Disney and DeSantis-appointed board reach settlement after yearslong dispute

Mar 27, 2024

Lauren Taylor Reporter

By Lauren Taylor (Reporter), Jake Maslo (Video Editor)

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Disney and the board of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District reached a settlement in a lawsuit concerning the special governing district where Disney is located. Disney and the board, appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, reached the settlement on Wednesday, March 27, ending a yearslong legal dispute.

For decades, Disney held sway over the district. However, the dynamics shifted when Disney clashed publicly with DeSantis over Florida Parental Rights in Education law, which critics labeled the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

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The law imposed restrictions on the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in Florida’s public classrooms. Disney voiced opposition to the bill, prompting DeSantis to urge the Florida Legislature to revoke Disney’s special privileges and control over the special tax district. Subsequently, Florida’s Republican-led Legislature granted DeSantis the authority to appoint a new board of supervisors to oversee the district.

Disney responded by filing a lawsuit, alleging that its right to free speech had been infringed. This legal conflict spanned two years.

As part of the settlement, Disney has withdrawn its lawsuit against the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and acknowledged that its last-minute development agreements are void and unenforceable.

“No corporation should act as its own government,” said Bryan Griffin, a spokesperson for DeSantis. “Moving forward, we are prepared to collaborate with Disney and the district to promote economic growth, family-friendly tourism, and accountable government in Central Florida.”

Jeff Vahle, president of Walt Disney World, issued a brief statement expressing satisfaction with the settlement.

“We are pleased to conclude all pending litigation in Florida state court between Disney and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District,” Vahle said. “This agreement marks a new era of constructive engagement with the district’s new leadership and serves the interests of all parties by facilitating significant continued investment, the creation of thousands of direct and indirect jobs, and economic opportunities in the state.”

Tags: Disney, Disney World, Don’t Say Gay, Florida, Ron DeSantis

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

AFTER A YEARS-LONG FIGHT…
DISNEY AND A CENTRAL FLORIDA TOURISM BOARD, APPOINTED BY FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS, REACHED A SETTLEMENT IN A LAWSUIT REGARDING THE SPECIAL GOVERNING DISTRICT IN WHICH DISNEY IS LOCATED.

FOR DECADES – DISNEY HAD CONTROL OVER THE DISTRICT – AND THAT EFFECTIVELY CHANGED WHEN DISNEY AND GOVERNOR DESANTIS FOUGHT PUBLICLY OVER FLORIDA’S “PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION” LAW – WHICH CRITICS DUBBED THE “DON’T SAY GAY” BILL.

THE LAW PUT RESTRICTIONS ON ISSUES LIKE SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY – AND HOW THEY’RE TAUGHT IN FLORIDA PUBLIC CLASSROOMS.

DISNEY CAME OUT IN OPPOSITION TO THE BILL.

IN RETALIATION – GOVERNOR DESANTIS ASKED THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO END DISNEY’S SPECIAL PRIVILEGES AND ITS CONTROL OVER THE SPECIAL TAX DISTRICT.

FLORIDA’S REPUBLICAN-LED LEGISLATURE THEN GAVE DESANTIS THE POWER TO APPOINT A NEW BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO OVERSEE THE DISTRICT.

DISNEY SUED CLAIMING IT’S RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH WAS VIOLATED – WHICH LED TO A TWO-YEARS-LONG COURT BATTLE.

AS PART OF THE SETTLEMENT, DISNEY HAS DROPPED ITS LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CENTRAL FLORIDA TOURISM OVERSIGHT DISTRICT AND “CONCEDED THAT THEIR LAST-MINUTE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS ARE NULL, VOID, AND UNENFORCEABLE” ACCORDING TO GOVERNOR DESANTIS’ SPOKESPERSON – BRYAN GRIFFIN – SAYING IN A STATEMENT: ” No corporation should act as its own government. Moving forward, we are prepared to collaborate with Disney and the district to promote economic growth, family-friendly tourism, and accountable government in Central Florida.”

WALT DISNEY WORLD’S PRESIDENT -JEFF VAHLE- RELEASED A BRIEF STATEMENT ON THE SETTLEMENT SAYING “WE ARE PLEASED TO PUT AN END TO ALL LITIGATION PENDING IN STATE COURT IN FLORIDA BETWEEN DISNEY AND THE CENTRAL FLORIDA TOURISM OVERSIGHT DISTRICT. THIS AGREEMENT OPENS A NEW CHAPTER OF CONSTRUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE NEW LEADERSHIP OF THE DISTRICT AND SERVES THE INTERESTS OF ALL PARTIES BY ENABLING SIGNIFICANT CONTINUED INVESTMENT AND THE CREATION OF THOUSANDS OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT JOBS AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN THE STATE.”

Disney and DeSantis-appointed board reach settlement after yearslong dispute

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