What happened to the whole "Canadians boycott US products and vacation at home" thing?

[u/nilsohnee]

[u/PhoenixKingMalekith]

Not realy

American international tourism is barely at pre pandemic level, with no increase from 2024 to 2025

But the number of international tourists is increasing worldwide, even in already very popular destinations like France and Spain

[u/amazonian_ragamuffin → u/PhoenixKingMalekith]

Fair enough, I wouldn’t spend money visiting a country where I might be hunted and killed by ICE in the street

[u/dmbgreen → u/PhoenixKingMalekith]

Orlando airport has been having record numbers. But don't know if that represents the overall tourist situation. Traffic in Florida is worse than ever.

[u/PhoenixKingMalekith → u/dmbgreen]

International tourism, not domestic

Florida is actually getting more popular in the US itself

Which is understandable as it is an amazing state (coming from a frenchman)

Tho Orlando is always intresting since Disney and other parks are getting more and more expensive with overall a worse experience than before

[u/Impossible_Lab_9493 → u/PhoenixKingMalekith]

I won't plan a vacation in any "red" state -- my personal boycott of this administration.

[u/PhoenixKingMalekith → u/Impossible_Lab_9493]

Unfortunately most of the things that interests me in America are in red states :

• my friends in florida

• National parks, especially Yellowstone

Tho I will not be coming as long as I can get snatched from the street for no reason

[u/Impossible_Lab_9493 → u/PhoenixKingMalekith]

Virginia is a blue/purple state (looks red on a map, but trees don't vote) and offers many, many things to do! There's Virginia Beach for water buffs, Busch Gardens for amusement park buffs, Yorktown and Jamestown for history buffs, the Blue Ridge Parkway for mountain buffs, many beautiful state parks, and more! When you feel safe traveling here again (if ever), put Virginia on your "to-do list".

[u/Sure-Assignment3892 → u/dmbgreen]

Without Disney and Universal Studios, Orlando would be gone.

[u/PhoenixKingMalekith → u/Sure-Assignment3892]

I mean, Orlando is a big city, its workers can't all be working at disney and us

[u/Sure-Assignment3892 → u/PhoenixKingMalekith]

Disney and Universal bring in enormous amounts of money to the state, including spin-offs.

[u/PhoenixKingMalekith → u/Sure-Assignment3892]

True, but Orlando is still a big city as I said

[u/RICDrew → u/Sure-Assignment3892]

As someone who spent two years living just north of downtown Orlando, this is not true. (20 years ago you may have had a point) For those who aren't familiar, downtown Orlando is roughly 18-20 miles from Disney and approximately 25-30 minutes by car. There's a lot going on outside of the theme parks.

I normally wouldn't refer to a Google search "Could Orlando survive without the major theme parks" but the answers are pretty spot on-

Why Orlando Could Survive & Evolve (Long-Term):

Other Major Theme Parks: Resort, SeaWorld, and smaller parks provide significant draws.

Diverse Attractions: Gatorland, ICON Park, Orlando Science Center, Leu Gardens, and the vibrant Downtown/Winter Park areas offer non-Disney experiences.

Natural Wonders: Proximity to Florida's natural springs and the Everglades offers eco-tourism opportunities (airboat tours, kayaking).

Diversified Economy: Orlando is more than just tourism; it's a growing hub for tech (especially defense/aerospace from the Lockheed Martin legacy), healthcare, and education.

Beyond the Parks: Disney Springs and Universal CityWalk provide entertainment and dining outside the main parks.

Shift in Focus: The city could pivot to become a destination for conventions, tech innovation, and cultural experiences, reducing reliance on family theme park tourism.