Disney4me Posted April 3 Report Share Posted April 3 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 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 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW The post Why Disney World Could Be Empty in 2025 first appeared on the disney food blog.View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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