As Florida continues to see record-breaking tourism numbers overall, a new challenge is emerging quietly on the international front—especially for Canadian visitors eyeing a trip to Walt Disney World Resort.
During a recent update from the Orange County Tourist Development Council, representatives from Visit Orlando discussed international travel trends, offering a detailed look into what’s shaping the months ahead. According to Click Orlando’s report, Maria Henson, senior director of market research for Visit Orlando, described the outlook with a telling metaphor: “If you look at my forecast today, it’s mostly sunny with part clouds.”
One of the clouds in that otherwise bright forecast appears to be a noticeable drop in Canadian tourism. “And this is definitely not an ‘If,’” Henson explained. “It’s more of a ‘How much?’”
According to Visit Orlando, travel to the U.S. from abroad has declined by roughly 9%, while Orlando itself is down about 8%. That dip, they say, is strongly tied to Canadian visitors. A follow-up statement to News 6 emphasized, “We have seen a softening in travel demand from Canada, which is expected to continue through the remainder of the year.”
Part of the slowdown may be tied to ongoing construction throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. Several major overhauls are underway, with Magic Kingdom preparing to welcome a Cars-themed land, Disney’s Hollywood Studios gearing up for Monstropolis, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom currently transforming DinoLand U.S.A. into the Tropical Americas.
Some international guests may be wondering whether now is the right time to visit, given the changing landscape.
But the story doesn’t end with theme park expansions. Geopolitical dynamics may also be playing a part. Toronto-based travel agent Deborah Goldberg, who specializes in Disney and Universal vacations for Canadian families through ClickTheMouse Travel, confirmed that travel is down significantly.
“I would say travel is probably down about 30%,” Goldberg noted. “It’s not COVID times for sure. But we’ve seen a decline.” Goldberg also pointed to rising tariffs and political messaging as potential factors. “A lot of this has to do with the tit-for-tat on tariffs between Canada and the United States,” she said.
Some of those concerns have roots in former President Donald Trump’s tariff policies and remarks that rubbed many Canadians the wrong way—including his infamous comment referring to Canada as the “51st U.S. state.”
Despite the decline, Visit Orlando says it is doubling down on international outreach, particularly to Canada. “Nearly half of all Canadian travel to Orlando typically occurs between January and April,” the organization noted. “With that seasonal trend in mind, we are hopeful that a substantial portion of annual Canadian travel has already occurred, even as we anticipate a softer second half of the year.”
Still, domestic travel remains a major stronghold. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently touted record tourism numbers. “Latest data confirms that Florida set a new all-time annual record in 2024 with 143 million visitors—an increase of 1.7% over the previous record set in 2023,” his office announced. That total includes 130.65 million domestic travelers, 8.94 million overseas visitors, and 3.41 million Canadian tourists.
DeSantis’s press release also highlighted a strong start to 2025, stating: “Governor Ron DeSantis also announced that Florida welcomed 41.2 million visitors in the first quarter of 2025, reinforcing the Free State of Florida’s position as the nation’s top travel destination and a global tourism powerhouse.”
As domestic guests continue to keep Orlando’s theme parks humming, the question remains: will international travel—especially from Canada—bounce back in time for the fall and holiday seasons?
Let us know your thoughts—have you noticed a quieter summer season?
