Disney World Is Apparently Getting Ready to Add a 5th Theme Park

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For over a quarter-century now, Disney World has been home to four core theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios (people generally don't include the water parks in that count). Those were the parks I remember going to on big family vacations as a kid (although Animal Kingdom was still very new when I first visited Disney World), and for millions of others around my age, those four parks have always been "the constant."

But could there be a big shake-up in the works? Following Disney World's recent revelation of their plans to expand on their current parks, some sources are now speculating that they're actually paving the way for a fifth park. Here's what Forbes had to say about the rumors on June 11:

According to @forbes , Disney has $17 billion earmarked to spend in Orlando, and some of their plans for that money include expansions for Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, a brand-new hotel, and... maybe a fifth park? Disney hasn't officially confirmed whether or not they'll add a fifth theme park yet, but such a potential addition has been explicitly accounted for in their development plans, which are finally moving forward for Disney after years of holdup.

Related: Future Plans for Rides at Disney Parks Has People Divided

Forbes reports that Disney and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have evidently buried " a very big hatchet " that had locked up Disney development in the Sunshine State. For two years, Disney had pursued a lawsuit against the DeSantis-appointed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District [CFTOD], which targeted Disney and their economic district after the company publicly opposed DeSantis' anti-LGBTQ "Don't Say Gay" Law.

That lawsuit was recently settled, and while Forbes reports that Disney is still pursuing separate suits against state officials, the company is now able to get its previously-cancelled development plans back on track. A 15-year development plan recently approved by the CFTOD would allow for a maximum of five "major theme parks" and five "minor theme parks" (most likely water parks ) at Disney World. That's a green light!

Possible Themes For a New Disney Park

Right now, Disney has the money, the freedom, and the power to make the biggest update to Disney World since the 1998 opening of Animal Kingdom . But will they? In true Disney fashion, the company is keeping the full extent of their plans close to the chest. As theme park reporter Robert Niles told Forbes , "Just because Disney has the authority to build a theme park doesn't guarantee that it will."

Still, all lanes are open for a brand-new park, and fans have already begun speculating over potential themes for the park if plans move forward.

"I found on a Disney-themed site it's possibly going to be all Star Wars themed but idk," rumored @melly_war.

"I think a Villains park would do sooooo good," @lindseymay19 dreamed.

It's worth noting that Disney may have given us a few potential hints at a new direction for a potential new park, or at least new lands. Deadline reported that Disney has hinted at future Coco and Encanto -themed attractions in past D23 Expos. More recently, people speculated these could appear in the planned " Beyond Big Thunder Mountain " expansion at Magic Kingdom, but if there's a chance that Disney World is going even bigger with their plans, perhaps these hinted attractions could end up in a brand-new Disney theme park.

There's a lot for Disney fans to get excited about, but it's going to be some time before we know exactly what direction the company is taking. Still, all the pieces for a fifth theme park are in place- Disney just has to say the word "go."

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