The ongoing feud between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Disney has not impacted Disney World operations, according to the head of Disney’s parks division.


What You Need To Know

  • Disney World's business operations have not been impacted by the ongoing feud between Gov. DeSantis and Disney, executive says

  • Disney Parks, Experiences and Products chairman Josh D'Amaro spoke during the J.P. Morgan investors conference

  • D'Amaro also discussed the company's decision to cancel the Lake Nona campus

  • RELATED: Disney Parks chairman discusses Star Wars: Galactic Starcuiser closure

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro spoke during a question-and-answer session at the J.P. Morgan Global Technology, Media and Communications Conference on Monday.

“As you’ve seen in our results, the progress that we’ve made coming out of COVID has been exceptionally strong,” D’Amaro said. “So some of the things that are happening — and I assume you mean from a political perspective, etc. — some of the things that have taken place have not impacted our business results.”

Earlier this month, the company reported that revenue in the Parks, Experiences and Products division rose 17% to $7.8 billion in the second quarter

During the Q&A, D’Amaro also talked about the company canceling its Lake Nona campus, reiterating what he said in a staff memo last week that the decision was because of new leadership and changing business conditions.

“Taking that all into account, we said we think at this point in time we’ll reverse that decision, we’re not going to have the campus in Florida, and we’ll keep things as they are,” D’Amaro said.

The cancellation of the campus does not impact the $17 billion Disney plans to invest in Florida over the next 10 years, according to D’Amaro. That investment, announced by CEO Bob Iger last month, includes the transformation of EPCOT, an update to Star Tours and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

D’Amaro also mentioned the blue sky projects he discussed at D23 Expo in September as part of the investment to grow the theme parks.

“I’m excited about what’s in store for Florida and where we can take things,” he said.

D’Amaro’s comments come as Disney engages in a legal dispute with DeSantis. The company filed a federal lawsuit last month against the governor and the DeSantis-appointed board overseeing its special district, accusing them of a “campaign of government retaliation.” Disney filed an amendment to the lawsuit earlier this month to include recent examples of what it called a continued "retaliatory campaign."

The feud began more than a year ago when Disney publicly opposed the state’s Parental Rights in Education legislation, dubbed “Don’t Say Gay” by critics. That measure bans discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in most public schools.

Disney is also in the middle of a company-wide strategy to cut $5.5 billion in costs, with measures that include thousands of layoffs. D'Amaro said his department is making cuts, but he will not eliminate frontline positions.

“What I will not do is cut any labor from the frontline,” D’Amaro said. “I want to make sure that our frontline cast members service our guests and create that true Disney difference.”

-

Facebook Twitter