Disney has been embroiled in a political battle with Florida legislators for quite a while now.
Cinderella Castle
Disney filed a lawsuit against DeSantis and the new board of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (previously known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District), and later, members announced that the board would be suing Disney. The new board has taken action to increase its control over Disney, and now it looks like another legislator has taken a swing.
Did you know Disney parks are no-fly zones? No-fly zones are typically placed over high security or hazardous areas, which means that normal aircraft cannot fly over the area for any reason. This is why you won’t see Disney parks outside of the window when you fly into Orlando or Los Angeles. But now, it appears this status could change.
Look at that glorious castle!
Congressman Troy Nehls, a Republican who serves Texas’ 22nd District, has recently reintroduced the Airlines Independent of Restrictions (AIR) Act, which would take away Disney’s no-fly zone.
©Troy Nehls
Notice we said, “reintroduce.” Yes, Nehls last introduced the bill in 2022 that sought to do the same thing, and it did not pass. In the original press release from 2022, Nehls said that the letters “call[] out blatant favoritism towards The Walt Disney Company” and urge those in charge to “reconsider the appropriateness of Disney’s designated ‘no fly-zone’ over their resorts.”
©Jonathan Michael Salazar
Per Nehls’ website, he believes that “Disney is the only theme park in the United States that benefits from the restriction for the commercial gains of eliminating banner ads and disruptive aircraft from their parks. Most flight-restricted areas in the United States are over places of high security or hazardous regions.”
He continued, saying that “Theme parks like Disney should not receive special treatment just because they are well-connected. Our national security should not be compromised to fit the needs of one corporation.”
Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland
Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Republican congresswoman from Colorado, is one of the original co-sponsors of the bill. She stated, “Woke corporations shouldn’t get any favors from the government,” and that “The FAA has no business granting a no-fly-zone over Disney parks. Universal Studios, Hershey Park, Six Flags, and other theme parks don’t have no-fly-zones over them, and it’s time for Disney to get the same treatment. No corporation should get preferential treatment from the government—especially when it is grooming children. Go woke, go broke.”
Disney parks are no-fly zones
If the bill passes, it would “direct the Secretary of Transportation to rescind the two ‘no-fly zone’ Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM’s) over Disneyland and Disney [W]orld.” Keep in mind, though, that in order for this bill to become law, it will need to pass both the House and the Senate and be signed by the president.
We’ll have to wait and see if it passes, or if the majority votes against it again. Be sure to stay tuned to DFB — we’ll have all the updates for you!
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I’m a conservative, and this is deeply troubling and alarming to me. Disney properties SHOULD be a no-fly zone and the other theme parks don’t have anywhere near the reason to be, based on popularity and park capacity. If someone wants to start a petition, I’ll sign it. This is a ridiculous and embarrassing power-trip that endangers millions of people and it is infuriating.
As a conservative Texan, I only have one thing to ask Rep. Nehl’s. Why do you care about something that is happening in another state and does not in any way effect your constituents?
We elect Congressmen and Senators to represent us, not think for us.
Well, the “Pro-Business” Republican Party is sure showing its true colors with this blatant attempt at political retaliation against free speech. I’m guessing that there will be a boatload of corporate money invested in defeating Nehls and Boebert. I certainly hope so.
Makes me feel more comfortable for there to be no fly zone over Disney. The World has gone crazy.
And it adds a little more security.
Thanks, Andrew. Looks like DeSatan , this Texas Rep and that Abbott cretin recently reelected over there, are in cahoots.
Now Disney is a target for ALL republicans, even out of state ones? This is sounding more and more like playground behavior. As for DeSantis, it’s a clear case of political grandstanding and buffoonery, plus the old cutting off your nose to spite your face reaction.
I recently returned from a trip where I spoke to people from other countries. The consensus from most was that the U.S. has become the laughing stock of the world. That’s no exaggeration. I live here and see it on a daily basis.
After 9-11 I was at a MSU football game. A jet flew real low over the stadium on it’s way to land at Capitol City Airport. It scared the hell out of all of us. Places with large crowds should be a no fly zone.
The bill should not be specifically aimed at Disney but should be blanket which it does not appear to be. So it is another one of those let’s jump on a ban wagon or pander to because the politicians have no interest in dealing with the real issues. As for the no fly at Disney So glad they have it! I like the peace and quiet and clean environment.
This is a ridiculous bill. Given WDW’s geographical size and guest capacity, it should remain a no-fly zone. And wanting to take away the no-fly zone status because of Disney’s radically woke agenda is equally ridiculous. One has nothing to do with the other.
Walt Disney World and Disneyland have “no fly zones” overhead because they were specifically referenced as possible terrorist targets, among others, such as military bases and other large facilities where crowds gather in papers taken from Osama Bin Laden’s terrorist group. There are “no fly zones” over sports stadia on game days and George Bush’s ranch in Texas. Temporary “no fly zones” called TFR’s, are routinely established over forest fires or areas where police are performing their duties.