As the ongoing battle between Disney and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis continues both in the public eye and behind closed doors, many have speculated on what will happen going forward now that Disney has filed a federal lawsuit against DeSantis and the members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District’s new Board of Supervisors.
Walt Disney World
Following the news of the recent lawsuit, the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board held a meeting on the morning of May 1st, 2023. Let’s talk about what happened.
As a quick refresher, Gov. DeSantis installed a new board to take over the Reedy Creek Improvement District following news that Disney issued a statement against Florida’s controversial Parental Rights in Education law. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board (which is the new name for the Reedy Creek Improvement District) has met several times since taking over, sharing plans to make COVID-19 policy changes, change the monorail inspection policy, and more.
Reedy Creek
Ahead of the meeting, the Orlando Business Journal indicated that the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board planned to meet to discuss Disney’s recently filed lawsuit. In short, the lawsuit alleges that Disney’s First Amendment rights were violated, with Disney claiming the Governor has waged a “relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney.”
©Governor Ron DeSantis Website
In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for DeSantis said that Disney seeks to “undermine the will of the Florida voters,” according to Variety. Further, spokesperson Taryn Fenske said, “We are unaware of any legal right that a company has to operate its own government or maintain special privileges not held by other businesses in the state.”
©Governor Ron DeSantis Website
The May 1st meeting agenda had only one item, and it officially read, “Board discussion and direction to litigation counsel and authorization to defend District officials sued in official capacities.” The meeting itself was fairly short, and there was one main result — the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board has announced its own lawsuit against Disney.
Cinderella Castle
The head of the board, Martin Garcia, shared a statement on Disney’s lawsuit, saying, “Since Disney sued us — yes, we didn’t sue Disney. Disney sued us. We ha[ve] no choice now but to respond. This is why we called today’s meeting, to authorize legal action in response to Disney’s federal lawsuit. This district will seek justice in state court here in central Florida where both it and Disney reside and do business. Yes, we’ll seek justice in our own backyard.”
Reedy Creek Building
Garcia continued, “And so with those comments, I’d like to make a motion to authorize a state court lawsuit to be filed by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts USA, Inc. and such other parties as may be needed to uphold and enforce the board’s April 26th, 2023 legislative findings relating to the February 8th, 2023 development agreement and declaration of restrictive covenants, and to have that litigation counsel defend the board of supervisors and the district administrator sued in their official capacities by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts USA, Inc. in federal court on April 26th, 2023.”
©Disney | Walt Disney Company Headquarters
This is an entirely new and different lawsuit from what was filed by The Walt Disney Company against DeSantis and the board. While Disney’s lawsuit is in federal court, this one will be filed in state court. This one also comes straight from the board and doesn’t seem to involve DeSantis directly. We’ll be interested to see what the specific language is on the lawsuit once it’s filed so that we can get more details.
This is a developing story, so check back with us for the latest news.
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The DeSantis sycophants waving their hands, stomping their feet, with tears running down their face, and blowing snot bubbles over the narcissistic actions of the Governor is pretty funny, except for all the citizens of Florida who will be paying the bill for this hissy fit, and for all the potential business looking at how Disney is being treated.
Well, it is certainly a great time to be a lawyer in Florida.
When Governor DeSantis claims that Disney has a special district unlike any others, I will point to Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity where they list over 1800 of them and their purpose. “The Villages” are well known and they have 15 of them listed.
You know, AJ, the DFB is only fueling the fire when you have segment titles like “DeSantis board”. You make it sound like he has a personal vendetta against Disney. There are 2 sides to every story and I’m willing to bet we don’t have the full picture. It’s a shame impartial journalism doesn’t exist.
AJ, is Frontier Land converting to a NOLA theme?
Any idea how to support Disney in its battle with DeSantis?
I wondered what would happen if DeSantis ran for President in 2024 and lost the election, it appears he is working to undermine democracy on that too.
A Republican Florida state senator filed an amendment Tuesday that could eliminate one logistical hurdle for the state’s governor, Ron DeSantis, should he decide to run for president in 2024.
Florida State Senator Travis Hutson filed an amendment to an elections bill in the state Senate to change the language of the “resign to run” law so that the resignation requirement would not apply to “Persons seeking the office of President or Vice President of the United States.”
Currently, under Florida law, a public official may not run for another office with a term of service that overlaps the official’s current position without sending a resignation letter.
Please Disney, take up Governor Nikki Haley on her offer, and relocate DisneyWorld to South Carolina.
I feel so bad for FLA residents. They’re going to raise taxes so that they can proceed with the counter suit – per Mr. Garcia. SMH. When will the foolishness of the government end?
They will Sue over what, that they can’t use the Disney logos? Disney paid for all the infrastructure and the created the whole areas and paid for everything. I have a neighbor who wanted a utility pole for electricity and let me tell you it was 10s of thousands of dollars for 1. He was stunned, so this attitude that they didn’t pay their fare share. I went as a child when the only restaurant was a Denys and we were surrounded by orange groves. The area has come a long way and Disney paid the lions share to develop it. I hope à Disney takes them to the cleaners. The board was picked for only 1 reason, to make trouble and I hope Disney gives it to them 🤪🤨
OMG! Seriously! This is just stupid!
Both sides need to grow up!
Hi Weege. No, but Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will be New Orleans themed by the nature of the movie and the story.
DeSantis is frightening. It’s Henry VIII all over again. Don’t like a law and how it affects you, change it just for yourself. Florida taxpayers will have to pay for an absent governor while he tries to run for president. This isn’t a democracy, it’s a dictatorship. Not what we need as a president.
@Pris AJ and DFB have been very careful NOT to take a side. The board was hand picked by DeSantis and they are suing. There is nothing partisan there. Inside they state that Disney says DeSantis has a vendetta against Disney. That is what Disney has said. And if you just listen to only the press conferences that DeSantis and his board have had you can tell that they are dead set on punishing Disney for voicing an opinion. DeSantis even is going after how Disney handled Covid. It is pretty obvious DeSantis has an axe to grind and j hope it decapitates his political career. If DeSantis wants to party like at 1692, there are plenty of other backward countries for him to move to.
They obviously think a state court judge will be more sympathetic but, as any half decent lawyer would advise them, Disney knew what they were doing by filing first in federal court as it has sole subject matter jurisdiction over any related counterclaim , even if based solely on state law, and the federal district courts have plenary power to order the removal of rival state court filings. Also, the federal district court judge that was randomly assigned the case after the first judge recused himself is the same judge that issued the order staying the antiwoke bill and his written preliminary injunction was not kind to DeSantis. Of course, all bets are off when the notoriously conservative 11th circuit eventually reviews it but that could take years depending on if it goes to a full bench trial. Disney has the best in house and outside attorneys money can buy and I guarantee you they have gamed out every possible legal scenario regarding the unique land use arrangement many times over the decades…
The problem is desantis and not Disney so Disney DOES NOT need to grow up it’s the narcissistic so called governor that’s needs to shut and this is how he shows his kids this is what u need to do if u don’t like what done someone says and he doesn’t need to b n the Oval Office we already had one of those and desantis had the nerve to get married there and pull this evil mean evil spirited go way and grow up and long reign THE MOUSE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Desantis DOES have a VENDETTA against DISNEY and he is a NARCISSISTIC egotistical so called governor I have family that r Floridians and they do not like him and he just like that thing that was n the White House and don’t need that n there again