BusinessDisney ParksNews

DeSantis’ Disney Board Doesn’t Want To Go To Court

It’s been quite the week in the feud between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Walt Disney Company. Late last week, lawyers representing the Florida governor asked a Federal Judge to dismiss Disney’s suit against him, asking for “Disney’s surrender.” Gov DeSantis followed that up with an interview with CNBC in which he said he was “moving on” from the feud and that Disney CEO Bob Iger should “drop the lawsuit.”

Disney Board DeSantis lawsuit
Credit: Disney/ Flickr

But just when it seemed like there may be some light at the end of the tunnel, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District asked Orange County Circuit Court Judge Margaret Schreiber to rule in its favor without going to trial.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the District’s lawyers argued that because the Reedy Creek Improvement District failed to follow the state’s public notice requirements for development agreements, Judge Schreiber should rule the agreements null and void. Disney argued in late July that because the Florida Legislature and Governor Ron DeSantis passed a law making those deals null and void, the case should be dismissed. Judge Schreiber ruled that the case should go forward.

Mickey Mouse and Ron DeSantis
Credit: Disney/ Flickr

In its filing, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District accuses Reedy Creek of giving its governmental powers to Disney World. The two sides are at odds over the “King Charles III” clauses that Disney signed with Reedy Creek before its dissolution. Those clauses stripped the CFTOD of its power until King Charles III’s last living descendent died.

This yearlong feud started when former Disney CEO Bob Chapek responded to Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act, known by its critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Lawmakers passed legislation giving the new Board authority over Disney World and removing Disney World’s governing District.

theme park reservation removal
Credit: Disney

Disney has a lawsuit pending in Federal Court against Florida Gov Ron DeSantis and his Board.

With the state court case moving forward, Disney has less than two weeks to respond to Circuit Judge Margaret Schreiber’s ruling that the lawsuit moves forward. There is no timetable for Disney’s Federal Court case.

We will continue to update this story at Disney Fanatic.

Rick Lye

Rick is an avid Disney fan. He first went to Disney World in 1986 with his parents and has been hooked ever since. Rick is married to another Disney fan and is in the process of turning his two children into fans as well. When he is not creating new Disney adventures, he loves to watch the New York Yankees and hang out with his dog, Buster. In the fall, you will catch him cheering for his beloved NY Giants.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles

Back to top button