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Hear what both the mayor of Orange County and governor of Florida had to say about the canceled project. Are you surprised by Florida’s response?
Canceled
The Walt Disney Company made plans to move several offices and about 2,000 people from California to Florida. Specifically, these moves were to be to Lake Nona and take place in 2022 and 2023. Given the current relationship with Florida, some were upset by this move and wished to stay in California. Some even left the company.
After this big announcement, the Walt Disney Company had a falling out with the state of Florida. Soon after, Disney shared that the move to Lake Nona is delayed until 2026. They previously bought more acreage for this move, and some employees had already sold California homes and begun looking for Florida homes.
We learned earlier this afternoon that this Lake Nona move is officially canceled. The Walt Disney Company will not move the offices currently located in California. Disney is reportedly helping those employees who already moved to Florida get back to California.
In an email to staff, Josh D’Amaro said the company made the decision to not move forward. “This was not an easy decision, but I believe it is the right one.”
Orange County Mayor Responds
The major of Orange County, Jerry Demings, had this to say about the news:
“It is unfortunate that Disney will not be moving forward with construction of the Lake Nona campus. However, these are the consequences when there isn’t an inclusive and collaborative work environment between the state of Florida and the business community. We will continue to work closely with our valued partners at Disney.”
It sounds like the mayor is siding with Disney on this issue and places the blame on the state of Florida.
Florida Governor Responds
The press office for Ron DeSantis responded to the canceled project:
“Disney announced the possibility of a Lake Nona campus nearly two years ago. Nothing ever came of the project, and the state was unsure whether it would come to fruition.
Given the company’s financial straits, failing market cap, and declining stock price, it is unsurprising that they would restructure their business operations and cancel unsuccessful ventures.”
What do you think of these comments? Are Florida’s comments surprising to you? Let us know in the comments below. Be sure to pass this post along to a friend who will find this information beneficial.
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Mike B
Saturday 20th of May 2023
Caring about prices being high implies wanting what Disney is selling. If Disney leaves, that won't be available at any price.
Theresa Hamilton
Friday 19th of May 2023
Not true. Covid-19 set things back. It was still in the works until the hostile Business TACTICS OF THE GOP here, are now having many companies rethink being based in Florida. It was very much in progress..until now. Know personally some impacted by this change.
William Wyatt
Friday 19th of May 2023
You can spin it anyway you want but your glorious governor is to blame for this and he deserves it because he is a my way or the highway kind of guy and when you are over people, that's the worst thing you can be. It works for a little while due to fear but the fear leaves and the anger builds.
Louie
Friday 19th of May 2023
Free market
Elspeth Shane
Friday 19th of May 2023
For those complaining about “Californians” holding those jobs…where do you think the taxes they pay will go after they and their job MOVE to Florida? Not California. And those taxes, not just income tax but property tax and sales tax and use tax and fuel tax and and and, would be coming from some of the HIGHEST paid employees Disney currently has in California. These are low to mid six figure jobs not minimum wage. People making $250,000 pay a whole lot in taxes. Some where between 300,000,000 and approximately 500,000,000 in capital from salary alone will not be going into the FL economy now. Is FL so wealthy that it can blithely turn away from a 300 MILLION dollar boost to its economy? And that’s before one penny of increased corporate tax is paid.
For those of you calling for Disney to leave FL, what do you think is going to happen to a state of 20,000,000 people when the largest employer and largest tax base leaves? Only 70,000 people will leave (assuming they all leave FL - which is absurd, most will stay) so you’ll still have 20 MILLION people to support (including a whole lot of old sick ones that drain the economy rather than build it up) but you’ll lose 1.146 BILLION in tax revenue. Where does FL make up a hit like that to its tax base? And that’s just the direct corporate taxes paid to FL…what about the literal BILLIONS removed from the economy from lack of tourism? The 21 year old spring breakers are not going to make that up, nor can it be made up through retirees.
FL is at risk of literally not existing if all the climate doomsayers are correct…but Disney doesn’t want to lose that investment if it stays in FL…Disney is where the money to build sea walls will come from. Before Disney, FL was a backwater swamp and pretty much looked on as backwards. Without Disney FL literally drops under water after its financial obliteration.