Disney sued by workers for moving for cancelled project

Disney workers are suing the company for damages after being asked to move across the country for a later canceled project. 

In a proposed class action lawsuit, they claim that the media giant misled them when it announced plans in 2021 to open a new $1 billion campus for theme park staff in Florida.

Approximately 2,000 employees in California were told to either relocate or resign. However, less than two years later, Disney reversed its decision.

The complaint states that employees, relying on Disney's promises, made significant life changes, including selling their homes and purchasing new ones, resulting in substantial moving expenses.

Disney has declined to comment on the lawsuit, which was filed by Maria de la Cruz, a vice president of product design, and George Fong, a creative director of product design. 

The company abandoned the Lake Nona campus plan in 2023 after Bob Iger returned as CEO and initiated major cost-cutting measures. 

This decision also came after a public dispute with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over Disney's relationship with the state.

The project’s uncertain fate coincided with a significant rise in home prices and mortgage rates in the U.S., a factor that surveys indicate has made Americans more hesitant to relocate for work. 

The lawsuit claims that Disney's initial plans drove up home prices in the area, which fell after the project was canceled.