Disney scraps $867m Florida plan amid Ron DeSantis feud

The Walt Disney Company has decided to cancel its nearly $1 billion plan to build a new corporate campus in Florida. The decision comes amid a growing dispute between Disney and Florida’s Republican-led government led by Ron DeSantis.

The plan involved relocating around 2,000 employees to a Disney-owned complex in Lake Nona, near Orlando. The cancellation was communicated to employees in an internal email, citing significant changes and shifting business conditions as the reasons behind the decision. While the email did not explicitly mention politics or Governor DeSantis, it is seen as a reference to the tensions between Disney and Florida lawmakers.

The cancellation follows the appointment of ex-CEO Bob Chapek’s replacement and is part of a series of changes being implemented to boost Disney’s business, which has faced challenges due to the decline of traditional media industries. The decision affects the relocation of high-paying, white-collar, and tech-focused positions to Florida. Additionally, Disney announced other cost-saving measures, including the closure of a Star Wars-themed hotel experience at one of its Florida theme parks.

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