We’ve got a huge update about the feud between Disney and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his appointed Central Florida Tourism District Board.
In February, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Walt Disney Company that accused Governor DeSantis of political retaliation. Disney quickly appealed the decision. However, there was also a state-level lawsuit filed by the Central Florida Tourism District Board against Disney. However, the two parties involved in that particular lawsuit have agreed to a settlement.
According to the Associated Press, allies of DeSantis and Disney reached a settlement over the state-level lawsuit. The members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District approved the settlement agreement during a meeting.
Before the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District took over the district, Disney’s previous Reedy Creek board signed agreements with Disney to give control over design and construction at Disney World to the company. DeSantis and his allies claimed this took away powers from the new board. The new board sued Disney, while Disney filed a countersuit to have the state court make its Reedy Creek agreements enforceable. This settlement puts that battle to rest.
According to Scott Gustin, Disney released a statement following the meeting saying it was pleased to end the litigation and that this opens a new chapter of constructive engagement with the new leadership of the district and serves the interests of all parties by enabling significant continued investment…”
NEW: In a statement, Disney says the settlement agreement "opens a new chapter of constructive engagement with the new leadership of the district and serves the interests of all parties by enabling significant continued investment …" pic.twitter.com/w0yklwZ0HI
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) March 27, 2024
We’ll keep an eye out for further developments, so check back with AllEars again soon for more!
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What do you think of this news? Let us know in the comments!
Just remember. This all started when Disney voiced opposition to the Don’t Say Gay law. This was retribution for Disney advocating for workers and guests. DeSantis may think he ‘won’, but I was just at Disney. And I saw more same sex couples than I have ever seen there before. Just an observation. I wasn’t ‘trying’ to see if they were there. I didn’t have a ‘plan’ to see if DeSantis’ was successful in getting those folks out of his state
on my trip there. And I hate to burst DeSantis’ bubble, but I didn’t see any indoctrinating or grooming while I was there. All I saw was lots and lots of people of all kinds, colors, nationalities (lots of non English-speaking folks for all you immigrant haters out there). All having the time of their lives. And there was no p!ace in the world I would rather be than with all of them. Despite the crowd sizes and lines and all, lots of smiling and laughing. And none of the angry rhetoric and hate coming from people of the DeSantis mentality.
A complete total loss for Disney. As was expected.
Actually, the loss will be the tens, and maybe a couple hundred million dollars that the DeSantis taxpayers will now have to shell out to replicate the infrastructure of a functioning district. They will need hundreds of trucks plus machinery, enormous maintenance and storage facilities plus the massive staff needed to operate the services provided by the new district. Disney will pay for the services provided, but the taxpayers will eat the massive start-up and ongoing capital costs to create and maintain a functioning operation. The huge capital outlay each year just shifted from Disney to the taxpayers. DeSantis will have a big limp after shooting himself in the foot. Personal vendettas rarely work out.
I still don’t understand how the CFTOB can decides what and how Disney can build. Your school district or library district or whatever Cannot control how you build your house.