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Credit: rickpilot_2000, FlickrA new Walt Disney World theme park may be closer than you think.
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According to a new Comprehensive Plan 2045 from the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD), a fifth theme park is still in the cards for the Walt Disney World Resort. The CFTOD explicitly reserved development capacity for a “major theme park” and two “minor theme parks” to be built over the next few decades.
The new “major” theme park is defined as being on the same scale as Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and is projected to take up between 400 and 550 acres of land. The two small parks would take up an estimated 147 acres. This is an interesting distinction, as the only “minor” parks offered at Walt Disney World are water parks.
Walt Disney World has not confirmed a fifth Florida theme park, but these plans allow Disney and the State of Florida to construct new developments.
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Speculation about a potential fifth Disney World theme park has been rampant practically since the resort’s fourth theme park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, opened back in 1998. All four of Disney’s Florida theme parks opened within a span of 27 years, and it’s now been almost just as long since Animal Kingdom opened.
There’s certainly room for debate about whether Walt Disney World actually needs another park. The resort itself is already massive, featuring far more than roller coasters and classic dark rides.
During their Disney World vacation, guests can also try their hand at mini golf and do some serious shopping and dining at Disney Springs.
Those hoping to catch a break from the harsh heat and humidity can stop by Disney World’s two water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, both of which offer their own sets of rides, attractions, and eateries.
Guests have seen major expansions open in the last decade, such as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Pandora – The World of Avatar, as well as new rides like TRON Lightcycle / Run and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, just to name a few.
Plenty more expansions are on the way, though now may be the time for a new fifth gate to open. Many have seen Epic Universe, Universal Orlando Resort’s new theme park, as major competition for Disney. This competition may inspire Disney to expand its own theme park offerings, not just to compete but to modernize and stay up to date with its biggest competitor in the state.
Disney already plans to develop a brand-new theme park in Abu Dhabi.
The new CFTOD plan replaces the one from 2020, which also allowed for a new park. Interestingly, the new plan also states that most Disney World theme parks already have room to expand. The plan reveals enough land remains unused to allow for a fifth gate without significant changes to the resort’s infrastructure.
Do you want to see another theme park open at Walt Disney World?