Plans by Walt Disney Co, to build a $1 billion campus in Orlando’s Lake Nona campus are dead.
In an email to employees on Thursday, Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, said that “new leadership and changing business conditions” prompted the company to abandon those plans.
“Given the considerable changes that have occurred since the announcement of this project, including new leadership and changing business conditions, we have decided not to move forward with the construction of the campus. This was not an easy decision to make, but I believe it is the right one,” D’Amaro wrote, according to the Orlando Business Journal.
“As a result, we will no longer be asking our employees to relocate. For those who have already moved, we will talk to you individually about your situation, including the possibility of moving you back.”
Disney had planned to build the campus about 20 miles (30 kilometers) from the giant Walt Disney World theme park resort. The new location would have served as a base for Walt Disney’s California-based Imagineering and the Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products division.
The intended move of about 2,000 employees from the California-based Imagineering across the country drew complaints from employees, many of whom said they did not want to move to Florida, reports Reuters.
“I remain optimistic about the direction of our Walt Disney World business,” D’Amaro said. “We have plans to invest $17 billion and create 13,000 jobs over the next ten years. I hope we’re able to do so.”
The ongoing Disney – DeSantis tug-of-war
The Associated Press is reporting that Disney and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have been engaged in a tug-of-war for more than a year that has engulfed the GOP governor in criticism as he prepares to launch an expected presidential bid in the coming weeks.
DeSantis spokesman Jeremy Redfern said the state had been unsure whether the new Disney campus would come to fruition since it was announced nearly two years ago.
“Given the company’s financial straits, falling market cap, and declining stock price, it is unsurprising that they would restructure their business operations and cancel unsuccessful ventures,” Redfern said.
Florida Sen. Joe Gruters, a former chairman of the state Republican Party, called Disney’s decision a huge loss.
“I hope we can put this conflict behind us and get back to a more normal working relationship with a company that’s been one of our best business and tourism partners that we’ve had over the last 50 years,” Gruters said. “Two thousand jobs and a billion dollars worth of investments into our state, I would say that’s a serious blow. The market is much better at dealing with companies rather than a heavy-handed government.”
The feud between the governor and Disney started in March 2022, after Disney, in the face of significant pressure, publicly opposed the state concerning lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades that critics called “Don’t Say Gay.”
As punishment, DeSantis took over Disney World’s self-governing district through legislation passed by lawmakers and appointed a new board of supervisors. The governor argued that “woke Disney” should not receive special treatment in the state.
