How to visit Abu Dhabi for cheaper than Walt Disney World
As inflation and prices continue to skyrocket in the United States, it may be time to look outside our borders. Abu Dhabi, and their famous YAS Island tourism district, is aiming to be the Orlando of the Middle East. I compared prices, and it really can be cheaper to visit Abu Dhabi than Walt Disney World.
For this comparison, I looked at the months of June, September, October, and December of this year. Beyond these times it is harder to look at Disney rates as policies and offerings are not all posted. For the majority of these times I looked at September and October, which are the months I personally suggest friends and family come to Orlando. The prices mentioned in this article are for two adults and two children.
Walt Disney World sees some of its shortest wait times and most enjoyable weather during the early fall months. This also means lower air fares and better hotel rates. Coincidentally, that’s the same time of year when it’s less expensive to visit Abu Dhabi.
Flights are the hardest sell for Abu Dhabi
I won’t lie to you, a flight from North America to Abu Dhabi is long, with most flights from the East Coast averaging 13 hours. The prices can seem daunting, but when compared to the rest of the trip, these flights may be the only thing standing in your way to a memory-making trip.
I compared flights from New York and Chicago – two of the most populated U.S. cities that are far enough away from Florida to warrant flights, but not close enough to California to justify taking a trip to Disneyland Resort instead.
Flying from New York, New York
The two fares are wildly different, I agree. But you need to level the playing field a bit. The New York to Abu Dhabi flight includes a personal item, a carry on, and stowed luggage. It also includes selecting your seats and three meals in a luxury airliner.
For the New York to Orlando flight to be equivalent, you’d have to jump to the $712 price, and then add $60 per traveler for the checked bag, which brings the prices to $952 versus $3688. Still, the Orlando option is 1/3 of the price, but the flight is the only time the Orlando option will win.
Flying from Chicago, Illinois
The flights’ price range is about the same from Chicago. You will still need to upgrade the Orlando flight and purchase bags. This means the Chicago to Orlando flight is $1,274 versus the $3,579 price to Abu Dhabi. Like the first example, this is the only time the Orlando trip is less expensive.
Just for comparison, Los Angeles, Calif. is $1,512 to Orlando and $3,920 to Abu Dhabi for those same dates. Vancouver, Canada is $1,653 to Orlando and $5,137 to Abu Dhabi. Austin, Tex. to Orlando is $1,386 and $4191 to Abu Dhabi.
Comparing hotels is almost incomparable
After your flights, you will naturally need a place to stay. Walt Disney World offers numerous hotel types, from value to deluxe. Abu Dhabi, even for its value-price hotels, mostly offers mid- or high-end accommodations. For these dates, the absolute cheapest hotel offering at Walt Disney World was still $20 a night more than the ultra-modern 5 star W Abu Dhabi YAS Island hotel located above.
The price difference is obvious, especially when you consider that each of the Abu Dhabi hotels on the right are a minimum 4 star hotel. For transparency, all Walt Disney World Resort hotel options on the left include park tickets, while on the right for Abu Dhabi, only the WB Abu Dhabi Hilton includes park tickets.
Theme Park Tickets
The WB Abu Dhabi Hilton is mere feet from Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi and YAS Waterworld. Both of those parks, as well as Ferrari World and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, are included in the price of the stay.
The Doubletree by Hilton and the W Abu Dhabi YAS Island are a free bus ride away from the four YAS Island parks, as well as YAS Beach and YAS Mall. Neither of these hotels are currently offering ticket packages. But YAS Island theme parks are offering a four park package which totals out to $734.84 for the entire family. Every single park, one park per day, for the entire family, for less than $750 for the trip.
If you would like to include Disney’s waterparks, it will add $276 to your trip. The WB Abu Dhabi Hilton hotel and the YAS Island theme park packages already include the massive YAS Waterworld (which has a roller coaster that flies over and around the park).
Food prices can make or break a trip
The Disney Dining Plan has not yet returned to Walt Disney World, but it does come back January 2024. If you decide to add the Disney Disney Plan to your trip, it will take care of two meals a day, a snack, and a refillable drink mug. To add this plan will cost your family $1,734.
Yes, it is possible to save extra money if you decide to eat at your own budget level. The average Walt Disney World quick service meal currently costs around $14 for adults and $10 for kids. These adult entrees don’t include anything except the entree and a cup of water. The average table service meal costs $38 for adults and $13 for kids. Again, nothing but the entree and water is included in that. When you add in drinks, snacks, appetizers, and desserts, the prices rise up quickly for families.
Affordable Abu Dhabi meal options and packages
In comparison to Disney, YAS Island offers a meal plan of its own. 40 signature table service restaurants at the numerous hotels and parks around YAS Island. This plan includes a full service lunch and dinner (appetizers, entrees, desserts, and non-alcoholic drinks) for $49 a day for adults or $24.50 for kids.
If you stay at the WB Abu Dhabi Hilton, your breakfast buffet and dinner are already included in the price. Or, the W Abu Dhabi YAS Island hotel offers signature drink and club packages, like an all-you-can-drink pool party for $54.
Pay less and explore the world
The math is clear. Families going to Walt Disney World this year are theoretically spending more to visit Orlando than they would pay to go halfway around the world and visit Abu Dhabi. This definitely isn’t a drag on Disney. I am a Walt Disney World annual passholder who visits frequently, but I do want to open people’s eyes as my eyes were recently opened when I visited Abu Dhabi myself.
To compare dollar to dollar, a family of four from the New York area could visit Abu Dhabi for $6,065 with three meals a day, a five star hotel, and access to all of YAS Island’s parks. That same family could go to Walt Disney World for $7,009 to stay at Disney’s lowest-end hotel (All Star Movies) with two meals a day, a snack, and access to all of Walt Disney World’s parks. If that family wanted comparable hotel accommodations their price would jump to $10,604.
No matter which way I twisted, turned, or budgeted, I could not get a trip (during those previously-mentioned months) to Walt Disney World to cost less than a trip to Abu Dhabi for comparable tickets, dining, and hotel options.
Visiting a foreign country can certainly be stressful for families. Customs, strange laws, and language barriers can be a deterrent. While I cannot vouch for every city, or every experience, I will say that traveling to Abu Dhabi is not hard.
Customs took me less than 15 minutes and the English language was always offered. YAS Island provides free transportation to most hotels, and taxis are cheap – the city also has Uber. The city is meticulously clean and famously safe. The hotel I stayed at, W Abu Dhabi YAS Island, offered local and American-style meals and room amenities. The YAS Island parks are impressive, with the new SeaWorld Abu Dhabi being the most incredible marine park in the world.
If you are curious about the clothing requirements and customs of the U.A.E., read the article below where we talk about how many of those online warning sites are overblown. Yes, woman can bring bikinis, no young girls don’t have to wear face coverings to be out in public. Yes, a t-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops are acceptable in most tourist areas.
What about wait times for attractions?