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The Walt Disney Company and the state of Florida are not on the best terms right now. This latest step back may give us a glimpse into their relationship.
Issues with Florida
The last few months have been a bit turbulent between the state of Florida and The Walt Disney Company. Florida recently passed the Parental Rights in Education Law. The Walt Disney Company originally remained quiet surrounding this bill despite pleas from employees and fans for them to take an official stance. Tension built until CEO Bob Chapek denounced the bill, but many believed it was too little, too late.
The company has even gone so far to say that they would actively work to get the bill repealed, which caused DeSantis to retaliate in his own public speakings.
The tension between the company and the state continued worsen as state Republicans repealed the Reedy Creek Improvement Act of 1967. Essentially, the law states that Disney is its own governing body in the two cities and land within Orange and Osceola counties. While much of that situation remains unresolved, this friction may cause Disney to think twice.
Move to Lake Nona
The Walt Disney Company made plans to move about 2,000 people from California to Florida. Specifically, these moves were to be to Lake Nona and take place this year and next. Given the current relationship with Florida, some were upset by this move and wished to stay in California. Some even left the company.
Now, Disney shares that the move to Lake Nona is delayed until 2026. They previously bought more acreage for this move, and some employees have already sold California homes and began looking for Florida homes. This delay will no doubt affect a lot of people.
“While a growing number of our employees, who will ultimately work at the campus, have already made the move to Central Florida, we also want to continue to provide flexibility to those relocating, especially given the anticipated competition date of the campus is now in 2026. Therefore, where possible, we are aligning the relocation period with the campus completion.”
Disney made no mention of why the move was delayed other than the campus completion date. We do wish to state the issues with Florida are not known to be the cause for the delay, but given the current public feud between the two it is possible Disney may holding back a bit.
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Bill
Saturday 18th of June 2022
In the meantime…California thanks you for the taxes
Patrick Piteo
Thursday 16th of June 2022
I don’t believe everything I read but I’m guessing this is the real answer money matters to disney and right now economically putting it off makes sense.. and the feud thing is political BS. In the end the development thing will get settled and do you really think Disney wants to stay in business unfriendly California? The state that kept them shut down when wdw was opened so they could stay afloat and make money
Sue
Thursday 16th of June 2022
For employees who have already purchased homes I am sure they will be allowed to work for their new homes in Florida u til the office is up and running……this just people more time to get themselves settled…….and when was disney ever on time with any construction…..the answer is never
Patrick Piteo
Thursday 16th of June 2022
Well here you go Disneys official response…. And it has nothing to do with politics.. from the AP
Disney delaying Florida campus but not because of tensions
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — The Walt Disney Co. is delaying by more than three years the opening of a campus in central Florida to which 2,000 workers were being relocated from Southern California to work in digital technology, finance and product development. Despite being targeted in recent months by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature, Disney officials said Thursday the delay had nothing to do with tensions with state officials. Instead, more time was needed to build the campus in the Orlando area and the company wanted to give workers additional time to adjust to the transition.
Monica Street
Thursday 16th of June 2022
It appears the AP article was posted around the same time or even after I published my own so that would be new information that I had not seen before doing my own research. Still not sure I 100% believe Disney's "official" response. Time will tell, I suppose.
Lookin Good
Thursday 16th of June 2022
Construction supply chain, recession coming, construction materials way overpriced and the stock performing even worse than others on the DJIA. But yeah it's "Florida". And if you "mentioned it in the article" maybe just start with a non-salacious headline.