Disney now has legal room for a fifth theme park at Disney World, though the media giant has not filed any developmental applications to do so.
This potential is codified in the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District’s (CFTOD) Comprehensive Plan 2045, a 406-page document updated in July 2026.
While the document establishes the land-use framework for future growth, the district explicitly notes that no proposals are currently before it. “Although Table 2-1 (Maximum Development 2025-2045) allows for development of one major and two minor theme parks there are no plans under review. Approximately 850 acres would be required for these uses,” the plan reads.
Decades of infill over new gates
The CFTOD is the board that governs Disney’s roughly 40-square-mile property, appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis. It replaced the industry-friendly Reedy Creek Improvement District, which functioned under Disney’s control.
While the change led to extensive litigation, both sides have since settled their legal disputes and established a new framework for coordinating on the property’s future.
This administrative shift comes as Disney faces a fresh competitive threat: the May 2025 debut of Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe. It’s the resort’s third full-size theme park (and fourth park overall, counting Volcano Bay, which is a water park), built to keep visitors on property for the whole vacation.
However, rather than immediately breaking ground on a fifth gate, Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro suggested the company is currently focused on maximizing its existing parks. During the fiscal third-quarter earnings call, he pointed to a pipeline of high-impact additions, specifically naming a Villains Land expansion in Orlando and an Avengers Campus expansion in Anaheim.
This approach mirrors Disney’s post-1998 playbook. Since Animal Kingdom opened in 1998, no new gate has opened at Disney World, only additions. New Fantasyland in 2012, Pandora in 2017, Toy Story Land in 2018, Galaxy’s Edge in 2019, TRON Lightcycle / Run in 2023, and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (Splash Mountain’s replacement) in 2024 all follow this example.
The 2045 plan doesn’t change that posture. A “suitable” designation on unbuilt land means Disney is allowed to build there. Nothing more than that.
Sources: CFTOD, Florida Governor’s Office, Disney, Comcast, WQCS, The Street