As Universal Orlando has recently opened a brand-new theme park, Epic Universe, many eyes have turned to Disney to see if they plan to open a fifth theme park to compete.
While Disney World still operates more theme parks than Universal — Disney World has four theme parks and Universal now has three — Disney fans wonder if a fifth theme park could be coming to Disney World anytime soon. A new report provides some more insight into Disney World’s plans!
The 2045 Comprehensive Plan has been updated to meet the state requirements. This plan was presented to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) on May 23rd, 2025, and the Planning Board unanimously voted to approve the plan.
The plan includes a look at future development that might be happening in Disney World by 2045. There is also an increment max of one more major theme park and two minor theme parks. As well as an increment max of around 13,000 new hotel rooms and an increment max of 18 more holes of golf.
While the plan allows for the development of one major and two minor theme parks, there are currently no plans under review. So, while Disney could build a fifth theme park, it will be a bit before that happens if it does. One of the most interesting tidbits we found in the new plan was regarding the theme park population projections for 2035 and 2045.
Based on the projections, it looks like Disney World is expecting potentially two new minor theme parks by 2035 (with one being built by 2030), and a new major theme park by 2045. The new major theme park is expected to have an average population of 50,778 in 2045.
As well as an increase in both hotel rooms and interval ownership units. Currently in 2025, the total overnight guest population sits at 102,183, and by 2045, Disney is projecting the population to increase to 139,461. The overnight guest population is assuming an 85% occupancy rating for the hotels.
Again, Disney has not officially announced any plans for building a fifth theme park, but the plans allow for the construction of a major theme park and two minor theme parks. Disney is projecting there will be theme park population from a new major theme park by 2045, and population for two minor theme parks by 2035.
During the next 20 years, the district’s development is expected to occur in the areas identified as “suitable”. The largest areas of suitable land are “located west of Animal Kingdom, between World Drive and I-4, between Osceola Parkway and US 192, around Lake Mable, north of the Magnolia Golf Course, east of the Magic Kingdom parking lot, and west of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.” There are also other areas throughout the district that are on sites of less than 100 acres.
Development will also encompass areas deemed marginally suitable and marginally unsuitable as long as extensive (and more costly) improvements are made to meet requirements of the District’s Long Terms Permits and Land Development Regulations. Beyond new hotels and theme parks, development plans allow for the construction of office space, retail/restaurant space, and support facilities.
However, while there are approvals for a fair amount of development over the coming years, the plan also stated that it is “unlikely that all of the development allowed for in Table 2-1 will occur, and it is very likely a portion of the development will consist of redevelopment and infill.” Approximately 50 percent of the district, including most of the Reedy Creek flood plain, will remain undeveloped.
There is definitely a lot on the horizon for Disney World already with two expansions planned for Magic Kingdom, Piston Peak National Park and a new Villains Land. As well, as Pueblo Esperanza in Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the new Monsters, Inc. Land coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Only time will tell what else Disney has planned for Disney World!
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What would you want to see at Disney World by 2045? Let us know in the comments!
This sounds like the corporate apparatus and lawyers preparing for all possibilities, not actual plans. And I don’t know how Disney could afford to build a new park or parks, when they can’t even afford to operate the ones they have. When every movie and show they release, including subsidiaries like Lucasfilm, MCU and Pixar, is a flop. They are hemorrhaging money. They’ve been laying off staff. The existing theme parks have had maintenance and janitorial services cut back so far, they’ve completely abandoned Walt’s “no chipped paint, all the lightbulbs work” philosophy, and even casual visitors have noticed. They’ve raised prices so ridiculously high, they’ve priced ordinary families, their core customer base, out of vacationing there. It’s actually cheaper to go to Europe now and see real castles than to go to Florida and see a fake one. And Universal is going to eat their lunch this summer with Epic Universe, taking a large chunk of revenue away from Disney theme parks.
I already dumped my Disney stock, so I no longer have a dog in this fight. If you hold any of their stock, you might want evaluate whether to do the same. They don’t have the ability to turn things around, because they have forced out the people with talent and creative vision, and now it is simply a soulless corporate machine where purchased IPs go to die.