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Credit: Inside the MagicIs Disney World dealing with the global Trump fallout?
While domestic tourism to Orlando continues to hold strong, international visitors, especially those from Canada, are a different story.
During a recent meeting with the Orange County Tourist Development Council, representatives from Visit Orlando offered insight into the current state of the travel and tourism industry, per Click Orlando’s report.
“If you look at my forecast today, it’s mostly sunny with part clouds,” said Maria Henson, senior director of market research for Visit Orlando, offering a metaphor that neatly captures the mixed outlook ahead for Central Florida’s tourism industry.
The downturn of travel to Orlando, specifically related to the Walt Disney World theme parks, can be attributed partly to Disney Experiences’ major overhaul projects happening across the resort. Some potential international guests are even questioning when the best time to go to the parks is due to this heightened amount of construction.
The biggest changes are being made to Magic Kingdom, where a Cars-themed area is about to be constructed, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which will see Monstropolis make its theme park debut, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which is retheming DinoLand U.S.A. to the Tropical Americas.
But many travellers may be cancelling their vacations seemingly for political reasons.
Are Canadians opting out of U.S. vacations?
Visit Orlando’s presentation confirmed what many travel insiders have been observing for months: international travel to the U.S. has dropped by about nine percent, and Orlando itself has seen an eight percent decline. According to Henson, a major part of that dip is tied directly to Canadian travelers. “And this is definitely not an ‘If,’” she said. “It’s more of a ‘How much?’”
In a follow-up statement to News 6, Visit Orlando explained, “We have seen a softening in travel demand from Canada, which is expected to continue through the remainder of the year.” The organization also emphasized that it’s still early to measure how big the decline will be in Q2 and Q3, but they offered some important context to consider.
“Nearly half of all Canadian travel to Orlando typically occurs between January and April,” the statement continued. “With that seasonal trend in mind, we are hopeful that a substantial portion of annual Canadian travel has already occurred, even as we anticipate a softer second half of the year.”
Despite the downturn, Visit Orlando says it remains fully committed to supporting international markets—especially Canada—through its ongoing marketing efforts.
From the other side of the border, Click Orlando reports that Toronto-based travel agent Deborah Goldberg offered her own take on the slowdown. Specializing in Disney and Universal vacation packages for Canadian families through ClickTheMouse Travel, Goldberg confirmed what the data is showing: “I would say travel is probably down about 30%,” she explained. “It’s not COVID times for sure. But we’ve seen a decline.”
Goldberg also pointed to factors beyond just seasonal patterns or shifting preferences. She noted that the decline could be tied to rising geopolitical tensions, saying, “A lot of this has to do with the tit-for-tat on tariffs between Canada and the United States.”
President Donald Trump’s tariffs and subsequent political comments–such as referring to Canada as the 51st U.S. state–have become a cause for concern with many international markets, but none so much as Canada.
That said, only last month did Florida Governor Ron DeSantis express excitement about the Sunshine State’s tourism.
“Latest data confirms that Florida set a new all-time annual record in 2024 with 143 million visitors—an increase of 1.7% over the previous record set in 2023. This historic growth includes 130.65 million domestic travelers, 8.94 million overseas visitors, and 3.41 million Canadian tourists. And, in 2024, the State of Florida collected billions in sales tax revenue from these tourists.”
The press release from the DeSantis office added: “…Governor Ron DeSantis also announced that Florida welcomed 41.2 million visitors in the first quarter of 2025, reinforcing the Free State of Florida’s position as the nation’s top travel destination and a global tourism powerhouse.”
For now, theme parks like Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort may continue to rely heavily on domestic travelers to fill hotel rooms and park turnstiles. But if all goes according to forecast, there may be brighter skies ahead—especially if that Canadian crowd makes its long-anticipated return.
Have you noticed a quieter summer season? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!