Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) is currently engaged in a lawsuit with Florida’s Republican governor and possible 2024 presidential candidate Ron DeSantis over theme parks district control.
Disney is also scrapping plans to build a nearly $1 billion corporate campus in central Florida that would have housed 2,000 employees, according to an e-mail to employees on Thursday, against the backdrop of its ongoing legal battle with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Disney had planned to relocate employees, including its Imagineers who design theme park rides, to a new campus in Lake Nona which would have served as a base for Walt Disney Imagineering and the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products division.
In a call with investors last week, Disney’s CEO called into question their future investments in Florida, making some question Disney’s previously announced plans to invest $17 billion to expand the resort over the next decade.
The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel opened last year as part of Disney’s new Star Wars expansion. The hotel will take fans to a Galaxy Far, Far Away until October 1, 2023, after which it will close its doors for good.
The hotel was criticized for being too expensive. A room for three adults and one child is priced at $5,999 (£4,832), while a cabin for two guests comes in at $4,809 (£3,873). This rises to $5,299 (£4268) for three guests.
Disney profits nearly tripled, while also posting a 17% increase from their Theme Park division in 2022.
Disney’s lawsuit against Florida claims that DeSantis carried out a ‘targeted campaign of government retaliation’ against Disney after the company opposed legislation dubbed ‘Don’t Say Gay’. The state law, formally called the Parental Rights in Education bill, prohibits lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early-grade classrooms.
Comments / 0