Could there be a better way to celebrate its 50th anniversay than to build a fifth theme park in Disney World Orlando?

As Disney nears completion of its rebranded Downtown Disney area, Disney Springs, we’re wondering what the future has in store at Disney World.

The rebrand of Downtown Disney is already underway and Disney maps are featuring the Disney Springs logo underneath that of Downtown Disney. Announced in 2013, the Disney Springs area of the Walt Disney World Resort is due for completion in 2016.

It is planned that by then Disney Springs will have expanded to more than 150 shopping, dining and entertainment venues spread between four distinct, outdoor neighbourhoods.

One of those neighbourhoods, The Landing, is already open in Downtown Disney, including The Boathouse restaurant.

The Disney Company has other big plans underway, with the Orlando Sentinel reporting that each of Disney World’s four theme parks have new attractions or expansions in the works.

The most exciting has to be the new Frozen ride at Epcot.

frozen

It will be a slow boat ride attraction called “Frozen Ever After” which will feature scenes from the movie including Elsa’s song ‘Let it Go’.

Although the most ambitious is the Avatar-themed expansion to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which will bring Avatar’s moon, Pandora, to life – complete with floating mountains and bioluminescent plants. The launch is slated for 2017, at which point Disney will extend the park’s opening hours in line with the other three parks and debut a night-time spectacular called ‘Rivers of Light’.

Even with all this change underfoot, rumours of a fifth park persist.

Admittedly, such rumours aren’t new. And there is no consensus as to what a fifth park might look like.

However, our imagination was caught by an article suggesting a new park at the Flamingo Crossings site could be being planned, to open in 2021, right around the time of the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World.

Developers broke ground at the new Flamingo Crossings site in October 2014, initially building two hotels, with plans for five more to follow soon after. It was originally announced in 2007, stalled during the downturn, and is now picking up steam again.

Disney has stated that the development will be focused on delivering accommodation for value-conscious guests, but that hasn’t prevented speculation swirling around the development. Reports suggest that Disney has being buying up land in the area and this has got Disney commentators a little excited.

The company itself hasn’t commented, of course, so all we can do is wait and see…

Do you think Disney should go for a fifth park in Orlando? What would you like to see in a fifth Disney park?