Walt Disney World ranks among the most visited destinations on Earth, with its flagship park, Magic Kingdom holding the title of the most visited theme park in the world.In 2023, 

Magic Kingdom, in Orlando was visited by more than 17.7 million people last year.

And in 2023, Disney Wolrd welcomed close to 49 million vacationers across its four main theme parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and of course, Magic Kingdom.

It makes sense that developers are always looking for ways to make the Disney World experience even more exciting.

It is a novelty, especially for big fans, to be at Disney World when new expansions and attractions make their debut.

And with how pricey a family vacation can be at Disney World, many Disney fans will start to save and plan far in advance as they anticipate being amongst the first to enjoy new experiences and reliving some of their past favorites.

Disney World has kept iconic rides for long periods of time while from time to time replacing popular attractions with more modern ones.

For example, in 2023, “Splash Mountain,” a longstanding classic log flume ride based on the film “Song of the South,” was closed in Magic Kingdom. Splash Mountain was enjoyed by millions of vacationers for over 30 years.

But, in efforts to keep up with relevant storylines, the ride was replaced with a new attraction: “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure,” based on the Disney animated film “The Princess and the Frog.”

Besides enhancement efforts to already existing spaces, Disney World may have the opportunity to thrill guests with even more attractions in the future.

Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is the most visited theme park in the world

Image Source: Orlando Sentinel/Getty Images

Disney World’s opportunity to expand 

The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District’s new 2045 plan is reserving development capacity for a new major theme park and two minor theme parks (such as water parks) to be built over the next two decades. (That’s the state agency that now regulates the land Disney World operates on). 

The plan defines a “major theme park” as one comparable in scale to each of the four existing theme parks at Walt Disney World. With an anticipated size ranging between 400 and 550 acres.

While Disney has not announced any plans of the development of a new park, the entertainment titan could be amongst the contenders to take advantage of this opportunity to expand its reach and offer even more magic to its loyal followers. 

An addition of another major theme park could enhance the visitor experience with new worlds and attractions. Another park could also redistribute crowds, potentially reducing wait times to get on a ride.

The opening of Universal’s Epic Universe in May 2025 has intensified competition in the theme park market in Orlando. With the recent addition of this new park, Universal Destinations and Experiences (the theme park division of Universal Studios) now has four theme parks, just like Disney World.

Some industry experts believe this could pressure Disney to consider a fifth park to maintain its market share. But Disney’s current expansion and plans for enhancements may be sufficient in response to this competitive landscape.

Disney World is updating its existing parks

Expansion plans include:

• An “Encanto” ride at Animal Kingdom scheduled to open in 2027.
• A villains-themed land at Magic Kingdom projected to debut between 2029-2030. 
• A “Monsters Inc,” area at Hollywood Studios. 

The “Encanto” ride will be part of the new “Tropical America’s” land, which is replacing DinoLand U.S.A, according to Disney Parks Blog. “Encanto” will allow visitors to enjoy the famous Madrigal house from the film. The new land will also feature an Indiana Jones-themed attraction.

The villain-themed land will be part of the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom. It will replace the attractions Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America. The inspiration for this land will be drawn from many wicked Disney characters such as Cruella, Captain Hook, Maleficent, Jafar and more. 

Monsters, Inc debut date has not been announced, but construction is beginning in 2025. The area is currently occupied by Muppets Courtyard, including MuppetVision 3D and PizzeRizzo and is slowly being phased out beginning this month.

These updates, amongst others, aim to refresh and diversify the current offerings without the need for a new park.

If Disney World eventually adds a fifth park (or one or two smaller parks) or not, it is likely to continue to attract high numbers of visitors due to its reputation of innovation, immersive entertainment and its loyal following.