Disney cancels plans for new Florida campus amid feud with DeSantis 

Disney announced on Thursday that it is canceling its plans to build a new campus in Florida as the feud with Gov. Ron DeSantis continues. 

Disney said it was scrapping its plans to build the $1 billion office complex due to “changing business conditions,” according to a memo provided by a spokesperson. 

"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 construction of the campus," Disney said in a statement.

In 2021, Disney announced plans to relocate around 2,000 of its California employees to the company’s new campus in Orlando’s Lake Nona community, about 20 miles from Walt Disney World, to work in digital technology, finance, and product development. However, the move, which was expected to take place by the end of 2022, was delayed until 2026.  

The move comes as Disney and Governor DeSantis have battled for more than a year after Disney’s former CEO verbally opposed Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act, known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which limits the discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation in classrooms with students aged nine or younger.

The feud intensified when DeSantis ended Disney’s autonomy over the area surrounding its Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando—a measure that had been implemented more than 50 years ago—and appointed a new board to oversee the district.

DeSantis spokesperson Jeremy Redfern said Disney’s announcement was “unsurprising,” particularly due to “the company’s financial straits, falling market cap, and declining stock price.”

“It is unfortunate that Disney will not be moving forward with construction of the Lake Nona campus,” Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings said in a statement. “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.”