How is this going to end? The possibilities for a DeSantis/Disney Feud Ending

As Disney fans, we only look for the light at the end of the tunnel. When exactly can we expect the feud between the Walt Disney Company and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to end?

The short answer is we have no idea. Realistically, if Disney and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District follow through with their lawsuits, this could go on for years. And after a verdict is rendered, the losing side will appeal. We could expect this to go on for the rest of this decade.

Related: Disney Busting Out ‘Legal Legend’ for Fight with DeSantis

But all Disney fans care about is how this will affect the Walt Disney World Resort. Let’s examine the three possible outcomes and how those will change Disney World.

Disney Wins

Politics aside, this is the best possible outcome for Disney fans. A judge ruled that the state of Florida and Governor DeSantis overstepped its bounds, and the Reedy Creek Improvement District was re-established.

Essentially, everything goes back to how it was before; no harm, no foul. Ideally, yes, but in reality, probably not. No matter who wins, the relationship between Disney and Florida has suffered irreparable harm. There’s no changing that.

So what does that harm look like in reality? Hard to say. Will Disney still invest in its Florida property? Of course. Disney is in the business of making money. Will Disney leave Florida? No. That is entirely unrealistic.

Disney CEO Bob Iger pledged $17 billion and 14,000 new Cast Members to the state. If Disney wins, will that still happen? Of Course. Again, see the previous statement about Disney being in the business of making money. Walt Disney World needs new stuff to keep the repeated Guests coming back. It’s just good business.

DeSantis Wins

This is where things could get bad for Disney fans. DeSantis wins and can require Disney to abide by all his rules. This essentially slows all-new Disney World rides, hotels, etc., to a crawl. You thought waiting years for Tron Lightcycle/Run was bad; you ain’t seen nothing yet.

Let’s also assume for a second that Disney CEO Bob Iger is vindictive. It’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility. Just look at what he did with the entire Bob Chapek era since his return. Iger can pull the $17 billion he promised in Florida. He can also cut any future investment in the state. This would be devasting to Disney fans.

There’s also an unintended consequence to a DeSantis win that no one is talking about. A win by the Florida governor would allow any governor or president to pass laws against companies that say or do something they disagree with.

This would be a dangerous president that we should all be concerned about. Let’s say a left-leaning governor wants to punish a right-leaning company for its beliefs. That would now be on the table.

A Tie

There is no such thing as a legal tie, but this is the “other” option. Perhaps the adults in the room will come to the table and come up with a compromise. Iger has said he would sit down with DeSantis, but can Gov. Ron DeSantis afford to do that with his future political aspirations tied closely to beating Disney? So, asking adults to be adults seems like the least likely of these options.

A more likely option is that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis leaves the Governor’s mansion. He is term-limited and will have to leave office after the 2026 elections. This case will more than likely still be going on in 2026. The hope is the new Governor doesn’t want to waste taxpayer time and money by taking the state’s largest employer to court and quietly lets the lawsuit drop.

 

Disney CEO Bob Iger is term-limited in a way too. His contract is up at the end of 2024. Perhaps his successor won’t want to continue to waste the Walt Disney Company’s time and money on this fight, although that seems unlikely.

Bottom Line

The bottom line is that the end is nowhere in sight, and it doesn’t appear that either side will blink. And while this fight continues, Disney fans are sitting in the middle. Disney fans will just keep walking in the dark and waiting for the light.

But remember that light at the end of the tunnel may be a coming train.