A fifth Walt Disney World theme park? No fireworks. No D23 announcement. No blog post.
But if you dig deep enough—page 202 of a recent 600-page report, to be exact—you’ll find a quiet but game-changing detail that could point to the next evolution of Walt Disney World Resort (WDW).
While fans eagerly speculate how Disney will compete with Universal Orlando’s new Epic Universe theme park, a newly released report from the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) may have answered that question before Disney itself was ready to. Could Disney finally be preparing to build a long-rumored fifth gate?
A 600-Page Crystal Ball: Walt Disney World’s “Comprehensive Plan 2045”
The document in question is called the Comprehensive Plan 2045—a government planning report detailing the development future of Disney’s Central Florida properties, including Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista.
Amid land use breakdowns and environmental considerations lies a low-key bombshell:
Approval for a “new major theme park and/or expansion” to be developed after 2035.
It gets even juicier—plans also include approval for two additional minor theme parks, a projected daily attendance increase to as much as 475,000 guests, and up to 7,748 hotel rooms to support the growing demand.
So while WDW has remained tight-lipped, the groundwork—literally—is being laid.
Disney’s $17 Billion Playbook
The report doesn’t just mention parks. It outlines the scale of what’s coming:
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A $17 billion development agreement already approved
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$8 billion required spending within the next 10 years
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Over 2,100 acres cleared for new construction
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Expanded roadways, utilities, and infrastructure to support increased traffic and tourism
The scale of these figures suggests far more than simple updates to existing attractions. If you follow the money, the destination becomes clear.
Why the Timing Matters
This strategic silence from WDW may seem odd, but it’s part of a larger chess match. Universal Orlando has the momentum with its new park opening in 2025. Disney, on the other hand, has adopted a long-game approach, focusing on infrastructure, hotel expansion, and now—potentially—a whole new park.
And let’s not forget: WDW rarely reacts publicly to competition. It quietly builds, waits, and then overdelivers. That may be exactly what’s happening here.
Will This Be the Long-Awaited Fifth Gate?
We’ve heard rumors of everything from a Disney Villains park to a Beastly Kingdom revival, but none of these ideas have made it past the blue-sky phase. Meanwhile, WDW has teased new lands coming to existing parks, like:
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A Tropical Americas land at Animal Kingdom
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Piston Peak (inspired by Planes) and Villains lands at Magic Kingdom
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A Monsters, Inc. expansion at Hollywood Studios
But the approval of an entirely new park plot? That’s something else entirely. That’s Disney’s biggest move since the opening of Animal Kingdom in 1998.
The Takeaway: Something Magical Is Brewing at Disney
It’s easy to overlook a government report. Most people don’t read them. But hidden within this one is a clear signal: WDW is preparing for major, long-term growth—and it’s doing it quietly, methodically, and on its own terms.
While there’s still no official word from WDW on what or when this new park will materialize, one thing is certain: the future of Walt Disney World is far bigger than most realize.
