Theme parks are big business and many of the major parks are expanding, which is expected to have a big impact on the real estate markets in their communities.
“Big theme parks can boost local real estate demand by creating jobs, attracting workers and tourists, and drawing investor interest,” says Jiayi Xu, economist at Realtor.com®. “They often push up nearby property prices, encourage development of short-term rentals and hospitality projects, and support broader economic growth that sustains housing demand.”
That’s exactly what’s happening at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA—the beloved theme park is expanding its footprint.
In 2024, the Anaheim City Council unanimously approved DisneylandForward, a 10-year plan to modernize development rules for Disneyland Resort. This cleared the way for new theme park, retail, and parking expansions—all within Disney’s existing 500-acre Anaheim footprint, with no additional land purchases.
“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,” Dennis Speigel, chief executive and founder of International Theme Park Services, a consulting and amusement park management firm, tells Realtor.com. “It’s well done, well laid out, and it’s going to be well executed.”
A Disneyland representative tells Realtor.com that a new parking structure and three new Disney California Adventure attractions are in the works.
“The approved DisneylandForward expansion is expected to generate additional jobs and commercial activity, which could increase housing demand and put further upward pressure on prices, particularly in nearby neighborhoods,” says Xu.
As of January 2026, the median listing price in Anaheim was about $912,000, roughly 45% higher than six years ago, compared with about 27% growth statewide over the same period.
“Housing conditions in Anaheim have strengthened notably in recent years, with prices rising faster than many parts of the state,” says Xu. “Limited supply, the city’s strong tourism and employment base and investor interest have all contributed to price gains.”
As part of the DisneylandForward initiative, Disney agreed to contribute $30 million to fund affordable housing projects in Anaheim within the first five years.
“Disney’s expansion, along with their commitment to $30 million for affordable housing, is likely to have a huge impact on the area,” says Orange County real estate agent Cara Ameer. “They want to provide more affordable rental housing for their area workforce, as well as down payment assistance programs for first-time buyers. This will create a lot of interest and demand for people who want to live or who are already living in the area.”
There have been rumors circulating that Disney will build a third park in the current Downtown Disney area, but they haven’t been confirmed.
Speigel says, “I have heard the rumors. If they have that ability, it’s the right thing to be thinking about. Disneyland just celebrated 70 years. It is time in the longevity and evolution of their existence to think about another park. I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens.”
What’s going on in Orlando
Following a high-profile dispute with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that concluded in 2024, Disney won approval to move forward with a sweeping 15-year expansion of the 25,000-acre resort in Orlando, representing $17 billion in planned investment at Walt Disney World.
The expansion would add nearly 14,000 hotel rooms, 270,000 square feet of retail and dining space, a new major theme park, and two smaller parks.
Josh Higgins, communications manager of Walt Disney World Public Affairs, tells Realtor.com that many new attractions are currently in development, including Villains Land, Cars Land, and Monsters Inc. Land.
“Disney’s development will have a strong positive impact on the broader Central Florida real estate market,” Orlando Regional Realtor® Association President Chris Atwell tells Realtor.com. “Workers together with their families will stimulate demand for housing, entertainment, and retail.”
Disney is also scooping up nearby properties, including a $19.4 million office building in Celebration, FL, it purchased last year.
As Disney continues to invest in the area, Xu says, “housing demand in Orlando has stayed solid, largely supported by its tourism-driven economy.”
As of January 2026, the median listing price was about $375,000—up roughly 24% from six years ago.
“While Florida home prices overall rose faster (about 29% statewide), Orlando remains relatively affordable among major Florida metros, helping sustain buyer demand and investment interest,” says Xu.
Atwell says 1 in every 5 international buyers purchases a home in Florida. “In Orlando specifically, we receive a large number of those foreign consumers, many of whom love Disney,” he says.
Is Texas the next big theme park destination?
Meanwhile, Texas is emerging as a major new theme park destination.
Despite rumors to the contrary, Disney has not announced any plans to build a theme park there yet.
However, Universal is building Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, TX, and it’s set to open this summer.
“Texas has a huge population,” says Speigel. “It’s very close to Dallas, and Dallas has always been a good market for leisure. That’s where Six Flags started.”
According to Xu, housing demand in Frisco has surged alongside population and job growth, with the median listing price in January 2026 at about $695,000—roughly 39% higher than six years ago, outpacing the Texas statewide increase of 23%.
Xu says demand is fueled not only by residents but also by investment buyers, as Frisco is part of the Dallas–Fort Worth metro area, one of the metros in the country seeing the highest share of investor purchases. “Upcoming attractions like the Universal Kids Resort are expected to further support this demand, particularly for rental and investor-owned properties,” Xu adds.
Real estate agent Todd Luong, of Re/Max in Frisco, tells Realtor.com that locals are already buzzing about the theme park.
“On the positive side, families and homebuyers are definitely talking about the resort as a unique attraction that sets this area apart,” Luong says. “It will definitely draw more visitors and provide additional entertainment options for the local residents here. However, there are a lot of questions about how all this will change things here in town, like the potential traffic increases and the added congestion.”
Luong says he thinks the resort has the potential to be a big positive in the long run for Frisco’s real estate market. “It will boost Frisco’s profile nationally, supporting tourism, and could help sustain demand for housing, especially with families who want local access to entertainment and amenities. It may also increase the demand for short-term rental investment properties near the resort.”
