Headline RoundupMay 18th, 2023

Disney Scraps Plans for New $1B Florida Campus

Summary from the AllSides News Team

Disney announced Thursday in an email to its employees that it is canceling plans to build a nearly $1 billion campus in Florida, citing the return of CEO Bob Iger and “changing business conditions.”

The Details: The construction reportedly would have relocated from California 2,000 high-paying jobs to Lake Nona, FL, roughly 20 miles from Disney’s park near Orlando. Reportedly, both Disney’s ongoing feud with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the reluctance of employees to move from California contributed to the company’s decision.

For Context: The announcement comes a week after Iger said Disney’s dispute with DeSantis made the company question its continued investment in Florida. DeSantis recently stripped Disney of the autonomy it enjoyed over its property near Orlando as part of a political feud with former CEO Bob Chapek over Florida House Bill 1557, which the media has dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

Key Quotes: Josh D’Amaro, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts chairperson said in the email, “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.” A representative for Desantis said, “Disney announced the possibility of a Lake Nona campus nearly two years ago. Nothing ever came of the project,” and called its move to nix construction “unsurprising.”

How The Media Covered It: Sources across the spectrum covered the events similarly.

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