With rising costs and growing frustration among lifelong Disney fans, some may rethink a Disney World vacation in 2025.
Magic Kingdom
At the recent Annual Shareholder Meeting on March 20th, Disney CEO Bob Iger commented on the company’s plans to address attendance and price increases in the theme parks, stating that he was just at Disney World on a weekday in March, and it was rather busy across the property. Iger continued to say that consumer demand for the parks and resorts is still extremely high, and so is the value Disney offers — noting that it’s “tremendous,” especially when compared to other entertainment offerings like concerts and sporting events. Still, with new tariffs and fears about the stock market, Disney World could look a little less crowded this year. Despite Iger’s confidence in theme park attendance, there’s one big reason Disney World might be empty in 2025.
The United States White House announced on March 4th that tariffs were issued on Canada and Mexico under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). These tariffs were designed “to curb the flow of illegal border crossings and drugs into our country,” per the press release. President Trump also imposed a 10% baseline tax on imports from all countries as a reaction to an “economic emergency.”
©The White House
The decision was met with praise from Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, who told the Associated Press, “It may be rocky in the beginning. But I think that this will make sense for Americans and help all Americans,” but critics warn the move could lead to a decline in the stock market and retaliation from U.S. trading partners like Canada and the European Union.
Via @speakermjohnson on Instagram
The Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, announced plans for Canada to retaliate against the tariffs issued by Trump “with purpose and with force,” according to BBC. Carney stated that the tariffs on Canada will “directly affect millions.” Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau echoed Carney’s sentiment, urging citizens to spend domestically. Trudeau said, “Now is the time to choose Canada…It might mean changing your summer vacation plans to stay here in Canada and explore the many national and provincial parks, historical sites and tourist destinations our great country has to offer,” per the New York Times. Could this mean that Canadians may cancel their trips to Disney World?
Disney World
According to the U.S. Travel Association, a national, non-profit organization representing America’s $1.3 trillion travel industry, these new tariffs could impact Canadian travel and spending in the United States.
Currently, the U.S. Travel Association reports that Canada is the “top source of international visitors to the United States, with 20.4 million visits in 2024, generating $20.5 billion in spending and supporting 140,000 American jobs.” Even a 10% reduction in Canadian travel could result in $2.1 billion in lost spending and millions fewer visitors. The report notes that Florida is among the top five most-visited states by Canadians, along with California, Nevada, New York, and Texas. More specifically, local Florida news affiliate Click Orlando noted that statistics from Visit Orlando confirm that over 1.2 million Canadians visited Orlando in 2023.
‘Walt the Dreamer’ Statue in EPCOT
So far this year, airline travel is lower than last year. An airline analytics firm reported airline reservations from Canada to Florida are down 76% this April compared to April 2024, according to NBC News affiliate WPTV.
Orlando International Airport
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also commented on the reports about Canadian tourism in Florida during an appearance at the Florida Realtors organization in Orlando. DeSantis shared a personal anecdote in response to the claims, explaining that he does not believe Canadians are scaling back their vacations. He said, “I’m with my kids, you know, we were down at spring break, and we’re at Legoland, and all these people are coming up to me for pictures, which is fine. I normally do that. And I’d say, like, 80% of them were Canadians,” adding, “And I’m like, ‘I thought you guys weren’t coming to Florida anymore.’ ‘Oh no, we love Florida.’ So, we’re going to continue to be a destination,” according to the Orlando Sentinel.
©Governor Ron DeSantis Website
Disney executives have yet to comment on the potential loss of Canadian visitors. We will continue to report on the crowd levels and theme park attendance in Disney World and Universal as the situation continues. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.
Disney CEO Bob Iger Says Demand for Theme Parks Is “Extremely High” Despite Price Increases
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Trump’s new tariffs are not praiseworthy. They are harmful, and carry the potential to do great harm.
Seriously…
This is the reason WDW would have lower attendance this year? We all know better.
We like Canada but it’s cold. We love WDW because it’s not Canada.
After going to WDW multiple times every year since 1990, I have not been to the parks since 2022 do to ringing costs of entry, food, and excessive closure of major attractions. We have decided to spend our vacation dollars elsewhere. Bob Iger has shown that he is not guest focused like Michel Eisner. Disney is looking my business. Now, as we are DVC members since 2021, we spend our vacation time at the resort hotels nd not the parks, electing to visit one park for one day during our stays instead of multiple parks on multiple days. Disney has lost our vacation business as we search out other alternatives. It is just to expensive to go.
Is it possible to purchase hard copies of the Dusney dining 101 brochures? It is almost impossible, and extremely expensive, to print almost of these brochures.
I will tell you why the parks ma be empty. I did a cast member preview day at Epic Universe at Universal Orlando and may I just say…WOW!!!
This park blows Disney out of the water!!!! Sure they’ll come to Disney, but trust me, when this new park opens in May, there will be no contest.
Not to mention, Disney tearing apart Magic kingdom, getting rid of the aesthetics of water and a green Island for Brown cars land that could be put somewhere else. Constantly Subtracting And only adding occasionally does not make or repeat visitors
The main reason for WDW parks being far less crowded this summer is that everybody is excited to see Universal’s Epic. Not because of politics. When it comes to price, Universal’s newest luxury hotels are much less expensive.
We canceled our Disney vacation and are going to Italy instead – and are saving $1000. It’s no secret attendance is down no matter what they say about demand – Disney only drops discounts when they need to. And they’ve been dropping a LOT of them.
Between Trump’s idiocy and the exorbitant costs Disney is charging… it’s not any shocker that demand is lower and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future.
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With great risk comes great reward for the common man. Boohoo the hedge fund managers will suffer!
Love our great President! He don’t play with globalists!
EPCOT will probably be empty because of the tariffs levied on the countries. If the foods come in at all, the cost will be prohibitive. We love all the different foods and drinks. Who will be able to afford them when they cost twice as much. My only consolation is that I didn’t vote for him the first, second or third time.
The economy is catering. That will drop attendance. Trump ruins everything he touches. Absolute moron.
It looks like it’ll be another year before we get to go. It’s been seven years since I’ve been and I’m truly biting at the bit. Just when I thought things were looking good, the tariffs came up. The deals that Disney is putting out is still costly.As a Canadian it’s just not worth paying the extra 40 some odd cents on every dollar. Maybe next year.
Carol, If there are any authentic foods or drinks that are actually shipped in from the countries in Epcot, please list here!
If you’re asking me, I certainly can’t list them. I know the countries have beers, wine and other alcohols from other countries. And foods from other countries. And they sell things made in other countries. I was in the Canada pavilion years ago and found these amazing cookies from Canada.
If you were being sarcastic, I don’t appreciate that. We go to EPCOT to get foods and drinks from other countries.
Carol. Was not trying to be sarcastic. I realize some of the package foods do come from Canada, but don’t believe much of anything that is in the restaurants or kiosks are sourced directly from the countries represented. If there are some, I’d like to know so I can try them!Perhaps the wines and beers, not really a drinker so I didn’t think about that.
Lisa, after I responded before, I thought about my response. I was thinking about the great cheeses from France. I’m guessing the other countries bring stuff in. Norway, Germany, etc. Maybe you can write EPCOT. They may have information for you.