Originally Posted By Nobody ... here are some artist renderings of a new fountain project for downtown Burj, Dubai. "The fountains, which has yet to be named, will be capable of shooting water over 150 metres into the air - the height of a 50-storey building - and stretch over 275 metres - the length of two football fields." "The fountains will shoot 22,000 gallons of water in the air at any given moment and feature over 6,600 lights and 50 color projectors. The structure is due for completion in 2009..." <a href="http://tinyurl.com/5p46ec" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/5p46ec</a> ;-)
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt I wonder how much noise the pumps make that shoot the water into the air. It can't be quiet, that's for sure.
Originally Posted By dshyates That show looks like a giant version of the Bohemian Rhapsody nightime Spectacular at the new Hard Rock Park. There are several crappy versions for view on the YouTubes.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <Bohemian Rhapsody nightime Spectacular> You're making that up! LOL!
Originally Posted By Westsider The Baloo family should use some caution before booking that hotel and reserving the window seat for the 16 hour flight on Emirates Airlines. 95% of these "amazing" announcements about tourist facilities going up in Dubai are just that; pretty computer generated pictures on a website. Most of this tourist stuff isn't actually getting built, and the stuff that does is dramatically less glamorous than the sketches on the website made it seem. The weather, civic infrastructure, airline costs and rigid caste system in place there also can put a damper on the average family vacation to Dubailand. Perhaps in 10 years it will be different, and there will actually be a couple of theme parks there worth visiting. Until then, you can postpone your enrollment in the Emirates Airlines frequent flyer club.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "The weather, civic infrastructure, airline costs and rigid caste system in place there also can put a damper on the average family vacation to Dubailand." I was thinking the same thing. I've talked to several people who've been and while the construction is amazing to see, the country and the societal rules are less than amazing.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo We fad a fantastic time at Dubai in 2003, one of our best vacations ever. I am aware that some of the projects have fallen short, but at least they are announcing cool things (and still following through with a lot of it). whereas they are masacuring Vegas and WDW - well I will not voice my disappointment again ad nausium. Dubai is only 8 hours from us, Vegas is 11. Airfare is slightly cheaper to UAE too.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt ^^Thanks. I'd be very interested to visit Dubai, but I'm hesitant because it just seems like one big construction zone. If I'm going half way around the world I'd prefer Thailand or maybe Argentina. I agree with you about Vegas. I have no interest in ever going to Vegas again for vacation after my last trip in February.
Originally Posted By Westsider davewasbaloo, I take it you do not live in North America. I had just assumed you were somewhere close to Disneyland. The flight may be cheaper for you. But the activities and environments the average middle class family would encounter in Dubailand on a weeks vacation still seems to limit the vast majority of us from wanting to go. The websites are fun to look at though.
Originally Posted By oc_dean If you look at the curly fountains on the lower left side of the artist rendering ... that's exactly the kind of fountains used at the new Americana@Brand in Glendale.
Originally Posted By 2001DLFan <<Hans Reinhardt: ^^Thanks. I'd be very interested to visit Dubai, but I'm hesitant because it just seems like one big construction zone. If I'm going half way around the world I'd prefer Thailand or maybe Argentina. >> Vegas is ALSO like one big construction zone. It pretty much has been since the early 90’s. But, the constant new attractions often make the visit worthwhile. Just like Disneyland in it’s first couple of decades (though most of the construction was in the off season). Always something new and exciting to see.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>davewasbaloo, I take it you do not live in North America. I had just assumed you were somewhere close to Disneyland. The flight may be cheaper for you. But the activities and environments the average middle class family would encounter in Dubailand on a weeks vacation still seems to limit the vast majority of us from wanting to go. The websites are fun to look at though.<<< Although I am a native californian, I have lived in the Uk for the last 22 years. When we went to Dubai, it was awesome. Camel riding, off roading in the desert, dune surfing, sailing, golfing, dinner in a solid gold egyptian tomb, skiiing, amazing shopping, restaurants, and hotels with the best service anywhere. The Hard Rock Cafe was like a scaled down version of the New York New York, and the Planet Hollywood nightclub was an awesome fusion of western, african and asian dance music with an international party crew that made It's A Small World homogonous. Wild Wadi is a great water park, almost as good as the WDW offerings. Now add in the tower under construction, the Atlantis resort (nearly done) and the theme parks that have broken ground already, it's pretty awesome.
Originally Posted By Westsider Okay. But honestly, Mr. and Mrs. America simply won't be checking Expedia for tickets on Emirates flights to Dubai any time soon. If ever. The Emirates flight attendants with the Muslim veils over their heads are an interesting touch. There's nothing like setting the sexual politics clock back 150 years on an Airbus A380. But I can see where there could be a limited market for Europeans for Dubai tourism, especially in winter when northern Europe is very cold and gray.
Originally Posted By Westsider <a href="http://emirates.com/us/english/flying/service_finder/service_finder.aspx" target="_blank">http://emirates.com/us/english...der.aspx</a> From "Coffee, tea, or me?" to "Headscarf, Hijab, or Jail?" Point is, a lot of Americans (especially the Moms) would have a very hard time dealing with that type of culture for Super-Fun-Fun-Family-Vacationland time.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Emirates is the most awesome airline I have ever flown with. And Dubai is pretty liberal compared to their neighbours. In my experience, our fellow countrymen are pretty prejudiced. Not all of it is like a cartoon, there are some good business women in Dubai leading the charge. Also, as long as people defend WDW to the hilt (when it is in decline), Dubai is not going to register on their radar. But Dubai is becoming more and more popular with the Europeans (who have contributed greatly to WDW's coffers in the past, but have now switched to Dubai), and the growing wealth in India - it's like someone from Texas going to WDW or DL.
