Orange County Sets Record with Highest-Ever June Tourist Tax Collections Thanks to Epic Universe

Tourist Tax Revenue Soars in Orange County, Fueled by Epic Universe Opening

Orange County, Florida, has achieved a new financial milestone, recording its highest-ever tourist tax collections for the month of June. According to a recent report from Orange County Comptroller Phil Diamond, officials are directly attributing this record-setting performance to the opening of Universal’s new theme park, Epic Universe.

Related – Epic Universe Attraction Welcomes 1 Million Guests

The tourist development tax, a 6% tax levied on hotel stays and short-term rentals under six months, is a key source of revenue for Orange County. Funds from this tax are utilized for the maintenance and operation of public destinations, such as convention centers and museums, as well as for promoting tourism within the area.

In the newly released report for June 2025, total tax collections reached an impressive $33.7 million. This figure represents a 10.3% increase compared to June 2024, solidifying it as the highest June collection on record. The Orlando Sentinel also reported that this marks the “second record-setting month in a row,” following a strong May 2025 that saw collections exceed $30 million.

Comptroller Phil Diamond highlighted the connection to the new theme park, stating, “The strong collections in June represent the first full month following the grand opening of Epic Universe on May 22.” While Universal’s parent company, Comcast Corp., does not publicly report the specific financial data for each park, the historical context supports the theory. The Orlando Sentinel notes that similar bumps in tax collections followed the openings of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which saw an 8% increase, and Islands of Adventure at Universal, which drove a 2% increase.

Looking to the future, the tax collections for the current fiscal year, which began on October 1, 2024, are already $16.3 million ahead of the previous year. This trend suggests that Orange County may see more record-breaking months ahead. In other news for the new park, Mark Woodbury, the Chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences, has already indicated that Universal is considering future expansion for Epic Universe with new attractions and intellectual property.

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