Social media is all a buzz! Disney is looking to open a 5th theme park in Orlando! Could it be? Please let it be! Rumors and more rumors! If you are a Disney fan, you thrive and live on these rumors. Who am I kidding? I love these rumors as well. I like the rest of you hope on hope that they are true. This is the most, dare I say, feasible theme park rumor I have heard in years.

If you recall, in 2007, Disney announced a new shopping and dining area to be called Flamingo Crossings. This was to be a non-Disney themed area. I guess you could have called it a Disney inspired area. Sort of what Disney was to Celebrations. This area was to be the farthest west of the current property. It was/ is to be located north-west of Animal Kingdom Park on the other side of 435. If I recall, I had read somewhere that Disney has quietly been buying more property in this area in the tune of 3000 acres.

There is a huge push to get big names attached to this space. Now with the signing on of Marriott there seems to be bigger and louder buzz. My though would be that the only way Disney could get retailers, restaurants and hotels out in this non-populated area would be to have a draw. As you can see from the map, this area is far from developed, and there would need to be a reason for a tourist to travel that far away to go to a restaurant or store.

So, let’s say a new theme park is coming. Boy, that would be great! There are so many reasons why it would make sense. We don’t even need to touch on what kind of park it should be.We can give plenty of reasons why it needs to be done. First, the parks are busier every year. The hotels always seem to be close to capacity. A 5th park and additional hotels will even out the crowd. It would make financial sense for the company as WDW is still the leader in vacation destinations in the world. Disney seems to be in another sweet spot season as everything they are doing is gold.

Next, it would be great for their timeline. A new park would not be ready until the early 2020’s. With all the current expansion at WDW going through 2017 it would keep things fresh, and the resort would be ready for the next big thing. I don’t ever think companies like Universal Studios could ever compete but with a 5th park Disney would be that much more in control of the tourist dollar.

I don’t know about you, but the prospect sounds exciting. Even if it never comes to pass, I will enjoy the speculation and the dreaming.

-Hi, my name is Alan and I’m a Disney Addict.