DeSantis-Picked District Board Sues Disney World

Just a few days after Disney announced it was suing Governor Ron DeSantis, his hand-picked Board of Supervisors just announced their intent to file a suit against Disney World.

According to Theme Park Insider Scott Gustin, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District’s Board of Supervisors has voted on a motion to take Disney World to State Court.

“I’d like to make a motion to authorize a state court lawsuit to be filed by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts USA, Inc.,” said Martin Garcia, chair of the board.

Garcia says the state court lawsuit will seek to “uphold and enforce the board’s April 26, 2023 legislative findings relating to the February 8, 2023 development agreement and declaration of restrictive covenants."

— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) May 1, 2023

 

The board’s actions appear to be in defense of their decision to void all development agreements and declaration of restrictive covenants made between Disney and the then-Reedy Creek Improvement District’s Board of Directors on February 8, 2023.

The special district’s new board made the decision to void those agreements due to the fact it was a move to illegally transfer government powers to a private entity and that there was a failure to properly inform the cities within the district of the change.

Disney filed a lawsuit against the Florida Governor and the new district board on April 26, saying that their first amendment right was violated and that they are a victim of a “targeted campaign of government retaliation.” Many legal analysts have already looked over the situation and say that DeSantis’ side has very little chance of coming out on top. The board is now countersuing Disney.

According to WESH2 reporter Bob Hazen, the District is asking the court to “Declare that the Development Agreement is void, and/or invalid; Declare that the Restrictive Covenants are void, unenforceable, and/or invalid; Issue and order enjoining Disney from enforcing the Development Agreement and the Restrictive Covenants; and Grant such other relief that this Court may deem just and proper.”

Just got a copy of Reedy Creek (now being called Central Florida Tourism Oversight District) lawsuit against #Disney. Most mirrors what the district lawyers presented at last week's meeting about the development agreement. Here's what the suit says they want from judge: #WESH pic.twitter.com/KWfbi8Lqnn

— Bob Hazen WESH (@HazenWESH) May 1, 2023

First started after Disney announced active retaliation against the State of Florida’s government for passing the Parental Rights in Education Law, actions have been taken to limit the autonomy The Walt Disney Company has experienced for the past 50 years in the Sunshine State. Disney’s resistance to the reigning in of control has been going on now for over a year.

We at Disney Fanatic will continue to update our readers on this story ars more developments come to light.