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Credit: Inside the MagicThe Florida Legislature is back in session. That means new laws that could directly impact your next Walt Disney World Resort or Universal Orlando Resort vacation.
The Legislature is already considering a bill directly impacting Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It is considering stripping local ordinances that ban single-use plastics, including straws. That would remove Animal Kingdom’s ban on items like straws and balloons.
One of the main items on the Legislature’s agenda is taxes in the state. It is currently considering several different proposals that would lower everything from property to sales taxes in Florida.
Earlier this year, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis endorsed a proposal to eliminate property taxes in the state. On Disney World’s four theme parks, Disney pays nearly $60 million in property taxes to Orange and Osceola Counties.
Disney World also pays millions in property taxes on its hotels, restaurants, and water parks, with the Beach and Yacht Club Hotels costing Disney the most at nearly $10 million.
House Speaker Daniel Perez proposed lowering the state sales tax from six percent to 5.25 percent this week. He estimates that it would save Florida taxpayers billions every year.
However, this begs the question of how the state will make up for that lost revenue. DeSantis has a plan for that, too. This week, he endorsed taxing tourists who visit the state.
DeSantis said:
Tax the tourists. Tax some of the foreigners. You have the ability in some of those areas that draw a lot of people to shift the tax burden away from your own people to people that are not residents of Florida.
I think that would be a better tax system than constantly having people pay higher property taxes.
According to the Governor’s office, Florida saw 142.9 million visitors in 2024, the most ever. All those visitors paid some sort of tax to the state, including sales tax on trips and tourist taxes in most counties. In Orange County, the tourist tax is six percent.
A new tourist tax would add to an already expensive Disney World and could cost those out-of-town visitors hundreds more per visit. So far, this is just a proposal, but those visiting the state won’t get a vote when the Florida Legislature decides this issue.