In a surprise twist this week, the Walt Disney Company announced that it had reached a deal to end its legal fight with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and pause its lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. This ends the years-long battle between Gov DeSantis and the state’s largest employer over the loss of the Reedy Creek Improvement District.
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While it’s still unclear which side gave more in this fight, the Walt Disney Company and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board are speaking of reconciliation and their future together. President of Walt Disney World Resort, Jeff Vahle, said this agreement opens a “new chapter of constructive engagement.”
But while the new Board and Disney World spoke of moving forward, how would Florida Gov Ron DeSantis react to the end of this lawsuit? He had, after all, built his reputation and run for president on the cultural fights he had waged against Disney ever since the company spoke out against Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act, known by its critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
Governor DeSantis also struck a conciliatory tone in his first interview after the lawsuit settlement. He said he never disagreed with Walt Disney World, but his complaints were with the Walt Disney Company’s management based in California. He also encouraged Disney World to expand its Central Florida theme park.
We would like to see more development in that area. … If Universal is doing this Epic Universe, Disney is probably going to have to answer that with something. I think the board we have in place would be willing to negotiate that.
Disney has already announced that it plans to spend $60 billion on its theme parks worldwide over the next decade. However, while there are several projects at other Disney parks, Walt Disney World has only had smaller announcements about future plans.
Early this month, Disney World filed permits to start working on the transformation of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Disney is removing DinoLand and replacing it with a Central/South American theme land with an Encanto attraction. They are also replacing Dinosaur with Indiana Jones Adventure.
Rumors are also swirling that Test Track at EPCOT is shutting down this summer for a significant renovation that will take over a year to complete.
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However, outside of those two projects and the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure this summer, there have not been any significant announcements for changes coming to Walt Disney World.
Chairman of Disney Parks Josh D’Amaro also teased the “largest” expansion of the Magic Kingdom at this year’s D23 Expo, but there has been no further announcement about when that project might start or what it would entail.
Those announcements and projects occurred before Disney could settle its lawsuit with Governor DeSantis and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. With that out of the way and the blessing of the governor, Disney may now move forward with its Florida projects.
What do you think Disney will do now that its lawsuit with the Governor and his Board is over? Let us know in the comments.
