Disney's Theme Park Expansions Reshape Housing Markets

Disneyland and Walt Disney World expansions drive up home prices and demand in nearby areas

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Disney's theme park expansions in Anaheim, California and Orlando, Florida are having a significant impact on the local real estate markets. The approved DisneylandForward expansion in Anaheim is expected to generate more jobs and commercial activity, increasing housing demand and pushing up prices in nearby neighborhoods. Similarly, Disney's $17 billion expansion of Walt Disney World in Orlando is stimulating housing demand from workers and their families. Meanwhile, Texas is emerging as a new theme park destination, with Universal building a new resort in Frisco that is also expected to boost the local real estate market.

Why it matters

Theme park expansions can have a major impact on surrounding real estate markets by creating jobs, attracting workers and tourists, and drawing investor interest. This can lead to increased housing demand and higher property prices in nearby areas. As Disney and other theme park operators continue to invest in expansions, it's important to understand how these developments are reshaping local housing markets.

The details

In Anaheim, Disney's DisneylandForward expansion plan will add new theme park, retail, and parking facilities within the company's existing 500-acre footprint. This is expected to generate more jobs and commercial activity, increasing housing demand and putting upward pressure on prices in nearby neighborhoods. Meanwhile, Disney's $17 billion expansion of Walt Disney World in Orlando will add nearly 14,000 hotel rooms, 270,000 square feet of retail and dining space, a new major theme park, and two smaller parks. This development is expected to stimulate demand for housing from workers and their families. Texas is also emerging as a new theme park destination, with Universal building a new resort in Frisco that is anticipated to boost the local real estate market.

  • In 2024, the Anaheim City Council unanimously approved the DisneylandForward expansion plan.
  • Disney won approval in 2024 to move forward with a 15-year, $17 billion expansion of Walt Disney World in Orlando.
  • The new Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas is set to open this summer.

The players

DisneylandForward

A ten-year plan to modernize development rules for Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, allowing for new theme park, retail, and parking expansions within Disney's existing 500-acre footprint.

Walt Disney World

Disney's 25,000-acre resort in Orlando, Florida, which is undergoing a $17 billion, 15-year expansion that will add nearly 14,000 hotel rooms, 270,000 square feet of retail and dining space, a new major theme park, and two smaller parks.

Universal Kids Resort

A new theme park being built by Universal in Frisco, Texas, set to open this summer.

Jiayi Xu

Economist at Realtor.com who analyzes the impact of theme park expansions on local real estate markets.

Dennis Speigel

Chief executive and founder of International Theme Park Services, a consulting and amusement park management firm.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Big theme parks can boost local real estate demand by creating jobs, attracting workers and tourists, and drawing investor interest.”

— Jiayi Xu, Economist, Realtor.com

“Disneyland has always been landlocked, and this is a well thought out plan basically utilizing every square inch of the land they're expanding onto. It's well done, well laid out, and it's going to be well executed.”

— Dennis Speigel, Chief Executive and Founder, International Theme Park Services

What’s next

Disney has not confirmed rumors of plans to build a third park in the current Downtown Disney area in Anaheim.

The takeaway

Disney's theme park expansions in Anaheim and Orlando are reshaping the surrounding real estate markets, driving up home prices and demand as the parks create more jobs, attract workers and tourists, and draw investor interest. This trend is expected to continue as Texas emerges as a new theme park destination.