Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
Disney World is expected to see a huge increase in attendance.
Credit: Paul Beattie, Flickr
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The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) recently released an updated plan for the Walt Disney World Resort that includes a new fifth large theme park, sparking speculation and rumors from fans and the industry alike. Florida’s new state plan allocates room and resources for a new fifth gate and allows two smaller parks to be built if Disney follows this path.
As a result, Florida projects Disney World attendance to almost double over the next two decades.
By 20245, Disney World will welcome 99.3 million visitors a year, a huge leap compared to the 51.2 million that traveled to Disney World in 2023.
Credit: Inside The Magic
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It’s been 27 years since Disney’s most recent park, Animal Kingdom, opened in Florida. While some may point toward Universal’s shiny new Epic Universe as the driving force behind the plan, rumors about a potential fifth Disney Florida park have been swirling for decades.
According to the CFTOD, Disney World is projected to add a minor theme park to its footprint by 2030 and a second by 2035. The resort is projected to add a major theme park by 2045. This major theme park would be on the same scale as Disney World’s four other parks.
The CFTOD expects attendance to grow across the board for all four Disney World theme parks, though this may not be what everyone wants. Wait times are notoriously long for some of Disney World’s most popular rides and attractions, especially new roller coasters like TRON Lightcycle / Run and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
The resort is set to welcome Test Track back this summer following the thrill ride’s year-long revamp. The attraction will likely become one of the hottest attractions at the resort, meaning increased wait times.
Guests also wait dozens of minutes for other experiences like princess meet and greets, as well as select shows. Dining has also become an increasingly popular and time-consuming activity, though reservations can be made in advance.
Some guests may be choosing to put their Disney World vacations on hold for them being due to how much construction the resort will see in the next few years. Disney has already begun working on replacing DinoLand U.S.A. at Animal Kingdom, though lengthy construction projects will also take hold of Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom.
An unprecedented number of attractions are set to close between 2024 and 2025. Several fan-favorite attractions, such as Muppet*Vision 3D and It’s Tough to be a Bug, permanently closed earlier this year. Others, like Tom Sawyer Island and Rock’n’ Roller Coaster, will shut down over the coming months.
Regardless of what happens at Walt Disney World, it’s safe to say there’s never been a time like the present.
Will you be visiting Walt Disney World soon?
