Walt Disney World has filed 15 lawsuits against Orange County over property tax assessments for its theme parks and resorts, claiming excessive taxation.
2025 Property Taxes
They claim Orange County Property Appraiser, Amy Mercado, failed to comply with Florida law and accepted appraisal practices, which then led to assessments that exceed the market value of the properties. Disney argues this violates the Florida Constitution.
Disney wants to cancel the original 2025 tax bills, be issued new ones for reassessed amounts, then get reimbursed for its legal fees for contesting the property taxes.
According to the company, Magic Kingdom’s assessed value was at about $622 million, EPCOT’s value is at $795 million, Hollywood Studios at $639 million, and Animal Kingdom at $495 million.
The site of the permanently closed Star Wars: Galactic Cruiser hotel was assessed at $38 million this year. Disney plans to turn the property into offices for Imagineers.
Other hotels being litigated over include Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Resort and Spa ($333M), Disney’s Contemporary Resort ($243M), and Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort ($350M).
Disney and other Central Florida hospitality businesses file such lawsuits every year. This time last year, they filed 13 and 12 the year before. The filings cover various Walt Disney World Resort properties. Last year, Disney won a lawsuit regarding Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort property taxes from 2015 and 2016.
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Source: Florida Politics
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