Disney World attendance is expected to nearly double over the next two decades with the addition of a major new theme park and two smaller parks, according to projections from the government agency overseeing development at the Florida resort.
Walt Disney World is projected to welcome 99.3 million visitors a year by 2045 according to a new plan adopted by the tourism district overseeing the Orlando-area theme park resort.
The stunning attendance spike represents a 94% increase over the 51.2 million that visited Disney World’s four theme parks and two water parks in 2023 based on TEA/AECOM data.
A newly adopted Comprehensive Plan 2045 from the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District allows Walt Disney World to develop a major theme park and two minor theme parks over the next two decades.
Disney World has no plans under review for any new major or minor theme parks.
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Disney World is projected to add a minor theme park by 2030 and second minor theme park by 2035, according to the tourism district.
The Comprehensive Plan 2045 describes a “minor theme park” as a water park like Typhoon Lagoon or a sports complex like Disney’s Wide World of Sports.
Disney World is projected to add a major theme park between 2035 and 2045 with an annual attendance of 18.5 million visitors, according to the tourism district.
The Comprehensive Plan 2045 describes a “major theme park” as similar in size and scope to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios or Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
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As part of the 600-page document, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District made a series of population projections for the Walt Disney World resort through 2045.
The tourism district projects Epcot attendance will increase 68% from 12 million in 2023 to 20.2 million in 2045.
Magic Kingdom attendance is projected to jump 59% from 17.7 million in 2023 to 28.1 million in 2045, according to the tourism district.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios attendance is projected to climb 37% from 10.3 million in 2023 to 14.1 million in 2045, according to the tourism district.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom — Disney World’s newest and least-visited park — is projected to see attendance grow 33% from 8.8 million in 2023 to 11.7 million in 2045, according to the tourism district.
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The tourism district projects Disney World will add 8,000 hotel rooms and 11,000 employees over the next two decades to keep up with the growth.
Disney World is projected to have 41,000 hotel rooms and 89,000 employees by 2045, according to the tourism district.
The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District replaced the Reedy Creek Improvement District that had acted as a county-level government for Disney World since the late 1960s.