What if the most exciting news about Walt Disney World Resort’s future wasn’t announced with fanfare, fireworks, or even a blog post—but hidden inside a dense 600-page government document?
As Universal Orlando makes headlines with the launch of Epic Universe, fans of Walt Disney World have grown curious—if not impatient—about Disney’s next big move. The company has been making small updates, teasing new lands, and investing in its resorts, but when will it unveil something truly groundbreaking?
Well, thanks to a newly released report from the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD), we may finally have our answer. But you’ll need to flip to page 202 to see it.
Walt Disney World Resort’s Next 20 Years… Revealed?
The “Comprehensive Plan 2045,” released by CFTOD, outlines a long-range development strategy for the entire Walt Disney World area—including Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista. While most of the document discusses zoning, infrastructure, and land conservation, one specific detail stands out:
A provision for the development of a “new major theme park and/or expansion” after the year 2035, plus two additional minor theme park projects.
No announcement. No press release. Just a quiet line in an official government planning report.
Why does this matter? Because these plans aren’t speculative—they’ve been approved. That means Disney has been granted the green light for some of its most ambitious property-wide expansions in decades.
More Than Just a Park: Billions in New Development
Alongside the mention of a future park, the report outlines a staggering level of development. Here are a few key highlights that paint a picture of what’s coming:
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$17 billion in planned investment from Disney over the next 15 years
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A minimum of $8 billion to be spent within the next 10 years
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Up to 2,168 acres approved for new construction
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7,748 hotel rooms (or “keys”) approved for development
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Anticipated daily attendance growth to between 335,000–475,000 guests by 2045
The combination of land development and infrastructure preparation suggests that something much bigger is coming than just new resort hotels or ride updates.
A Calculated Response to Growing Competition
The timing of this report aligns with Universal’s growing dominance in the Orlando market. Epic Universe, which boasts cutting-edge attractions and entire lands based on How to Train Your Dragon, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, is expected to dramatically increase Central Florida’s tourism draw.
For Disney, this new report doesn’t just signal growth—it signals strategy. A fifth park could serve as the company’s long-term answer to Universal’s latest power play.
And while nothing has been confirmed by Disney itself, the quiet approval of park-sized development zones is perhaps the most revealing move we’ve seen in years.
So… What Could the Fifth Park Be?
While details are scarce and Disney has not revealed any official concepts, the company has teased ideas for new themed lands across its existing parks. Speculative rumors have swirled about lands based on Disney villains, Coco, Encanto, Zootopia, and Monsters, Inc.
But if Disney truly builds a fifth park, it may represent a creative pivot—perhaps focusing on new technologies, storytelling methods, or even untapped franchises that haven’t yet been seen in park form.
Disney World Expansion: A Quiet Spark With Loud Implications
It’s not often that theme park history is teased through a government planning document, but in this case, the writing is quite literally on the page. The 2045 plan doesn’t just hint at expansion—it outlines the future Disney is preparing for, one filled with more guests, more resorts, and perhaps, finally, a fifth gate.
Now all that remains is the waiting game—and the wonder of what Disney might imagine next.
