Disney sues DeSantis in effort to regain control of its special district

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Disney is suing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in federal court hoping to reinstate a contract it struck to wrestle back much of its authority from the State of Florida.

The DeSantis-Disney war has already been raging for more than a year.

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It all started when Disney came out in opposition to the Parental Rights in Education Act, or the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill as opponents call it.

Disney claims it was that exercise of free speech that made it the target of the Governor and Florida Legislature.

Last month it was revealed Disney had negotiated a contract with the Reedy Creek Improvement District just before it was set to be dissolved and replaced with the state-run Central Florida Tourism Oversite District, which in a sense preemptively stripped the new board of most of its authority.

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“Well, that’s not gonna work. That’s not gonna fly,” said DeSantis in a press conference last Monday.

After DeSantis vowed to void that contract last week, the new board delivered on the promise Wednesday, almost immediately prompting Disney to file the new lawsuit.

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“It is a clear violation of Disney’s federal constitutional rights—under the Contracts Clause, the Takings Clause, the Due Process Clause, and the First Amendment—for the State to inflict a concerted campaign of retaliation because the Company expressed an opinion with which the government disagreed,” Disney attorneys wrote in the suit.

The corporation claims it has been illegally targeted by the state for exercising its freedom of speech.

It’s seeking to have its contract reinstated and is asking the court to block the law enacted earlier this year that ceded authority of its special district to the state.

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“Because you’re punishing us, or trying to punish us because we disagreed with you on this issue of wokeness,” said Rick Foglesong.

Foglesong wrote what many consider to be the definitive book on Disney’s relationship with the State of Florida titled, Married to the Mouse.

“We seem now in the State of Florida to have come to that point where the two parties are talking about divorce,” said Foglesong.

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The Governor’s Office issued a statement following the filing of the suit.

“We are unaware of any legal right that a company has to operate its own government or maintain special privileges not held by other businesses in the state. This lawsuit is yet another unfortunate example of their hope to undermine the will of the Florida voters and operate outside the bounds of the law,” said DeSantis Communications Director Taryn Fenske.

Aside from the action taken by the board Wednesday, the Florida Legislature is also considering separate legislation to nullify Disney’s contract and impose new regulations on the company.

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When asked about the lawsuit, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples) avoided addressing the politics of the battle, but said she disagreed with Disney brokering a deal with the old board, just before the state board stepped in.

“Frankly, I don’t believe that’s good policy,” said Passidomo.

Disney indicated in the suit its intent to invest $17 billion in Florida over the next decade.

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Foglesong also noted moving the theme park to another state would be a herculean feat for the company, which means both parties have a lot to lose if a compromise isn’t struck.

However, with the Governor likely eyeing a run for President, he fears there’s no guarantee either side will back down.

“Whether the two sides are too dug in, in order to embrace that kind of a compromise, I don’t know for sure,” said Foglesong.

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