Ferrari World Abu Dhabi: World's biggest and fastest theme park

[LeMansX5]

On the day of the first Abu Dhubai Formula 1 Grand Prix, we take a look at the progress of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the first-ever Ferrari theme park and the biggest indoor theme park in the world.

Ferrari World is under construction on Yas Island, the 2,500 hectare development that is also the site of the Yas Marina circuit where today's race takes place. Attractions will include the world's fastest rollercoaster, and dual rollercoasters that allow visitors to race each other. A 200ft tower will fire visitors high into the air to simulate F1-level G-forces.

The theme park looks to us like a giant Ferrari spaceship descending on the landscape. A bit like District 9, only instead of garbage-eating prawn-like aliens with energy weapons, it'll be full of garbage-spouting middle-aged men with ponytails and driving gloves. Possibly.

Ferrari World is set to open in 2010, but in the meantime the Italian team isn't having much luck in Abu Dhabi: Kimi Raikkonen and Giancarlo Fisichella qualified in a lowly 11th and 20th. It's been a better year for us Brits: Jenson Button has already clinched the World Championship, while Lewis Hamilton is in pole position for today's race, the final race of the season. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Yas Island | Ferrari World

[m5james]

How awesome is that. The shape reminds me of a manta ray.

[Major04]

That is sooo wrong but, sooo right! Glad that someone has the vision and money to build a dream. I want to go when they finish building it. All I can say is Dayyyummmmmmm!!!!

[LeMansX5]

Ferrari World opening day pics and video ...from Autoblog


























You may never get the chance to strap yourself behind the wheel of a real live Formula 1 racing car festooned with all manner of Prancing Horses. We feel your pain, but perhaps the next best thing would be a trip to Ferrari World, which just opened its doors to paying guests in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

If you're thinking that no theme park could possibly give you the kinds of thrills you'd get behind the wheel of the real thing, well, you might be right. That said, no street car ever produced in Maranello is capable of accelerating to 60 miles per hour in about two seconds flat, which is exactly what the roller coaster Formula Rossa puts its passengers through on its way to a 150-mile per hour top speed. That equals 1.7 Gs of acceleration force, by the way.

The exterior of the park is modeled after the side profile of a Ferrari GT, and the roof has a total surface area of 200,000 square meters (2,200,000 sq ft) with a perimeter of 2,200 meters (7,200 ft). One-hundred-sixty feet below that roof, which is festooned with the largest Prancing Horse ever created (see above), sits 86,000 square meters (930,000 sq ft) of floor space. That makes Ferrari World the largest indoor theme park on the planet.

Naturally, there will be other attractions for those looking for slightly less thrilling kinds of fun, including a plethora of movies (some in 3D), and a ride that takes you through the inner workings of a V12 engine. You can also drive a Ferrari 250 California Spyder though an exhibit that shows you the best that Italy has to offer while you let the kiddies have their kicks learning how to drive Junior Grand Prix race cars.

Finally, what Ferrari theme park would be complete without bevy of places to buy your officially licensed gear? Not to mention a slew of fine dining locales with which to fill your gullet? The price to get in is just 225 AED, a little over $60 U.S.

[m5james]

It's confirmed that I'll be going there come this January...GF has been there for the past 4 months and is there until the end of 2011 with her company helping with the engineering work with the place. It looks so bad ass.

[Weasel]

I WANNA RIDE!!!

LiveLeak.com - It Doesn?t Get Much Faster Than A Ferrari Roller Coaster

[nom3rcy]

That place looks awesome!

[rooroo]

I have always been a McLaren fan, but Ferrari just gained some points in my book.

[J.Belknap]

Originally Posted by m5james

It's confirmed that I'll be going there come this January...GF has been there for the past 4 months and is there until the end of 2011 with her company helping with the engineering work with the place. It looks so bad ass.

Sick.

When you return.... pics, please.

[m5james]

I'll do even better and post pics while I'm there! I'm definately looking forward to going. Funny enough, tickets to go there aren't much more than what it cost me to fly back and forth from the east coast to the west coast when I was still in the military.