Theme-Park Overhaul

Florida’s flagship theme parks are entering a new era of development, and beneath the fanfare there’s a surge in opportunity for the metal fabrication and construction industries.

Massive Park Expansions = Massive Structural Steel Demand

Disney’s ambitious rollout includes a new fifth theme park (400–500 acres) plus mini-parks, water zones, hotels, retail space, and extensive underground infrastructure—backed by a $17 billion investment through 2045.
Universal Epic Universe, which just opened on May 22, 2025, sprawls across 750 acres with coasters like Stardust Racers, themed lands, and supporting roads and utilities—accounting for over $7 billion in park-wide spend.

These mega-projects require heavy structural frameworks, vertical integration towers, ride stations, canopy steel, water‑park towers, and tunnel systems. That drives sustained demand for rolled steel, welding, CNC fabrication, and structural engineering.

Construction Complexity & Engineering Innovation

Infrastructure stretch: Epic Universe triggered a $315 million extension of Kirkman Road, complete with elevated interchanges and modern transit lanes.
Thematic builds go beyond functional: curved guardrails, decorative façades, underground conveyors, AR-integrated track systems—all requiring specialized fabrication and finishing.

Economic Scale & Workforce Momentum

Epic Universe’s construction alone created 65,000+ jobs, with over 17,500 ongoing operational roles expected in the first year.
Disney and Universal are both accelerating work on metal-intensive attractions (roller coasters, water rides, interactive pavilions), triggering a wave of demand for skilled fabricators and steel contractors.

What It Means for Your Business

Steel suppliers: Prepare for long lead orders—high-performance alloys, heavy beam stock, weather-treated steel, and modular framing systems will be in continuous demand.
Fabricators: Winning bids could include coaster structures, ornate facades, AR-ride housings, and canopy systems. Specialization in large weldments and precision work will pay off.
Construction firms: Projects will span vertical integration towers, underground staff tunnels, roads, parking infrastructure, and resort facilities—great for firms with mixed civil and structural expertise.
Design & engineering consultancies: With evolving codes, immersive tech, and large-scale hydraulics, experts in building information modeling (BIM), structural safety, and ride compliance will be in high demand.

Florida’s theme-park renaissance—led by Disney’s multi-billion-dollar expansion and Universal’s jaw-dropping Epic Universe—is not just about entertainment. It’s an industrial boom that’s revving up metal fabrication, steel supply, structural engineering, and large-scale construction. If your business operates in these sectors, now is the time to gear up, align your capacities, and position yourself for the opportunities unfolding in Central Florida.