Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle addresses the cancellation of Lake Nona campus

May 18, 2023 in "The Walt Disney Company"

Posted: Thursday May 18, 2023 4:$5pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle has written to Orlando area community leaders with comments on Disney's decision to cancel its planned Lake Nona campus.

Although not specifically mentioning the actions of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Vahle says, "several dynamics have changed, including a change in company leadership and evolving economic and business conditions." 

Vahle repeats previous messaging that current plans are to invest $17 billion in Walt Disney World over the next 10 years, creating 13,000 new jobs. He also speaks of Disney's tax contributions, employment record, and contributions to the wider community.

You can view his full statement below.

Dear Community Leaders,

Today, you may have heard the news that Disney is no longer moving forward on the construction of a new campus in the thriving and growing community of Lake Nona in Orlando. Since we first announced this project, several dynamics have changed, including a change in company leadership and evolving economic and business conditions.

Regarding our world-class destination, our desire is to continue investing in our core business in an effort to attract and welcome millions of visitors to Walt Disney World and Central Florida each year so they can enjoy the kind of hospitality our region is known for around the world. Our plans currently call for us to invest $17 billion in Walt Disney World over the next 10 years and create 13,000 new jobs to continue doing our part as a leading employer in the hospitality and themed entertainment industry. We hope those plans will become a future reality.

For decades, we have operated our business responsibly and being the region's largest taxpayer, we paid and collected over $1.1 billion in state and local taxes during last year alone.
As the largest single-site employer in Central Florida, we are deeply rooted in this community, and we continue to make investments for the betterment of our region such as our contribution of 80 acres of land to create affordable and attainable housing for our community, which we announced last year.

Groundbreaking on this development is targeted for next year, with the first of 1,400 units anticipated to be completed in 2026.

We also continue to invest in our community through our broad array of philanthropic and citizenship efforts. Over the last 20 months, we've provided $6.5 million in grants to locally based, non-profit organizations such as Give Kids The World, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Conservation Florida, Heart of Florida United Way, Hope Partnership, The Nature Conservancy and more. This is on top of the donation of millions of hours of time that our Cast Members have contributed to deserving organizations over the decades.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the amazing dedication of the 75,000 Cast Members who call Central Florida their home. To them, we offer the best overall benefits package in the Central Florida hospitality industry, including an $18 minimum wage by the end of the year - which is well above the state's minimum wage - affordable medical coverage, subsidized childcare, access to free higher education through Disney Aspire our 100% paid tuition programs, and pathways to help Cast at every step of their career.

While today's decision was not easy, we remain committed to our Cast Members as well as you and our wonderful community.

Sincerely,

Jeff Vahle
President
Walt Disney World Resort

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Aries1975Jun 02, 2023

^^^^ This 100% I am not a realtor, or in sales of any sort. But if I had a business relationship with someone who may need my services, it would be advisable to contact them.

mktMay 23, 2023

Many thousands with remote jobs did just this. Even Florida at its most expensive is still comparatively cheaper than NYC or Socal/SF, especially if you’re earning NYC/Socal/SF wages.

LilofanMay 23, 2023

FL/GA stateline, law enforcement stopping vehicles with NJ/NY plates from entering the Sunshine State during summer 2020.

pdude81May 23, 2023

You don't think that transferring (presumably) good jobs to a lower cost of living state when the company is willing to pay for relocation might have factored in? It would be a rather odd route to go get a job in Anaheim if you really wanted to live and work in Florida. I would say that article might have more to do with a realtor cold calling people he recently got a commission from trying to get them to sell their houses near Orlando, and they told him to take a hike.

drizgirlMay 23, 2023

During Covid many did just that.

MrMichaelJamesMay 23, 2023

I hate to say it but those that moved from CA to FL probably did it more for the political environment in FL compared to CA and because it is something they believe in more than the Disney or job aspect. No one just ups and moves all the way across the country for cost of living issues before a job is actually there.

mktMay 21, 2023

Probably due to cost of living issues.

JMcMahonEsqMay 21, 2023

You have an interested author to be sure. But in general would it be surprising that people who were the first ones to make the move, would rather stay in Florida, rather than uproot again and move across the country for a second time?

WDWFanRayMay 21, 2023

Since everything on this mornings Realtor feed was about how to respond positively to questions about the Disney pullout, I’m going to say that this story, written by a real estate agent, should probably be taken with a grain of salt. I think very few would cutoff their guaranteed $132,000 (average relocated workers pay) job in California, to gamble to find something similar in Florida, especially with the higher paying jobs starting to dry up here.

Figgy1May 21, 2023

That and several who have made the move even if off record

Figgy1May 21, 2023

Just me but I trust nothing a realtor says. I want everything from them in writing, under oath and notarized. One who makes Youtube videos about how wonderful a location is maybe less so. That said there may be some truth to what he said as they did move well before any deadline and before ground was broken

BrianMay 21, 2023

I'd guess he's speaking to his experience, but he almost certainly doesn't have each of the people who made the move as one of his clients. I'd have preferred to see the author of the article get at least one other real estate agent in on the conversation.

lazyboy97oMay 21, 2023

It would make sense. These are the people who agreed to make the move and do it early before the campus was built. Although making an article out of one real estate agent’s discussions with past clients seems a bit silly. How many people out of 200 is this person actually talking with?

EPCOT-O.G.May 21, 2023

He’s a realtor, so some boosterism for the vibrancy of the local real estate market is to be expected. I think this is also the guy that, every few months, signal boosts the EPCOT hotel stuff.