It’s been a lengthy process, but it looks like we’re nearing the end of the Magic Kingdom parking lot project first outlined back in a 2019 permit. There have been a number of changes over the years to the Magic Kingdom parking lot, including the removal of the Walt Disney World Speedway, and some nearby changes to World Drive. While a lot of the 2019 permit did come to fruition, it looks like Walt Disney World will not expand the Magic Kingdom parking lot as they had outlined 6 years ago – at least, not right now.
Magic Kingdom Parking Lot Expansion
Going back to the 2019 permit, Walt Disney World said in the permit that they would be removing an 11.4-acre wetland from the middle of the Magic Kingdom parking lot, and that they would “replace that same area with a paved parking surface.”
At the time, it seemed like Disney’s plans were to expand the Magic Kingdom parking lot. Now, that doesn’t appear to be the case. The area in question can be seen in the permit screenshot below as the circular green area. The permit lists its use as “fill/stock pile”, but later says that it will be paved.
While visiting Magic Kingdom recently, we noticed that half of the fill/stockpile has been removed, and the area has been roughly graded and grass has been planted. The grassy area appears to be at an elevation inconsistent with the nearby parking lots on either side. At the moment, there are no obvious plans to develop the grassy area as a parking lot despite a “paved parking lot” being part of the original permit plans.
The mounds of dirt that have sat on this site for years were first collected during the creation of a large pond to the south of the parking lot when Disney removed the Walt Disney World Speedway. The dirt has been staged in the Magic Kingdom parking lot to be utilized for the ongoing World Drive improvements to the west of the Magic Kingdom parking lot.
Here’s a look at the central stockpile area and newly created grassy area from our visit to Magic Kingdom.
Walt Disney World did not return a request for comment about the changed plans for the Magic Kingdom parking lot.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
