New report tracks economic impact of Disney in Florida

According to a new report, Walt Disney World Resort is among the largest employers in Florida and an economic catalyst across the state.

Its economic impact is massive as an international destination, driving benefits across the state economy through direct operations, supply chains, tax payments, and the spending of visitors across the hospitality, transportation, and retail sectors.

Oxford Economics – commissioned by Disney – conduct a comprehensive economic analysis to quantify the significant contribution of Disney’s operations in Florida during FY22.

To quantify the economic impact of Disney, Oxford Economics prepared a comprehensive model to quantify the impacts arising from multiple channels of spending attributable to Disney.

Oxford Economics’ findings support Disney’s role as an economic engine in the state of Florida, and the report’s key findings revealed that:

• In FY22 alone, Disney generated $40.3 billion in statewide economic activity, either directly, or indirectly through its supply chain and the spending of employees.
• Disney is also vital to the funding of public services, as it generated taxes of $6.6 billion in 2022, including state and local taxes of $3.1 billion generated by Disney, non-local visitors, employees and third-party businesses. This is the equivalent of $379 per Florida household.
• More than 263,000 Florida jobs were sustained by Disney, including Florida residents directly employed through the company as well as jobs supported by guest spending off-property and other indirect impacts. To put this in perspective, the unemployment rate in Florida was 3.0% in September 2023. Based on the current size of the state’s labor force, the unemployment rate would be 5.4% without Disney-supported jobs. This would take Florida from ranking 21st lowest among all states to having the second highest unemployment rate in the country.
• Within the Central Florida region, Disney directly supports 12%, or 1-in-8, of all jobs. For every direct job on-site at Disney, an additional 1.7 jobs are supported across Florida.

In addition to Walt Disney World Resort, this study also reflects the economic impact of Disney Signature Experiences in Florida, including Disney Vacation Club and Disney Cruise Line.

Beyond its role as a key economic driver in Florida, Disney generates additional qualitative benefits in surrounding communities through programs such as Disney VoluntEARS, which is part of Disney’s worldwide outreach program and is made up of Disney cast members who donate their time to helping nonprofit and service organizations in their communities around the world.

Disney VoluntEARS have already reached and served over 200 cities, 47 states, and 24 countries, spread out over six different continents. In Florida, Disney cast members donated more than 233,000 volunteer hours in FY22.

In FY22, the company also contracted approximately 2,500 Florida-based small businesses to supply products and services to Disney World.

For more on Disney’s Economic Impact in Florida, click here.