Is Disney Opening a Fifth Florida Amusement Park? What the Company's New Agreement Means

The fight between Disney and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has officially ended after the park's 15-year development plan was approved on June 12

The ongoing fight between the Walt Disney Company and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis formally ended on June 12 with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District's approval of a 15-year development deal with the company. The news has some excited that more Orlando-based Disney properties could be on the way for the first time in decades — but what does the deal really mean?

The Central Florida district said that they're “committed to making infrastructure improvements in exchange for Disney investing up to $17 billion into Disney World over the next two decades," the Associated Press reported.

There has not been an official announcement from Disney about expansion plans — yet — but the agreement opens the doors for a potential fifth Disney amusement park in Florida.

Currently, the Walt Disney World Resort is comprised of Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. Animal Kingdom is the most recent park to be built, opening in 1998.

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The feud between Disney and DeSantis started back in 2022, after the Walt Disney Company spoke out against DeSantis’ Don’t Say Gay education bill that March. In their statement at the time, Disney condemned the law and said that it "should never have passed and should never have been signed into law." They also expressed that their “goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down by the courts.”

DeSantis took over the oversight district in retaliation, leading to feuding over company special privileges like tax exemptions, Disney's police and fire services and ability to build and maintain their own roads.

Disney filed a lawsuit in response “to protect its cast members, guests, and local development partners from a relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain State officials," according to Fox Business.

Both sides agreed to end subsequent lawsuits in March of this year and began to work towards the new development plan, which was given final approvals this week.

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Under the new deal, the resort will be required to donate up to 100 acres of Disney World’s property for infrastructure projects within the district, give half of their upcoming construction projects to Florida-based companies and spend at least $10 million on affordable housing in central Florida. Then, the company will be approved to move forward with building a fifth new theme park, as well as create two minor parks like water parks.

Disney World can also expand onsite hotel rooms, and increase its retail and restaurant space by over 20%, the AP said.

"This new development agreement paves the way for us to invest billions of dollars in Walt Disney World Resort, supporting the growth of this global destination, fueling the Florida economy, and allowing us to deliver even more memorable and extraordinary experiences for our guests," Jeff Vahle, president of Walt Disney World Resort, said in a statement to the Orlando Sentinel.

The news comes as the Walt Disney Company's other U.S. theme park destination, Disneyland in Anaheim, California, recently received final approval for its own expansion. In the next 10 years, Disney’s investment will go towards updating rides, attractions, lands, lodging, entertainment and shopping without increasing the square footage or acreage of the park.

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