In exactly twenty years, a rare astronomical sight will transform the skies over Walt Disney World Resort. On August 12, 2045, a total solar eclipse will pass directly over Central Florida, casting the area in darkness for six minutes.
This event is part of a sweeping path of totality identified in a 2024 Fox 13 Seattle report, which noted it would pass over cities including Reno, Salt Lake City, Colorado Springs, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Tampa, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Nassau, Santo Domingo, Belém, São Luís, and Recife.
National Eclipse (@NationalEclipse) even posted the projected path on X (formerly Twitter), playfully asking, “What will a ticket to @WaltDisneyWorld cost on August 12, 2045, when a six-minute total solar eclipse crosses directly over the park?”
For Florida, Click Orlando outlined the specific durations for counties under the eclipse’s shadow:
- Kissimmee, Celebration, Poinciana, Groveland, Clermont: Greater than 6 minutes
- Orlando, Apopka, The Villages: Nearly 6 minutes
- Ocala: Around 5 minutes 40 seconds
- Titusville: Around 4 minutes 30 seconds
- Daytona Beach: Around 2 minutes 30 seconds
NASA describes a total solar eclipse as the Moon passing between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the Sun’s face and darkening the sky as if at dawn or dusk. Florida had a preview of the excitement on April 8, 2024, when a similar event crossed Mexico, the United States, and Canada—coinciding with Spring Break at the resort, which saw a record 7.6 million travelers through Orlando International Airport. That surge brought extended attraction waits, limited park availability, and higher Lightning Lane pricing.
While the eclipse is still decades away, Walt Disney World Resort is already in a period of transformation. Over the next ten years, Disney Experiences will invest heavily in its parks worldwide. CEO Bob Iger has announced a $60 billion expansion plan, with $30 billion directed toward theme parks and resorts. New additions include Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea, World of Frozen at Disneyland Paris, and fresh experiences based on Encanto, Cars, and Indiana Jones at Walt Disney World. At Disneyland Resort, Avengers Campus will double in size alongside other developments.
These expansions come amid steady price increases for admission, food, beverages, merchandise, and accommodations. Yet, attendance remains strong, with Lightning Lane reservations continuing to sell out.
The combination of the 2045 eclipse and the decade of ongoing investment will make for a historic period at the resort—one moment drawing eyes to the skies, the other reshaping the guest experience on the ground.
