We are in the midst of an unprecedented period of change within the Disney company. Just in the past year alone, we witnessed a dramatic CEO shakeup, the closure of a popular Magic Kingdom attraction, and currently we are preparing for the beginning of the official 100th Anniversary celebrations for the Walt Disney Company.

Orlando is preparing to welcome a LOT of new residents in the coming years

Disney is certainly sticking to their motto to “keep moving forward!” The Lake Nona project that started gaining traction in 2021 has just hit some important milestones, so we’re going to take a look at what’s in store for both the region and the Disney employees impacted by the relocation.

In early 2021, Disney hinted at plans to create a commercial and residential community in Lake Nona, an Orlando, Florida, neighborhood, for certain divisions of employees. The same summer, a press release stated Disney had purchased land for what they are calling a “regional campus” for their Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products team members. Since then we hadn’t heard much regarding the project, but recent developments have given us a clearer picture of what exactly the Lake Nona project will look like for both Disney employees and current Orlando residents.

©Disney | Walt Disney Company Headquarters

The Orlando Business Journal reported that City of Orlando records show Disney is searching for a specific parcel master plan “for the development of an approximately 1.8 million-square-foot office complex with office and flex space within the Lake Nona PD, Parcel 20A.” It appears that the original timeline for the project has been lengthened; back in July of 2021, Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, estimated the move would take place within the following 18 months. Later, a Disney spokesperson stated their new anticipated completion date is sometime in 2026.

Walt Disney Company Headquarters ©LA Times

Disney is hoping this new timeline will accommodate their employees as they relocate from California to central Florida. Plus, it will give them ample time to complete all of their construction projects, which are pretty ambitious. Plans filed with the city call for 1.8 million square feet of office space. On the north side of Lake Nona Boulevard will be six office buildings, two flex buildings, three parking garages, and a central plant. They are aiming to stick to a “strong open space element” according to a memo on the plans, and site plans reveal a network of walkways as well as open areas for employees and visitors.

©Pixar

When finished, the plan is for all of the buildings to face a central park with pedestrian walkways between each of the buildings. These plans also revealed the project team and firms that will be creating the new Lake Nona Campus. Orlando-based Harris Civil Engineers LLC will be working alongside Langan Engineering, Inc. and HOK, an architect firm known for its innovative and collaboration-focused office designs. They’ve created campuses for companies like LG and Honeywell and are known for their sustainable designs, so we are eager to see what they have planned for Lake Nona.

Central Wolfe Overall Courtyard, example of work by HOK © HOK

Construction and opening will be phased to allow for Disney employees to relocate on their own timeline. The company anticipates adding 2,000 employees to this new Florida campus. With these recent plans we are anticipating more updates on the Lake Nona campus, and you can always count on DFB for bringing you the latest!

Curious about where things stand with the Reedy Creek dissolution? Click here to read the latest update.

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun!

Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!

With more than 900 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs!

You'll get a Reference Guide, a 101 Plan, and a Printables and Resources Guide! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis; and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.

Click here to order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today!

Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today!

Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. 🙂

What do you think of Disney’s plans to relocate their workers from California to Florida? Comment your thoughts below!

TRENDING NOW