On September 10, 2025, Disney World filed a construction permit for its affordable housing community first announced in 2022, marking a step toward the construction of over 1,400 units for cast members and Central Florida residents.
The privately financed project, developed by The Michaels Organization, will be located in the Horizon West area of Orange County, Florida, and aims to address the housing affordability challenges in the region.
The location of the Walt Disney World Affordable Housing Community – YouTube, WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando
Walt Disney World is the largest employer in Central Florida, with estimates of up to 80,000 on site employees, but Central Florida is also home to a much larger tourism and hospitality industry, including all of the Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld, ICON Park, and all of the surrounding hotels, restaurants, and resorts that support vacationers and convention guests.
Specifics of This Latest Permit
On September 10th, 2025 Disney filed application number 250908-56772 with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). It’s for water basin and stormwater management infrastructure: drainage, wetlands utilities, stormwater basins. The Disney permit also covers environmental impact related to water flow and water management of the site.
Empty Main Street USA and Cinderella Castle hub on Labor Day 2025 Magic Kingdom Disney World – Photo Credit: That Park Place
The proposed development described in the permit is a multifamily housing project with 1,369 units over 103.38 acres of land. It includes “supporting infrastructure” for the project — meaning not just buildings, but infrastructure elements (utilities, drainage, possibly roads, parking).
A Long Time Coming
It was all the way back in April of 2022 that Disney first publicly announced plans for the affordable housing complex “near Disney World.” On April 7th of that year Disney revealed they had earmarked nearly 80 acres of land in Southwest Orange County to build a new affordable housing development, with over 1,300 units, available to qualifying applicants including cast members.
Later, on November 16, 2022, Disney selected The Michaels Organization to develop, own, and operate the project.
The DVC Polynesian Island Tower at Walt Disney World’s Polynesian Village Resort – Photo by M. Montanaro
So while several DVC resorts have risen in this same period of time, Disney has been dragging their feet on this project largely meant to serve those living in area: the very people who may serve those DVC guests.
Why The Delay?
Disney has run in to a number of hurdles in making this project come to fruition.
Originally Disney aimed for groundbreaking in late 2024, but as of reports in 2025, that schedule has slipped. Currently, it appears Disney is pushing to break ground later this year or early 2026, based on this latest permit filing.
Concept art for the Walt Disney World Affordable Housing Community – YouTube, WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando
The area near Disney World where this new complex is to be built is a fast-growing region. Dubbed “Horizon West” this new and upcoming area’s infrastructure (roads, intersections, emergency services, schools) may need expanding or upgrading to accommodate the additional units. Already there are plans for new turn lanes, traffic signals, crosswalks, etc., which require planning, budget, and approvals.
Even after breaking ground, it’s expected that the full 80 acre complex won’t see completion for another five years.
Central Florida’s Need For Affordable Housing
With Orlando and the surrounding area being home to numerous vacation destinations, hundreds of thousands of workers are required to support the tourism industry.
While management and upper management positions that can pay six figures or more annually do exist, much of the hospitality industry is supported by both entry level and lower paying jobs.
The Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort – Photo Credit: M. Montanaro
Without this support, tourists wouldn’t be able to ride the rides they love or enjoy affordable vacations, so all of the industries employees are needed, and they absolutely need affordable, decent, and safe places to live.
Unfortunately, Orlando and the surrounding areas have struggled to provide those housing needs. The average rent of a 2 bedroom apartment in Orlando is $1,890 a month. At $18 an hour a full time employee brings home just $3,120 a month. That leaves little breathing room.
Spaceship Earth in the evening in EPCOT at Walt Disney World – Photo Credit: Marvin Montanaro
It should come as a blessing to many in Central Florida once this new Disney Complex is completed.
Do you think Disney will get moving on this affordable housing project? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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“Affordable housing complex” = “projects.” I’ve seen too many examples of such attempts to believe Disney can pull it off. They’ll try and turn it into a fiefdom under their strict control only to see it turn into another slum that they can’t hope to control or get any positive PR from. Or pull out of without cleaving off a huge, bleeding chunk of proverbial flesh.