Disney joins a notable roster of companies in Lake Nona that includes Ames, Beep, Chopra Global, Cisco, ClosetMaid, GE, GuideWell, Hitachi, Johnson & Johnson, KPMG, leAD, Lilium, Nemours, Signet, Siemens, Signature Flight Support/BBA Aviation, SimCom, UCF, UF, USTA, VA, Verizon, View and more.
Walt Disney World Resort has been a draw for Orlando for generations, and recently, the Walt Disney Company announced it will move employees from its Parks, Experiences and Products Division in Anaheim, California, to Lake Nona.
The company will build a new regional campus in Lake Nona and relocate more than 2,000 Disney employees. According to Forbes.com, the 2,000 workers comprise less than five percent of Disney’s staff in California.
Many of these jobs are expected to be employees who work in publishing, shopDisney merchandise, and the Disney Cruise Line. There’s also speculation that some of the creatives who work in Walt Disney Imagineering will be relocated to Lake Nona. Disney’s film and television divisions are expected to stay at the current offices in Burbank, California.
The location and opening date for the new Disney workspace in Lake Nona has not been released, but Disney’s plans to expand to Lake Nona have been ongoing since 2019 and are expected to occur over the next 18 months.
The historic announcement was welcomed by local economic development executives.
“It’s a big day for Lake Nona,” said Tim Giuliani, president and CEO of the Orlando Economic Partnership.
“By choosing to build a new regional campus … Disney will become part of this smart city where cutting-edge ideas turn into realities,” said Nick Beucher, president of Tavistock Development Company, the owner/developer of Lake Nona.
With an annual average salary of $120,000, the incoming Disney professionals will make a considerable impact in Lake Nona’s economy.
In a letter to employees, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products chairman Josh D’Amaro labeled Lake Nona a vibrant community and said, “This new project will create a dynamic environment to support our expanding businesses.”
Disney appears to be coming back online strongly after a rough 2020. Although the global pandemic shuttered theme parks around the world and forced layoffs for 6,500 Disney workers, both Disneyland and Walt Disney World continue to increase capacity at theme parks, water parks, golf courses and hotels.
Over the next year, two new fireworks shows and multiple attractions are set to open at Orlando’s Walt Disney World Resort.
Walt Disney World Resort opened its doors on Oct. 1, 1971. By 2018, the average annual attendance was 58 million visitors. The theme park will celebrate its 50th anniversary this fall.
