Politics & Government

DeSantis-Appointed Board Sues Disney World Over Retaliation Claim

Members of Disney World's governing board plan to sue the entertainment company. The move comes days after Disney sued Gov. Ron DeSantis.

People visit Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista. Members of Disney World's governing board plan to sue the entertainment company in a legal feud over the so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill and claims of retaliation.
People visit Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista. Members of Disney World's governing board plan to sue the entertainment company in a legal feud over the so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill and claims of retaliation. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)

ORLANDO, FL — Less than a week after Disney sued Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in federal court for what it described as retaliation for opposing the state's Parental Rights in Education law — dubbed the “Don't Say Gay” bill by critics — members of Disney World's governing board authorized a lawsuit Monday against the entertainment giant.

Members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, who were appointed by the governor, voted unanimously to sue Disney in state court in the Orlando area, as well as defend itself in federal court in Tallahassee where the entertainment company filed its lawsuit last Wednesday.

The Disney lawsuit against the governor, the board and its five members asks a judge to void the governor's takeover of the theme park district previously controlled by Disney for 55 years. The oversight board's lawsuit seeks to maintain its oversight of design and construction in the district that governs Disney World's 25,000 acres after the previous Disney-controlled board signed over those powers to the company before the DeSantis-appointed board members held their first meeting earlier this year.

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“We will seek justice in our own backyard,” said Martin Garcia, chair of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.

The legal tussle erupted last Wednesday when the board appointed by DeSantis to oversee the governance of Walt Disney World voted to nullify an agreement made by Disney officials before the changeover that stripped new members of many of their powers, The New York Times reported.

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Minutes later, Disney sued DeSantis, the five-member board, and other state officials in federal court, according to The Times.

Another person named in the suit was Florida Department of Economic Opportunity acting secretary Meredith Ivey, CNN reported.

"Disney regrets that it has come to this," the case said. “But having exhausted efforts to seek a resolution, the Company is left with no choice but to file this lawsuit to protect its cast members, guests, and local development partners from a relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain State officials.”

At Monday's board meeting, a man who has a Disney timeshare told the board members, “You guys are terrible and I think you all should resign.”

The development is the latest in the feud between the entertainment giant and DeSantis.

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In February, the GOP-controlled Florida Legislature passed legislation allowing the state to take control of Disney World's independent special taxing district known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which gave Disney World the right to self-govern its 25,000-acre footprint in Orange and Osceola counties.

The legislation renamed the Reedy Creek Improvement District to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and gave DeSantis the power to select the five-person board.

The move by Florida lawmakers was primarily seen as retaliation for the entertainment giant publicly opposing Florida's Parental Rights in Education bill that bars instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.

DeSantis has also vowed additional retribution, with proposals to enhance state oversight of the resort’s rides and monorail, as well as a suggestion to build a prison nearby.

In March, board members appointed by DeSantis learned the company's previous board passed a 30-year agreement and restrictive covenants that make new members powerless to manage Disney's future growth in Florida, the Orlando Sentinel first reported.

"We're going to have to deal with it and correct it," board member Brian Aungst said. "It's a subversion of the will of the voters and the Legislature and the governor. It completely circumvents the authority of this board to govern."

According to a copy of the lawsuit obtained by the Times, Disney has accused DeSantis of a "relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint."

The campaign "now threatens Disney's business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights," the complaint continued.

“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,” said DeSantis spokeswoman Taryn Fenske.

She continued, "This lawsuit is yet another unfortunate example of their hope to undermine the will of the Florida voters and operate outside the bounds of the law.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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