Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had already stripped Disney World of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the self-governing District that had been in place since the theme park opened. He wanted other ways to punish the Walt Disney Company for speaking out against Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act, known by its critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. But it now appears that putting the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District in place was just the first step in Governor DeSantis’ plan to bend Walt Disney World to his will.
Related: DeSantis’ Cronies Are Scoring Big Paydays Courtesy of the New Disney District
According to investigative reporter Jason Garcia, DeSantis and his staff were behind a push from Florida Legislators to subject all of the Walt Disney World Resort to inspection by state officials, including all of the rides and attractions. Disney World and other large theme parks in Florida, like Universal Studios Orlando, are not subject to inspection by the state but instead conduct their ride inspections.
The fact that this amendment was proposed was not news, but that Governor DeSantis’ staff had a direct hand in the crafting of the legislative language in an attempt to further punish Disney is news. According to documents obtained by Garcia via a Freedom Of Information request, an aide to the governor sent an email to State Representative Lawrence McClure, who would introduce the amendment using the same language from the email.
Less than 24 hours later, McClure withdrew his amendment without explanation. Governor DeSantis never gave public comment on the amendment nor its withdrawal. However, once McClure and other Florida Legislatures realized that the language of his bill would also require Universal Studios, Lego Land, SeaWorld, and Busch Gardens, which is in the District he represents, it was dropped.
The email Garcia obtained only contains two scanned documents and the phrase “please see attached.” The first attached document is the bill’s language that McClure would later introduce. The second attached document was a request for an additional $2.5 million in taxpayer funding, $1 million of which was earmarked for lawyers to help defend DeSantis in his lawsuits against the Walt Disney Company.
After former Disney CEO Bob Chapek spoke out against Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act, Disney stopped their political donations to DeSantis. But Universal’s parent company, Comcast, has donated more than $5 million to DeSantis’ campaign since he took over the governor’s mansion. The proposed amendment would have forced Universal to the same inspections as Disney World.
Governor DeSantis has said that by stripping Disney World of its self-governing District, he is forcing Disney to play by the same rules as every other taxpayer in Florida. However, he has not commented on Universal Studios Orlando’s new special District. Orange County voted last month to grant Universal its District.
The Walt Disney Company is suing Florida Gov Ron DeSantis in Federal Court, claiming government retaliation and the governor violated its First Amendment Rights. In the past, lawyers for Disney have used the governor’s words against him in court, including his press conference where he threatened to build a rival theme park adjacent to Disney World.
No doubt this new information will add fuel to Disney’s fire, but the lawyers most likely already have this information, and it will make its way in front of the judge soon enough.
We will continue to update this story at Disney Fanatic.
