attended the grand opening of Sea World Abu Dhabi, and while we were in the United Arab Emirates, we made sure to check out the other world-class attractions on Yas Island. Join us now for an in-depth touring guide to Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, the most elaborate all-indoor Hollywood-inspired theme park on Earth.

Introduction to Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi

Like SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World is part of the Yas Island resort complex, which also includes Ferrari World, a water park, and numerous hotels. Whereas SeaWorld focuses on natural wonders, and Ferrari World boasts a roster of record-breaking roller coasters, Warner Bros. World’s lineup emphasizes dark rides, simulators, and highly-themed thrills that the entire family can enjoy together.

If you are familiar with the history of Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure, you may know that the park was initially conceived around DC Comics and Looney Tunes properties, instead of the Marvel and comic strip characters it eventually featured. Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi presents a “what if?” alternate-reality version of Islands of Adventure, and its easy to see parallels between many attractions at the two parks.

Of course, the big difference between Islands of Adventure and Warner Bros. World is the Abu Dhabi park is completely indoors, giving the designers complete control of the environment’s temperature and lighting. Unlike many other indoor parks, there’s no sense here that you are walking around a giant industrial warehouse. Instead, the theming extends from the floors up to the towering ceilings, with realistic artificial skyscapes overhead in some sections, and vibrant cartoon clouds seemingly floating above others.

Arriving and Getting Oriented

Warner Bros. World is easily accessible via free buses from Dubai, Abu Dhabi City, and the other Yas Island attractions; or can be reached inexpensively by taxi or Uber.  You can’t miss the ginormous gold box covered in sketches of animated superstars.

The Warner Bros. Hotel, located directly across from the theme park’s entrance, is a bit more expensive than some other properties on the island, but provides convenient access to the attraction, as well as character dining.

Check out the “Walk of Fame” style paving stone paying tribute to DC and Warner Bros. characters before you enter the park’s main lobby, which looks a bit like an upscale reimagining of a golden-age cinema. Ticket sales and guest services can be found here, along with a golden statue of Bugs Bunny, the park’s primary mascot.

One-day admission costs about $95 U.S.D. for adults, or $72 for juniors shorter than 1.1 meter (about 43”). A one-day ticket with a meal voucher costs about $13 more. Multi-day tickets that include visits to one or more of the other Yas Island parks within 14 days cost $130-$180, and annual passes to all four parks cost $350-$870, depending on blockouts and benefits. Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi tickets purchased online are date-specific, so you’ll have to know the day of your first visit before buying. You don’t need a physical ticket if you opt into Yas parks’ Facepass, a facial-recognition system not unlike the one tested by Universal Orlando. “Flash Pass” is also available at an additional cost for bypassing the attraction queues, but it shouldn’t be necessary except during peak holiday periods.

As at the other Yas Island attractions, American visitors may rest assured that all signage, shows, and attractions are primarily in English, with some Arabic translations; and major American credit cards (including ApplePay) are readily accepted, with no need for currency exchange. Public displays of affection are discouraged, and dress codes request that guests wear “respectful clothing” covering your shoulders and thighs (no bathing suits allowed), but women are not required to cover their hair or faces.

Once you’ve scanned your admission and passed through the turnstiles, a rotunda with a large illuminated WB logo provides one last photo opportunity before you plunge into the park proper. To the left and right of the logo are portals into Warner Bros. Plaza, which serves as the the park’s central hub. Once in the plaza, you’ll find gateways leading into Metropolis and Gotham City, the two DC Comics-themed lands, on the left. To the right are the cartoon-based Bedrock, Dynamite Gulch, and Cartoon Junction areas.

Finally, a new Harry Potter expansion has been announced, which will open in 2025 behind the current DC lands. The new area will feature environments and characters familiar from the Wizarding World books and films, but will not reproduce any of the rides currently found at Universal’s theme parks.

Warner Bros. Plaza

The central hub of Warner Bros. World will look familiar to anyone who has visited the vintage Hollywood Boulevards recreated in Disney’s and Universal’s theme parks, with several iconic Los Angeles landmarks reproduced around a central square.

Only here, the artificial sky overhead is always picture-perfect, with no pesky thunderstorms.

At one end of the plaza is The Starlight, the park’s signature full-service restaurant with tableside character greetings.

The other end of the space is dominated by a large multi-level stage where the Warner Bros. Cinema Spectacular is presented several times daily. Costumed cartoon and superhero characters are joined by a talented troupe of dancers in a tribute to classic Warner Bros movie moments. Impressive projection mapping effects substitute for fireworks lighting up the artificial sky in the finale to the surprisingly substantial production.

Stick around afterwards for photo ops with the cast.

Warner Bros. World recently updated their stage show, but check out the final performance of their “Warner Bros. 100th Celebration” in this video:

Warner Bros. Plaza is also home to multiple souvenir stores which mostly stock generic WB and DC merchandise, with few items specifically branded to the park. There are several quick-service restaurants as well, including a Beverly Hills Boulangerie coffeehouse, as well as the Hollywood Trattoria.

A word to the wise about dining in the Abu Dhabi parks: Asian and Middle Eastern entrees are often excellent, but hamburgers and pizza might not have the same taste and texture you’d expect back home.

Metropolis

The first major themed land guest enter when touring Warner Bros. World clockwise is Metropolis, the adopted home of Superman.

This compact but richly detailed city block contains three of the park’s most ambitious virtual reality attractions, along with a wealth of visual detail, from the shop windows crammed with easter egg references to comics lore, to the forced-perspective skyscrapers looming in the distance.

Step aside Six Flags, because this is undoubtedly the most immersive version of the DC Universe that has ever been realized inside any theme park.

Unfortunately, due to technical glitches, the headliners in Metropolis don’t always live up to their potential, but they’re all still not-to-be-missed.

Superman 360: Battle For Metropolis

(51″ min. height unaccompanied)

Step inside the television studios of the Daily Planet, where ace reporters Clark Kent and Lois Lane are broadcasting breaking news about evil Braniac’s unexpected assault on the city. Using an illusion reminiscent of Universal’s now-closed Poseidon’s Fury, the walls and ceiling are suddenly ripped away, revealing a circular 3-D screen that wraps entirely around the standing-room-only audience. Supes gives an extended smackdown to the bad guy — who shrinks the city down to the size of a paperweight — and saves the guests from certain doom.

This attraction gets off to a solid start, but the story is simplistic, the CGI visuals are stiffly animated, and the floor’s incessant vibration becomes tiring. Worst of all, while 3-D is difficult enough to pull off on a wrap-around surface when everything is working perfectly, multiple malfunctioning projectors made this experience migraine-inducing. Even if it was in perfect operating order, it would still be the least impressive of Metropolis’ attractions, and it’s a shame that it’s positioned to be the first ride many visitors encounter upon entering.

Justice League: Warworld Attacks

(43″ min. height; 51″ min. unaccompanied)

The imposing façade of the Hall of Justice welcomes guests to a spectacular 3-D dark ride (in the mold of Spider-Man or Transformers) that stars all the members of the Justice League. Batman and Superman, along with Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, and Cyborg, recruit riders to help battle Mongol and his marauding minions.

The plot is a bit muddled, and there are no animatronic or pyrotechnic effects, but the ride boasts large, detailed physical sets and (for the most part) sharp stereoscopic screens. It doesn’t quite reach the heights of its predecessors, but it is easily the best ride of this type outside Universal since Busch Garden’s Curse of DarKastle closed.

Green Lantern: Galactic Odyssey

(43″ min. height; 51″ min. unaccompanied)

A celestial observatory is the setting for this large-screen 4-D flight simulator. Hal Jordan is guiding guests on a gentle tour of the universe, when he and his fellow members of the Green Lantern Corps engage in a cosmic conflict with Sinestro, and only the strength of your willpower can turn the tide of battle.

The setup — with a giant curved screen and hang glider-style seats — will be familiar if you’ve experienced Disney’s Soarin’. But Green Lantern’s version (built by Brogent Technologies) adds 3-D visuals and more dynamic movement to enhance the immersion, while minimizing the distracting dangling feet and screen distortion. And although the plot isn’t complex, it’s refreshing to see a flying theater that isn’t simply a scenic travelogue.

Teen Titans Training Academy

(48″ min. height; 51″ min. for zipline)

Finally, if you have tweens, this might be the park’s top attraction, with its towering tangle of rope climbs, obstacle courses, and a zippy zipline that takes roller coaster-style curves and dips. Be sure to bring closed-toed shoes if you want to join in the fun.

Shops in Metropolis include Front Page Photos, where you can get a customized copy of the Daily Planet; and Park Ridge Market, offering personalized capes and caps. Big Belly Burger is the big quick-service restaurant, while Ace O’ Clubs has international sit-down dining.

Gotham City

Perhaps the most atmospheric of Warner Bros. World’s lands, Gotham City vividly brings to life the gritty neo-noir of the Dark Knight.

Be sure to explore the shadowy alleyways, where you may stuble across Harley Quinn, Catwoman, or another member of Batman’s rogues gallery.

The star of the show here is a cutting-edge adventure, but don’t overlook the trio of carnival attractions that have been plussed with the E-Ticket treatment.

Batman: Knight Flight

( 47″ min. height; 51″ min. unaccompanied; 79″ max. height)

A technology tour of Wayne Enterprises turns thrilling when you elevator detours to the Batcave, where you strap into an experimental four-seater jetpack for a nighttime patrol alongside Batman himself.

Using the next generation of the the KUKA robot arm ride vehicles found in Universal’s Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride, Knight Flight moves passengers through large sets depicting the rooftops of Gotham, a greenhouse infested by Poison Ivy’s man-eating plants, and a factory being sabotaged by the infamous Joker. Between physical scenes, the vehicles park in front of screens that simulate soaring between the city’s skyscrapers.

Knight Flight’s handful of minimally-moving animatronics are quite effective, and it had the potential to dethrone Forbidden Journey as one of the world’s top dark rides. But despite a pitch-perfect script and excellent voice acting, the attraction is undermined by CGI models reminiscent of an aging videogame, and awkward transitions in and out of the screen segments. It also has extremely mild movement, barely taking advantage of the unique sensations the ride system can generate. (On the plus side, it’s far less nauseating than Potter’s ride.)

The Joker Funhouse

(42″ min. height; 47″ min. unaccompanied)

A creepy preshow hosted by the Clown Prince of Crime leads into an elaborate series of walkthrough environments mastermind by Batman’s maddest villains. The mirror maze that kicks things off may just drive you batty (beg an employee for mercy if you get lost), while subsequent sections flipping gravity on its head, or shocking with flashing images.

A final upstairs area (47″ min. height) with a ladder and slides has been closed for safety reasons. It’s unusual to find an attraction like this inside a modern theme park, and the blacklight scenic artistry alone makes it worth a look.

Scarecrow Scare Raid

(47″ min. height)

This is a standard Zamperla Super Air Race flat ride themed to Gotham’s sack-faced phobia-meister. Iron-stomached riders can control the acrobatic upside-down barrel rolls their twin-seater jets perform while spinning around a central tower. Air sickness bags are not provided.

The Riddler Revolution

(47″ min. height)

Another off-the-shelf Zamperla ride, this time a Disc’O spinning shuttle coaster dedicated to The Riddler. The attraction has been gussied up with a decrepit warehouse queue; and a dynamic package of sound, lighting, and billowing fog that accompanies every launch, making it almost as attractive to watch as it is to ride.

Guests who get hungry in Gotham can get tasty Asian dishes at the cafeteria-style Hall of Doom, or a classic diner sandwich at Gotham City’s Finest. For shopping, the Monarch Theater (where Bruce Wayne’s parents were murdered) is now a strip of villain-centric gift shops; while Park Row Pawn Shop, located at the exit of Knight Flight, displays some trophies from Batman’s storied victories.

Cartoon Junction

Exiting from the gloom of Gotham, guests pass through a brick tunnel into the eyepopping colors of Cartoon Junction, home to a mix of Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera brands. (Look behind you for a clever nod to the “Bat-Man” cartoon with Wile E. Coyote.)

This may look at first glance like a kiddie-focused land, but it’s the largest single section of the park, and home to three of Warner Bros. World’s best rides.

Ani-Mayhem

(35″ min. height; 47″ min. unaccompanied)

Compete to become the ACME Employee of the Month by scanning packages inside surreal scenes straight out of classic Looney Tunes cartoons in this trackless interactive dark ride that’s our pick for the park’s number one attraction.

From the sight gag-stuffed queue through ACME’s offices, to the responsive gameplay across rich physical sets and flawless 3-D screens, this ride is even more engaging that Toy Story Mania, Buzz Lightyear, Villain-Con Minion Blast, or any of the many shooter rides that have come before it. Best of all, the vocal performances and CGI animation perfectly captures the spirit of these beloved characters. This is one you’ll want to ride more than once!

Watch our POV video of the full Ani-Mayhem attraction below:

Tom and Jerry Swiss Cheese Spin

(43″ min. height; 51″ min. unaccompanied)

Perhaps the biggest surprise at Warner Bros. World, this modest Zamperla family spinning coaster punches way above its weight, with unexpected dips and drops in the darkness that make this feel like a junior version of Epcot’s Cosmic Rewind. The props and lighting effects along the track are basic yet effective, and the detailed queue through Jerry mouse-sized home is a delight. Be warned that the lines move slowly here, leading to one of the park’s longest waits.

Scooby-Doo The Museum of Mysteries

(35″ min. height; 47″ min. unaccompanied)

Coming a close second to Ani-Mayhem as our favorite ride at Warner Bros World, this trackless dark ride perfectly encapsulates the vintage cartoon adventures of Scooby-Doo and his gang. Mini Mystery Machines take guests through a “haunted” museum in order to unmask the humbug, dodging various ghosts and gholies along the way.

Much like Pooh’s Hunny Hunt in Tokyo or Hong Kong’s Mystic Manor, Scooby-Doo leverages the trackless technology to let each vehicle experience different creepy close encounter; a section recreating the series’ iconic hallway chases is especially enjoyable. The ride’s mostly-static figures barely qualify as animatronic, but their stiff movement is in perfect keeping with their barely-animated origins, and the physical effects are smartly enhanced with video projection trickery.

Watch our POV video of the full Scooby-Doo Museum of Mysteries attraction below:

Beyond those major attractions, you’ll also find the charming Cartoon Junction Carousel (32″ min. height; 43″ min. unaccompanied); as well as the ACME Factory (43″ min height; 55″ min. unaccompanied), a vast multilevel playground with net climbs and tunnels to explore. There’s a special section for little ones under 43″, plus three starter thrill rides geared to young ones: Daffy’s Jet-Propelled Pogo Stick bouncing tower; Tweety Wild Wockets spinning ride; and Ricochet Racin’ with Taz car whip ride.

ACME Commissary, the area’s main dining hall, has everything handheld, from flatbread and hot dogs to empanada and shawarma. There’s also a Cartoon Junction Food Fair of walk-up snack stands, and more sweets inside the ACME Company Store. Unfortunately, Bistro Le Pew (open seasonally) doesn’t serve fine French fare, but is a special event space for birthdays and kids’ activities. Before leaving, secure your looney souvenirs at the vast C. J. Mercantile store, get a rabbit ear hat at Hare Salon, or 3-D print personalized candy at Daffy’s Snacks.

Dynamite Gulch

Juxtaposing the rugged rock canyons of the Road Runner cartoons, with the mid-century sci-fi stylings of the Jetsons and Mavin the Marvin the Martian, Dynamite Gulch is a bit of a thematic hodgepodge. It might not be as aesthetically cohesive as the park’s other lands, and it can’t even lay claim to a direct pathway back to the central hub. But this cul de sac does have one quality coaster in its corner.

Fast and Furry-ous

(43″ min. height; 51″ min. unaccompanied; 77″ max. height)

On paper, this Intamin suspended family coaster doesn’t sound like much, with a maximum height under 60 feet, and a top speed just under 30 miles per hour. But (much like Tom and Jerry around the corner), this ride’s first drop in the dark packs an unanticipated punch, and you get some fantastic “feet-chopper” close calls as the dangling cars spiral around stone pillars. With almost 1,300 feet of track, it’s about on par with similar coasters from competing manufacturers, but feels more comfortable, making you wish it would last longer.

The Jetsons Cosmic Orbiter

(35″ min. height; 47″ min. unaccompanied)

This is the park’s obligatory Dumb-style spinning ride, with ride vehicles inspired by those piloted by George and Jane Jetson.

Marvin the Martian Crate Crashers

(41″ min. height; 51″ min. unaccompanied; 79″ max. height).

Bumper cars were once ubiquitous, but are increasingly rare in parks; this one might inspire riders to blow up the Earth, lest it block their view of Venus.

Dining and retail are limited in this undersized land. Yosemite Sam’s Rootin’ Tootin’ Gas looks like a service station, but specializes in plush toys and pan-your-own gemstones. Granny’s Chuck Wagon offers non-alcoholic pick-me-up beverages.

Bedrock

The prehistoric hometown of Fred and Wilma Flintstone forms the final, and smallest, land inside Warner Bros. World. It only contains one attraction (which was closed for refurbishment during our visit) along of a shop and two eateries.

The Flintstones Bedrock River Adventure

(41″ min. height; 51″)

Sail back to the Stone Age with Fred, Barney Rubble, and all their friends in this relative rarity, a fully-indoor log flume. The scenery and effects aren’t as sophisticated as Disney’s now-closed Splash Mountain, but there’s a unique moment with a screen and turntable.

The decor is far more fleshed out here than in Universal’s Ripsaw Falls ride, and although there’s only one mild drop at the end, it generates more than enough splash to satisfy in this air-conditioned atmosphere.

Bedrock Boutique is your best spot for Flintstones fashion and toys. The meats at Bronto Burgers and Ribs are nearly as massive as those in the cartoon’s opening sequence, and Mammoth Munchies sells snacks to satisfy between meals.

Warner Bros. World Tips and Final Thoughts

With over a dozen major attractions — including several that build upon Disney and Universal’s groundbreaking masterpieces — Warner Bros. World is certainly an essential stop for any theme park fan visiting the United Arab Emirates.

Despite being entirely indoors, it does a better job immersing guests in its various themes than many outdoor attractions, and you don’t have to worry about working up a sweat while walking around.

If Warner Bros. World has one fatal flaw, its that the park doesn’t seem able to maintain some of its most high-tech attractions — especially those relying on 3-D projectors — in tip-top condition, turning what should be dazzling displays into double-vision disappointments. (In fairness, Orlando’s parks also feature their fair share of dim and unfocused videos.)

The best news for guests is, like the other Yas Island parks, Warner Bros. World receives relatively small crowds compared to the big American theme parks. As a result, the park can open as late as 11 a.m. or noon (no early morning rope drop required), operating as little as eight hours, and still ably accommodate everyone in attendance.

You can easily see everything in one day by following the following guide to Warner Bros World plan:

• Arrive shortly before opening, and head straight to Cartoon Junction in the back of the park.
• Start with the Tom and Jerry coaster, then knock off the Fast and Furry-ous ride around the corner.
• Work your way back towards DC, hitting the Scooby-Doo and ACME rides along the way.
• Do the slow-loading flat rides and walk-through in Gotham.
• After that, ride Knight Flight and the three 3-D rides in Metropolis
• Taking a break to eat, browse the shops, or greet some characters.
• Head to Bedrock for the River Adventure.
• Work your way counterclockwise around the park a second time, exploring the playgrounds and second-tier attractions.
• Don’t miss the show in the plaza hub before you exit.

Have you already visited Warner Bros. World, or do you have plans to visit Abu Dhabi when the Harry Potter expansion arrives? Let us know in the comments below!