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Tag: desantis

NEWS: DeSantis Lawyers Ask Judge To Toss Out Disney Lawsuit in Last-Ditch Effort Before Hearing

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On the heels of the news that Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) employees got quite the shock of a massive outstanding tax bill recently for previous benefits from Disney, we’ve learned of another update!

Disney vs. DeSantis

Disney filed a federal lawsuit against DeSantis and members of the board in early 2023 arguing that Disney’s federal rights to free speech have been violated. Disney claims that DeSantis has waged a “relentless campaign to weaponize government power” against Disney to punish them for their political views.

We’ve seen Governor Ron DeSantis’ team attempt to dismiss the Disney lawsuit previously (actually twice already); however, it seems they’ve made plans for one more attempt for a federal judge to decide on very soon. [Read more…]

NEWS: DeSantis’ Reedy Creek Board Accuses Disney of Bribery and “Egregious Corporate Cronyism”

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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ personally appointed board of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District is not quite ready to give up the fight against Disney.

©Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board Livestream

Since DeSantis appointed the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board (CFTOD), we’ve seen multiple changes in the district that governs Disney World, including a mass exodus of employees, the removal of certain benefits, and a hefty tax bill to boot. Now, a new report from the CFTOD is accusing Disney of previously providing benefits that were “akin to bribes.” Here’s what we know.

[Read more…]

NEWS: A Senator Is Preparing a Bill That Could REPEAL Gov. DeSantis’ Takeover of Disney World’s Reedy Creek District

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Disney’s relationship with the state of Florida has been a whirlwind, to say the least.

Reedy Creek Improvement District

Disney and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have been in a battle for control over the former Reedy Creek Improvement District, which was renamed the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District since a bill was introduced (and later signed into law) to dissolve the district and its special tax status. Since then, DeSatis and his appointed board have been in control over the district. Florida Democratic state senator Linda Stewart stated that the law that would dissolve Reedy Creek “is a tax increase” and that she didn’t “think [DeSantis] understood how badly this could go for the state of Florida and the counties and the cities.” Now, we’re hearing more from Stewart.

[Read more…]

NEWS: Battle Between DeSantis and Disney Heats up as Company Subpoenas Governor’s Office For Documents

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The ongoing battle between Disney and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is far from over.

Disney vs. DeSantis

Back in 2022, DeSantis passed a state law banning classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades. After Disney publicly opposed this law, things got heated between the two parties. In 2023, the Reedy Creek Improvement District, Disney’s former governing body, underwent a lengthy battle with Desantis, which resulted in the District being restructured to become the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD). The newly structured body consisted of a Board of Supervisors hand-appointed by Governor Desantis himself. Now, two major lawsuits later, the battle continues as Disney makes another move.

[Read more…]

NEWS: DeSantis-Appointed Reedy Creek Board Approves $4.5 Million Budget for Disney Lawsuit

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Much has changed since the DeSantis-appointed Board of Supervisors took control of the Reedy Creek Improvement District — now called the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.

Cinderella Castle

Longtime employees have left, operations have been amended, and most recently, employee Disney World Annual Pass benefits were replaced with a stipend. The park pass change follows the latest board meeting, where we also learned just how much they plan on budgeting to fight Disney in federal court. 

[Read more…]

DeSantis-Appointed Board Seeks to SQUASH Disney’s Reedy Creek Countersuit

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Disney’s battles regarding the Reedy Creek Improvement District (now called the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District) are far from over.

©Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board Livestream

Lately, we’ve seen the Board of Supervisors for the District criticized for their removal of Disney Annual Pass benefits, important changes proposed for the District, and a countersuit filed by Disney against the DeSantis-appointed District board. But now we’ve got more updates.

[Read more…]

NEWS: Disney Fights Back With Countersuit Against DeSantis-Appointed Reedy Creek Board

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The battle between Disney and the Reedy Creek Improvement District (now called the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District) continues, and this latest development adds one more layer to the mix.

Reedy Creek Improvement District

Disney is already facing off with the District in two different lawsuits — one filed by Disney against members of the District Board of Supervisors and Governor Ron DeSantis in Federal Court, and another filed against Disney by the District Board in State Court. And now the State Court case has seen an important update.

[Read more…]

3 Things That Were MISSING from Disney’s Huge News Drop

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We just learned more about the future of The Walt Disney Company, but there were some topics that were mysteriously left OUT of the recent announcements.

©Disney

The Walt Disney Company held its third-quarter earnings call for fiscal year 2023 on August 9th and released an earnings report as well. CEO Bob Iger talked about the Hollywood writer and actor strikes, the new ESPN betting service, and whether Disney would ever sell to Apple. But there are a few BIG things that he DIDN’T mention, and we’re left waiting for more details.

[Read more…]

NEWS: Gov. DeSantis Says He Has “Moved On” from the Disney Conflict

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The Walt Disney Company has been dragged into the political campaign sphere despite not actually being able to hold public office.

Disney vs. DeSantis

In early 2023, Disney filed a federal lawsuit against DeSantis and members of the board of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, arguing that Disney’s constitutional rights had been violated. The company has alleged DeSantis waged a “relentless campaign to weaponize government power” against it to punish it for speaking out. But now, DeSantis seems to have “moved on” from the conflict overnight.

[Read more…]

DeSantis Claims Disney Lawsuit Arguments Are “Fatally Imprecise”

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The battle between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the board of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (formerly Reedy Creek Improvement District), and Disney continues — and there have been some NEW developments.

Disney vs. DeSantis

Earlier in 2023, Disney filed a federal lawsuit against DeSantis and members of the board of the District arguing that there has been a violation of Disney’s federal rights. Basically, Disney has alleged that DeSantis has waged a “relentless campaign to weaponize government power” against Disney to punish them for their political views. We’ve seen a number of actions taken in the federal case over the last few months, but now there’s something NEW to tackle.

[Read more…]

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