Disney scraps Lake Nona, Florida campus, amid DeSantis feud

disney Amid mounting tensions with the governor, it abandoned plans to open a new employee campus in Lake Nona, Florida.

Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney’s Parks, Experiences and Products division, wrote a memo to employees on Thursday, citing “changing business conditions” and the return of CEO Bob Iger. announced that the company would not proceed with campus construction. It will no longer require more than 2,000 California-based employees to relocate to Florida.

“This was not an easy decision, but I believe it was the right one,” D’Amaro told employees.

When former CEO Bob Chapek first announced plans to relocate in July 2021, many Disney employees balked at the company’s relocation plans. Some left the company or moved to other posts within Disney that didn’t require a move to Florida, but others were hopeful that the plans would fizzle out after the postponement. The campus was originally scheduled to open in 2022-2023, but was later postponed to 2026.

Disney is headquartered in Burbank, California, but operates numerous satellite offices nationwide and around the world.

D’Amaro said employees who have already relocated to Florida may be able to move back to California.

“It is clear that the strength of this brand comes from our amazing people and we are fully committed to handling this change with the utmost care and compassion,” he said.

Disney’s announcement comes amid a bitter feud between the company and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The company filed a lawsuit accusing DeSantis And the District’s new Board of Trustees carry out a campaign of political retaliation against the entertainment giant.

DeSantis comes after the company publicly criticized a controversial Florida bill — dubbed “Don’t Say Gay” by critics — that would limit discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in classrooms. , targeted a special Disney district formerly known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District.

For decades, the special districts have allowed entertainment giants to effectively self-regulate Orlando’s park operations. The district was eventually left alone, but the five-member board of directors was replaced by DeSantis’ electors and renamed the Central Florida Tourist Observatory.

Disney filed a lawsuit in late April after a new board voted to cancel a development deal the company said it entered into to secure its investment. The company has since updated its lawsuit to include newly passed legislation targeting its monorail system. As further evidence of reprisal by the governor.

Iger publicly denounced DeSantis And the Florida government, noting that Disney creates thousands of indirect jobs and brings about 50 million tourists to Florida each year, the state’s largest taxpayer.

In a statement late Thursday, DeSantis representatives said the decision to close the Lake Nona campus was “not surprising.”

DeSantis’ office said in a statement: “Disney announced the potential for a Lake Nona campus about two years ago. Nothing has come of this project, and the state is uncertain whether it will come to fruition. I didn’t have it,” he said.

In the memo, D’Amaro reiterated that the company plans to invest $17 billion in Florida over the next 10 years, including adding about 13,000 jobs. The company currently employs more than 75,000 people in the state.

Disney declined to provide a specific update on its investment, but previously announced plans to update park attractions, expand existing parks and add more Florida cruise ships.

“I remain optimistic about the direction of Walt Disney World’s business,” D’Amaro told employees.