The DeSantis v. Disney debacle has been going on for OVER a year.

What was once a relatively amicable relationship (at least from the outside) swiftly turned into a political battle for the ages. So just what led to Disney’s big fights with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the massive changes made to Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District, and other fights between the two sides? We have a FULL breakdown for you here.

Walt Disney World opened in Orlando, Florida on October 1st, 1971 and it’s dealt with a number of governors over its 50+ years in existence, and during the years of construction before opening day. But in 2019, Ron DeSantis became Florida’s 46th Governor (Florida Department of State) and that has marked some major changes for Disney in recent years.

By way of background, DeSantis is a native Floridian who went to Yale University, graduated from Harvard Law School, worked as a JAG officer in the U.S. Navy, served as a federal prosecutor, was elected to Congress in 2012 as the U.S. Representative for Florida’s 6th District, and then eventually became governor.

For a number of years, DeSantis’ relationship with Disney was relatively…well, uneventful. During one conversation we had with Professor Aubrey Jewett, an assistant school director and associate professor at the University of Central Florida, Jewett pointed out that Disney has typically worked “behind the scenes” to try and influence legislation. They’ve invested millions of dollars in donations to political parties and more over the last 25 years, they’ve given in-kind donations (like tickets to the parks and hotel stays) to political parties, and they’ve hired lobbyists.

Like any big corporation, Disney may give more to the party in charge at the time but still gives to the other party. Essentially, it was a sort of “spread the wealth” and get everyone on your side strategy that many big businesses use when it comes to political donations. But, with Republicans in control of the state of Florida’s government for the last several years, Disney has donated disproportionately to Republicans.

So what happened to cause a rift between Disney and the Florida Governor who actually got MARRIED at Disney World (Yes, DeSantis got married in Disney World and shared that the wedding “felt right out of a fairy tale” — Yahoo)?

Here’s a timeline of events that led these two parties to be in such a hostile relationship:

2022

January 2022

• January 11th, 2022 — HB 1557 — the Parental Rights in Education bill (what critics called the “Don’t Say Gay” bill) is introduced in the Florida House of Representatives

February 2022

• February 24th, 2022 — The bill is passed by the House of Representatives (69 YEAS to 47 NAYS)
• Also February 24th, 2022 — Disney CEO Bob Iger (who, at that time, was the retired CEO of Disney but is now back at the helm) issued a statement via Twitter
  • Iger shared, “If passed, this bill will put vulnerable, young LGBTQ people in jeopardy.”
• February 25th, 2022 — The Orlando Sentinel publishes a commentary piece by Scott Maxwell which notes that “Disney has given money to every single sponsor and co-sponsor of this year’s infamous ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill.”

March 2022

• March 3rd, 2022 — Hundreds gather at Disney theme parks in Florida and California to call on Disney to make a statement about the bill
• March 5th, 2022 — Disney issues an initial statement (shared by Good Morning America) on the matter.
  • The company says that it understands how important the issue is to the Company’s LGBTQ+ employees, and that the biggest impact Disney can have in “creating a more inclusive world is through the inspiring content [they] produce, the welcoming culture [they] create…and the diverse community organizations [they] support.”
• March 7th, 2022 — Then-Disney CEO Bob Chapek comments further on the matter via an internal Disney memo.
  • He notes that he met with some LGBTQ+ leaders at Disney to discuss the bill and said, “I and the entire leadership team unequivocally stand in support of our LGBTQ+ employees, their families, and their communities. And, we are committed to creating a more inclusive company—and world.”
  • But Chapek refused to issue a corporate statement, saying “As we have seen time and again, corporate statements do very little to change outcomes or minds. Instead, they are often weaponized by one side or the other to further divide and inflame. Simply put, they can be counterproductive and undermine more effective ways to achieve change.”
• March 8th, 2022 — The bill is passed by the Florida Senate (22 YEAS to 17 NAYS)

• March 9th, 2022 — Disney holds its annual shareholder meeting, where Chapek issues further statements on the “Don’t Say Gay” matter.
  • Chapek acknowledged that many were upset that Disney didn’t speak up against the bill sooner.
  • He shared that the company was “opposed to the bill from the outset, but [] chose not to take a public position on it because [they] thought [they] could be more effective working behind the scenes.” But Chapek revealed that that behind-the-scenes work had been unsuccessful.
  • Chapek said that he called Governor DeSantis to express his “disappointment and concern that if legislation becomes law, it could be used to unfairly target gay, lesbian, non-binary, and transgender kids and families.”
  • Chapek said that DeSantis had agreed to meet with him and a small delegation of Cast Members to discuss their concerns.
  • Chapek announced that they would be signing the Human Rights’ Campaign’s statement opposing similar legislative efforts and making a donation to the HRC.
• • DeSantis’ office noted: “Disney contacted our office today to speak with the governor. This is the first time we have heard from Disney regarding HB 1557…The governor did take the call from Mr. Chapek. The governor’s position has not changed.”
  • In DeSantis’ book — released Feb. 28, 2023, DeSantis said this about a phone call with Chapek: “As the controversy over the Parental Rights in Education bill was coming to a head, Chapek called me. He did not want Disney to get involved, but he was getting a lot of pressure to weigh in against the bill.” DeSantis said he warned Chapek that if Disney got involved, “People like [the Governor] will say, ‘Gee, how come Disney has never said anything about China, where they make a fortune?’”
• Also on March 9th — DeSantis’ office issues a statement on the matter
• March 10th, 2022 — DeSantis speaks up against Disney’s remarks.
  • According to WESH 2 News, DeSantis press secretary Christina Pushaw quotes the governor as saying: “How do they possibly explain lining their pockets with their relationship from the Communist Party of China? Because that’s what they do, and they make a fortune, and they don’t say a word about the really brutal practices at the hands of the CCP.”
  • The Governor has also said, “Companies that have made a fortune catering to families should understand that parents don’t want this injected into their kid’s kindergarten classroom. Our policies will be based on the best interest of Florida citizens, not [on] the musing of woke corporations.”

• Also on March 10th, 2022 — The Human Rights Campaign rejects Disney’s donation
  • Joni Madison, the Interim President of HRC, said that the HRC would NOT accept the money pledged by Disney until they “build on their public commitment and work with LGBTQ+ advocates to ensure that dangerous proposals, like Florida’s Don’t Say Gay or Trans bill, don’t become dangerous laws, and if they do, to work to get them off the books.”
  • Disney responded by saying that while they were “surprised and disappointed that [the HRC] will not take our financial support at this time, [they] remain[ed] committed to meaningful action to combat legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community.”
• March 11th, 2022 — Chapek issues an apology to employees of the Disney Company about the way the matter was handled.
  • Chapek stated, “You needed me to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights and I let you down. I am sorry.”
  • Chapek outlined some changes Disney would be making including increased support for advocacy groups to combat similar legislation in other states.
  • Disney announces that it will be pausing all political donations in Florida pending a review of Disney’s political giving.
• March 21st, 2022 — Disney holds a virtual town hall meeting with leadership and employees.
  • During the meeting, Chapek shared that the leadership team was “determined to use this moment as a catalyst for more meaningful and lasting change.”
  • Disney also indicated that it would be creating a companywide task force related to being a more positive force for the LGBT community.
  • And those at the Disney town hall meeting indicated that “new content for children and family” would be a “large part” of the focus of this new task force.
• March 22nd, 2022 — Disney employees hold walkouts in response to the Company’s response to the bill (some walkouts may have also taken place on other days around this time)
• March 28th, 2022 — Governor DeSantis signs the bill into law
• Also on March 28th, 2022 — Disney issues another statement opposing the law
  • In the statement, Disney said: “Florida’s HB 1557, also known as the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, should never have passed and should never have been signed into law.”
  • Disney continued: “Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organizations working to achieve that.”

• March 29th, 2022 — Governor DeSantis comments on Disney’s statements
  • DeSantis indicated that Disney “crossed a line.”
  • DeSantis said that Disney “didn’t seem to have a problem with [the law] when it was going through [the House]. If this is such an affront, why weren’t they speaking up at the outset?”
• Around March 30th, 2022 — Bob Iger (then a former Disney CEO) comments on why corporate leaders should “wade into major issues, like climate change, immigration and, most recently, Florida’s so-called ‘don’t say gay’ bill.’”
  • Iger shared “A lot of these issues are not necessarily political. It’s about right and wrong.”
• March 30th, 2022 — State Rep. Spencer Roach, R.-North Fort Myers, posted a tweet about potentially repealing the bill that established the Reedy Creek District
  • According to Roach, certain Florida legislators recently had a meeting (the second meeting in a week, actually) to discuss the repeal of the 1967 Reedy Creek Improvement Act. Roach said, “If Disney wants to embrace woke ideology, it seems fitting that they should be regulated by Orange County.”
• March 31st, 2022 — DeSantis comments on the possible repeal of Reedy Creek
  • DeSantis indicated that the repeal of the 1967 Reedy Creek Improvement Act (the “Act”) would not be done just as a form of retaliation against Disney and their response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
  • DeSantis said, “I would not say that that’d be retaliatory. I mean, the way I view it is, you know, there are certain entities that have exerted a lot of influence through corporate means to generate special privileges in the law…I don’t think we should have special privileges in the law at all.”

April 2022

• April 19th, 2022 — DeSantis expands the scope of the special session of the Florida Legislature to include potentially eliminating the Reedy Creek district
• April 19th, 2022 — A bill is filed in the Florida Senate to eliminate Reedy Creek (as well as certain other districts in Florida) — it would dissolve Reedy Creek on June 1st, 2023
• April 20th, 2022 — The bill to dissolve Reedy Creek is passed in the Florida Senate (23 YEAS to 16 NAYS)
• April 21st, 2022 — The bill to dissolve Reedy Creek is passed by the Florida House of Representatives (70 YEAS to 38 NAYS)
• April 22nd, 2022 — The bill to dissolve Reedy Creek by June 1st, 2023 is signed by the Florida Governor

May 2022

• Around May 16th, 2022 — DeSantis indicates that “the state will likely assume control of Disney World’s Reedy Creek Improvement District, rather than local governments absorbing it.” 
• May 16th, 2022 — A lawsuit is filed in Miami-Dade County against DeSantis regarding the dissolution

July 2022

• Speculation continues as to what will happen when Reedy Creek is dissolved

September 2022

• Rep. Daniel Perez (R-Miami) indicates that conversations about Reedy Creek have been ongoing and are still continuing.

October 2022

• Reedy Creek speculation continues with Sen. Linda Stewart indicating that “A lot of it is being done behind the scenes…The DeSantis group is trying to figure out how to look good. Disney is trying to protect the business model.”
• More speculation continues on the future of Reedy Creek (and Reedy Creek continues to take actions for its future like setting a budget for the next year, etc.)
• Also in October, DeSantis’ battle with Disney becomes a topic mentioned in Florida’s gubernatorial race. During an October debate, Charlie Crist said, “I’m not the governor who attacked Walt Disney World because they…expressed their point of view…that’s you.” 

November 2022

• November 8th, 2022 — Ron DeSantis beats Charlie Christ and wins his second term as Florida’s governor
• November 20th, 2022 — Bob Chapek is removed as CEO and Bob Iger returns to the CEO position at Disney
  • The situation with the “Don’t Say Gay” bill and the dissolution of the RCID all happened under Bob Chapek’s watch as CEO. CNN notes that DeSantis and Disney’s feud over the “Don’t Say Gay” bill is what “eventually led to” the passage of the bill that will eventually dissolve the RCID. And, overall, Chapek’s handling of the “Don’t Say Gay” situation is repeatedly listed as one of his key “political missteps” or blunders.
• Late November — Some begin to analyze whether Iger’s return will “help” the Reedy Creek situation or make things worse
• November 28th, 2022 — Bob Iger (now the current CEO of Disney again) holds a Town Hall meeting and comments on the “Don’t Say Gay” controversy and Reedy Creek situation
  • Iger said that he was “sorry to see [Disney] dragged into that battle.” He also stated, ““the state of Florida has been very important to us for a long time, and we have been very important to the state of Florida.”
  • He continued, “I think there’s a misperception here about what politics is.” He continued, “Some of the subjects that have been proven to be controversial as it relates to Disney have been branded political, and I don’t think they are…Do I like the company being embroiled in controversy? Of course not.”

December 2022

• December 1st, 2022 — DeSantis responds to Iger’s comments on Disney’s battles with Florida
  • DeSantis shared that, in his opinion, Florida didn’t “drag” Disney into any issues, but rather “they went in on their own.”
  • He continued, “They brought this on themselves. All we did was stand up for what’s right…Yes they’re a big powerful company, but you know what? We stand up for our folks and I don’t care what a Burbank-based California company says about our laws.”
• Early December 2022 — Randy Fine, the Republican lawmaker who drafted the Reedy Creek dissolution bill, shared that the removal of Chapek as CEO made it more likely ‘that something will get sorted out’ over the district
  • He continued, “It’s easier to shift policy when you don’t have to defend the old policy…Chapek screwed up, but Bob Iger doesn’t have to own that screw-up.”
• December 2nd, 2022 — Some begin to say that DeSantis could essentially do a “u-turn” when it comes to Reedy Creek’s dissolution, but a DeSantis spokesperson denies that.
  • The spokesperson indicated DeSantis “does not make U-turns” and he “was right to champion removing the extraordinary benefit given to one company through the Reedy Creek Improvement District.”
• Around December 12th, 2022 — An investor files a lawsuit against Disney regarding their response to “Don’t Say Gay” and the actions that followed related to Reedy Creek
  • The lawsuit alleges that the “financial repercussions from Disney’s actions, and resulting harm to the company and its stockholders, have been swift and severe.”

2023

January 2023

• Around January 6th, 2023 — A notice is posted on the Osceola County website notifying the public of the intent to seek legislation related to the dissolution of Reedy Creek
  •  The notice outlines some proposed changes to the District
• Also on or around January 6th, 2022 — A DeSantis’ communications director comments on the situation
  • “The corporate kingdom has come to an end…Under the proposed legislation, Disney will no longer control its own government, will live under the same laws as everyone else, will be responsible for their outstanding debts, and will pay their fair share of taxes,” she said.
• January 9th, 2023 — Reedy Creek firefighters say that they back the dissolution

February 2023

• February 1st, 2023 — A spokesperson for DeSantis indicates that DeSantis expects the Florida Legislature will hold a special session about the “proposed state takeover” of Reedy Creek in early February
• February 6th, 2023 — HB 9B Reedy Creek Improvement District, Orange and Osceola Counties, is filed in the Florida House of Representatives, proposing a board appointed by the governor and a new name — but not dissolving the district
• February 8th, 2023 — Lawmakers propose some amendments to the bill, only 1 on a technical issue is passed
• February 9th, 2023 — The Florida House of Representatives passes the bill (82 YEAS to 31 NAYS)
• February 10th, 2023 — The Florida Senate passes the bill (26 YEAS to 9 NAYS)
• Around February 10th, 2023 — Disney World President Jeff Vahle issues a statement in response to the changes
  • His statement reads: “For more than 50 years, the Reedy Creek Improvement District has operated at the highest standards, and we appreciate all that the District has done to help our destination grow and become one of the largest economic contributors and employers in the state. We are focused on the future and are ready to work within this new framework, and we will continue to innovate, inspire, and bring joy to the millions of guests who come to Florida to visit Walt Disney World each year.”
• February 27th, 2023 — DeSantis signs the bill into law.
  • Under the new bill, Reedy Creek will NOT be dissolved on June 1st. Instead, it will continue to exist under a new name and with a board appointed by the governor of Florida.
  • The new name is The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
  • The governor will appoint all five members of the Board of Supervisors for the District, but his selections must be confirmed by the Senate.
  • The bill removes some powers from the District (like the ability to create a nuclear power plant) and imposes new requirements (mostly related to reporting).
• February 2023 — DeSantis names the new Board members (confirmation pending by the Florida Senate)

And that brings us to the current day. We’ll continue to keep an eye out for updates on this situation and let you know what we find. Stay tuned for more news.