Disney World’s $17B Development Plan Gets Approval From CFTOD!

Now that the Walt Disney Company and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District have become frenemies, things are looking good for the $17B improvement plan! Could this be the start of a fifth gate?

Orlando Sentinel reports that Reedy Creek’s replacement board has given Disney the good word that the development plan will probably be approved. However, it won’t be until June 12 that the board will make its final vote.

“A week is a long time in politics,” to quote Chris Morris from The Day Today. We must remember that the legal tension between Disney, DeSantis, and the relatively new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District is still very much there. It could take one misstep to set this entire thing back.

If all goes well, there’s a good chance that a portion of that $17 billion could finally deliver a new park to compete with Universal’s rapidly approaching Epic Universe. Per the article, $8 billion of that amount is slated for usage during the first 10 years of the 20-year plan.

Epic Universe will open next year, so don’t expect Disney to plop out a new gate within that time frame. However, the competition could force Mickey to put development into high gear.

General improvements and expansions aren’t the only things the new budget will focus on. $10M of the pot will go towards building affordable housing, retail space, hotels, and up to five smaller theme parks.

Thankfully, we’re seeing more goodwill than bad regarding Walt Disney World’s much-needed improvements to the parks and surrounding infrastructure. Recently, the CFTOD took the first steps to approve a $100M plan to upgrade the roads inside the Mouse’s domain.

It’s too bad that Disney didn’t wait until it had more money before gutting Splash Mountain. Given the reaction Tiana’s Bayou Adventure has gotten this past week, maybe the ride could use a cash injection to make it more appealing.

[Source: Orlando Sentinel]