Disney has a LOT of lofty goals for the future, including plans to spend a whopping $60 billion to expand its parks and cruise line.
Disney World entrance sign
In Disney World, we’re already seeing the addition of at least one new attraction — Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, an update for a classic attraction — The Country Bear Jamboree, a re-theming of an entire land — Dinoland USA is going away, plus an expansion at Magic Kingdom. But one thing Disney World fans have been craving for a LONG time is a fifth park. Well, that very well could be a possibility for Disney World.
Universal Orlando just released a LOT of new details about its Epic Universe — and well, to say that it’s going to be “epic” is an understatement. The new park will feature five NEW themed lands, with five new restaurants, plus two new hotels nearby. This is going to create a LOT of stiff competition for Disney World, perhaps for the first time since Universal Orlando opened, and Disney built Hollywood Studios (then called Disney-MGM Studios) to compete back in 1989.
©Universal
Well, now experts are predicting that Disney might want to finally get around to building a fifth park in order to properly compete with Universal, especially with Epic Universe opening in 2025.
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Will Disney build a 5th park?
The speculation about a fifth Disney World park has been going strong for, well, decades. Animal Kingdom — the fourth Disney World park — opened in 1998, and Disney fans have been asking “what’s next?” ever since. Instead of announcing a fifth gate, though, Disney has embarked on expansions and transformations in its existing parks — the “New Fantasyland” Magic Kingdom expansion that opened in 2012, the addition of the Pandora land in Animal Kingdom in 2017, the openings of Toy Story Land and Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios in 2018, and a transformation of many areas of EPCOT that should be complete this year.
©Universal
But in early 2023, Disney confirmed that a fifth theme park for Disney World was at least on the drawing board, as it was included in a comprehensive land-use plan approved by the Reedy Creek Improvement District (that’s the former name of the special district that governs most of Disney World’s land — it’s now known as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and is controlled by a board appointed by Florida’s governor, rather than by Disney). The plans approved last January allow for the building of one additional “major” theme park and two additional “minor” theme parks.
©Reedy Creek
Disney Takes Big Steps Toward Future Parks
And Disney keeps hinting at BIG plans. At the D23 Expo (a huge Disney-sponsored fan convention) in 2022, Disney executives talked about future ideas to expand the Magic Kingdom to include Coco, Encanto, and/or Villains-themed lands, and a re-theme of the Dinoland U.S.A. area of Animal Kingdom.
Possible Land Expansion in Magic Kingdom ©Disney
Then in September 2023, the conversation about expansions and re-themes continued at the Destination D23 fan gathering in Orlando. Disney Imagineer Bruce Vaughn said that the future expansion plans for Magic Kingdom are the “largest ever” for the park. Disney execs confirmed during this panel discussion that the additions would include attractions, restaurants and more — on a scale similar to the Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge project. And, we saw concept art for the transformation of Dinoland U.S.A. to a land themed around the Tropical Americas.
©Disney Dinoland re-theme concept art
Disney Teases New Details on Major Magic Kingdom Expansion
But none of this new art Disney has been teasing us with for the past couple of years is for a potential fifth theme park. Still, many believe an announcement will be coming soon. “You’re going to see a big announcement. … They’re going to add a fifth park,” Dennis Spiegel, owner of International Theme Park Services, told the Orlando Sentinel.
Animal Kingdom Is Disney’s most recent park, built in 1998
And Disney DID pledge to accelerate capital investments in its parks and cruise line in September 2023. “We have a wealth of untapped stories to bring to life across our business,” said Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro. Disney confirmed in a statement that Disney Parks has over 1,000 acres of land for possible future development to expand theme park space. And we do know that there is still quite a bit of undeveloped land at Disney World. While some of that land cannot be developed or is set aside for conservation, there is still a lot sitting in “reserve” for future development.
©Reedy Creek Improvement District
Excuse Me, HOW MUCH of Disney World Is Just Undeveloped Land?!
Disney has NOT confirmed anything about a potential “fifth gate,” but with the amount of money being pledged to its theme parks, the company has some big plans, including plans for Disney World. If an announcement is made, we’ll be sure to share it with you (you know, once we’re done LOSING OUR MINDS!), so stay tuned to DFB for more.
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Disney should invest its money elsewhere due to the atmosphere DeSantis has created! They will still do well rhough. Universal can create a park in less time than Disney can for one ride!
I would love a Villians Park! I also wish Universal annual passes offered better perks.
I don’t think there needs to be a fifth park. I mean come on you already have 4!!!
There is not a snowball chance in Hell for them to announce anything leggit!! They don’t have any money. They are just trying to survive right now.
If they do announce a 5th gate it will just be to distract attention from epic universe. More likely to close blizzard beach, complete existing projects at epcot, dinoland USA and beyond thunder Mountain, maybe redevelop the speedway area at magic kingdom before any 5th gate.
What will determine if this comes to fruition or not is the overall health of the economy and despite the optimists, it’s still teetering back and forth. If you build it they will come only works when the guests have money.
Until they (Disney) breaks ground, I’m not buying into this story.
I think it’s time to add another park along with expansion of the existing parks. With all the land Disney owns, it’s long overdue in regards to Wal Disney’s plan to never stop growing. Especially now with Universal’s new park just up the road, I think they have to now. Hopefully it will from the drawing board to actual construction sometime soon.
Desantos must have stock in Universal. Their special exceptions remain, and he goes out of his way to trash Disney. Universal sees this huge break and is taking advantage of it.
Considering Disneys Lack Luster Performance as of late, a fifth gate under current management might Not be such a great idea
My vote is BROADWAY. With NYC going to the toilet, it’s time to move the Great White Way out of snowy- crime-ridden NYC. Disney shows already are a dominant force on Broadway and would be the easiest to move. A new Broadway Park could have theatres, restaurants and hotels and lure the theatre-going crowd to sunny Central Florida.
On a personal note, my wife and I are in our 70’s and used to go to NYC regularly for a 3-day weekend with meals and shows. With the crime rate in NYC, we don’t feel safe and won’t return. WDW is much safer and would be a good home for the theatre district.
Where is the money coming from? I was able to bring my kids almost every year when they were little but not now. It is too expensive to go with the grandchildren.
Before they ever invest in a fifth gate, they need to overhaul the parks they have. They had to scrap several plans for EPCOT (remember the Play pavilion, a Mary Poppins attraction in England, refurb of Spaceship Earth to name a few. ). Instead of the building proposed for the center of future world, they just put in landscaping and seating. No fountain, nothing to decrease lines elsewhere. Magic Kingdom – there’s talk of adding new attractions, but nothing but blue sky so far. Animal Kingdom needs more attractions, to decrease the lines for the few they have. If they fix any of this, maybe a fifth park will become a reality, but it’ll take years. I don’t understand the complaint of lack of annual pass perks at Universal. I have the top tier, but I feel that the perks far outweigh anything from my annual pass at Disney. No reservations or black out dates, prime parking every visit, food discounts , merchandise discounts, free Halloween Horror night, early admission, Passholders lounge to name a few.. I get a magnet and and occasional exclusive food items(that I still have to purchase) from Disney.
Rather than building a fifth park, I think the money would be better spent upgrading the aging infrastructure in the present parks and adding more rides and attractions to improve capacity, especially in the Magic Kingdom. I can remember when the parks had manageable crowds, now it just feels like I’m walking through rush hour all the time and I don’t even go at peak times. They need more large capacity shows that eat up crowds. Why they didn’t finish the theater they were going to build off Main Street is beyond me. I’d love from them to build a new Space Mountain like in Tokyo and add the Beauty and the Beast ride in New Fantasyland, once Tokyo’s exclusivity clause runs out. Toyko has the best rides and anymore they could clone would be great, as I doubt the average American is ever get over to Toyko. Maybe a clone of the new Tangled ride in Germany? I’m still hoping for a Mary Poppins ride in the U.K. pavilion. And the Japan Pavilion should get its Roller Coaster. The Beyond Big Thunder Mountain has to become more than Blue Sky with definite fixed plans.
Maybe Disney opens a “smaller park” near the Midwest, given how many attractions are indoors they should be able to create an environment that is less impacted by weather. Perhaps Disney will use “what they learned” from the Star Wars hotel and open a smaller experience in a different location near airports and interstates.
Disney could build 100 new parks and I wouldn’t go back. Until Iger is gone with his selfish ambitions and agendas i cannot in good conscience go back. I was so blessed in the past years to go to Disney with my husband on our honeymoon, anniversary, with my best friend many times, with my granddaughter when she graduated from high school…… but never again. My only question remains…why is he still there? I am so excited to visit Epic Universe next year. I have always loved Disney but Bob Iger has ruined it. I wouldn’t be surprised if Iger started charging for the air you breathe in the parks.
A fifth park sounds awesome, but will they do it? I would be happy if they did the expansion projects which I think look great. Just do something Disney before we all go crazy! 😂
Growth is a major part of the creative process but first update the parks and rides you have in the existing parks. maybe expand some areas in those parks. tell and create more stories . never fall into competition with universal use their growth to focus Disney to be the very best Walt build. that is the magic of Disney! tell a story share the belief and create the reality of being the best experience!
Disney building a new park. It’s taken them , what five years just for Epcot. They can’t even open the cake shop on time. I love Disney but who could possibly be excited about any project they do.
I say build the Villains Park that’s always been talked about and make it 21+.
Expansions mentioned here are basic re-theming of 2 rides and getting rid of another. Spending 60 billion dollars in 10 years is 6 billion a year… and across 6 parks is 1 billion per park per year… that’s getting into maintenance territory. Disney promises much and delivers little. That coupled with the fact that they are losing tons of money on pictures, streaming, and legal fights makes me wonder if they will ever deliver.
I agree with Ralph. Disney execs are great about touting “plans for the future” but executing them is entirely different. I won’t hold my breath!
Disney is broke and mismanaged they built Tron and it took them 5 years for one little ride no park is coming!!
Please don’t trash NYC! I live here for over 50 years (Manhattan). I am also in my 70’s. Tourism is booming in NYC. I ride the subway. Bringing Broadway to Florida is never going to happen.
I want to live forever so I can see all of the future WDW expansions. I love it there and I’m going for a trip with my grandchildren in Mid-March. See you soon, Mickey & Minnie.
Building a fifth Park is just a fan wish. It will not happen. Just as the movie Wish. Another let down from Disney. But what if? Or blue sky? It’s a lot of talk to lock Disney fans in. They make you feel like you’re getting something and it’s nothing.
If a 5th park was built, I’d be excited (10 years later) but would ask WHY?! They need to update so much at their current parks already, just focus on that! We just came back and many rides in both MK and Epcot are in desperate need of an overhaul. They are musty (literally) and crusty, nostalgia be damned. Many parts of MK are sitting empty for what?? Make use of the space you have already PLEASE.