Walt Disney World is spreading more than magic. For more than half a century, the company has been fueling the Orlando region and Florida’s economy, creating thousands of jobs, and supporting small businesses and nonprofits. As one of the largest economic drivers in Orlando, Walt Disney World is preparing for more growth and opportunity in the future.
Nearly 60 years ago, Walt and Roy Disney joined then-Florida Governor Haydon Burns in downtown Orlando to announce the “Florida Project,” which is now known as Walt Disney World. This marked a major milestone in the Orlando region and the state. Now more than half a century later, Walt Disney World continues to be an economic driver that is fueling jobs and economic prosperity.
“Disney World has been part of Central Florida’s community for more than 50 years. As part of that, we’ve grown to become one of the top travel destinations in the world,” Rena Langley, Senior Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs at Walt Disney World said.
It takes thousands of cast members to bring the magic to life and create memories for the guests visiting the parks. More than 80,000 cast members are employed at Walt Disney World, making it one of the top single-site employers in the country.
Beyond that, new attractions and experiences Walt Disney World has debuted in recent years have led to more prosperity for the Orlando region and greater opportunity for the millions who call Florida home.
When you look at the economic benefit, it’s huge. For Fiscal Year ’22 alone, Walt Disney World generated more than $40 billion in the state of Florida in economic impact.
Rena Langley, Senior Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs, Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World recognizes its role as an economic catalyst to the Orlando region and the state of Florida generating billions in economic activity, either directly or indirectly through its supply chain and the spending of employees. Langley said the company remains focused on supporting the community.
“As one of the largest economic drivers in Central Florida, our community is so important to us, and economic prosperity is clearly part of that,” she said.
We want to work with other leaders, including the Orlando Economic Partnership, to make sure that we’re doing the best we can for Central Florida.
Rena Langley, Senior Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs, Walt Disney World
This includes Walt Disney World’s commitment to supporting small businesses and supporting nonprofits.
“We know we’re a stronger community when we all work together. We work with more than 2,500 small businesses to bring all the magic to life that our guests see every day. When it comes to our community, we’re focused on a variety of giving, whether it’s in-kind giving, philanthropy, or the thousands of volunteer hours that our cast members give each year,” Langley said.
Walt Disney World’s momentum isn’t slowing down. Langley said the company is continuing to grow and evolve, with something new to experience at the parks every year. Last year, Walt Disney World opened TRON Lightcycle / Run and this year the company is looking forward to opening Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
“This is an immense time of growth here in Central Florida and we’re thrilled to be part of it with all that we have planned for the future at Walt Disney World,” Langley said. “Looking ahead, we’re going to continue to fuel our economy and we’re going to continue to offer incredible career opportunities for our cast members. This is all part of Disney Cast Life and it’s so special to be part of it.”
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