DeSantis appointees bury the hatchet with Disney by approving new development deal
ORLANDO, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis’ appointees on Wednesday final approval of an agreement that buries the hatchet between Disney and the Walt Disney World government district, which Florida’s governor took over after the company publicly opposed a state law two years ago that critics called “Don’t Say Gay.”
The five Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board members appointed by DeSantis voted unanimously to approve a 15-year development agreement in which the district commits to improving infrastructure in exchange for Disney investments of up to $17 billion in Disney World over the next twenty years. .
The agreement a detente followed in March in which both sides agreed to stop litigating each other in state court and work toward negotiating a new development agreement and a new comprehensive plan no later than next year. The district provides municipal services such as firefighting, planning and mosquito control, among other things, and was controlled by Disney supporters before the takeover by DeSantis appointees.
District board member Brian Aungst said during Wednesday night’s board meeting that the agreement provides a lasting and stable framework for Disney and the board to work together.
“This is the day we have all been looking forward to,” Aungst said. “I was always extremely optimistic and knew we would get here because this was the right outcome.”
Under the deal, Disney will be required to donate up to 100 acres of Disney World’s 24,000 acres for the construction of infrastructure projects controlled by the district. The company will also have to award at least half of its construction projects to Florida companies and spend at least $10 million on affordable housing in central Florida.
Disney would then be allowed to build a fifth major theme park at Disney World and two more smaller parks, such as water parks, if desired. The company could increase the number of hotel rooms on its property from nearly 40,000 rooms to more than 53,000 rooms and increase the amount of retail and restaurant space by more than 20%. Disney maintains control over building heights due to the need to maintain an immersive environment.
Orlando tourism industry leaders praised the deal, telling county board members it will bring limitless jobs, tourists and attention to central Florida.
“It clearly shows the world that the District and Disney are eager to work together again for the great state of Florida,” said Robert Earl, founder and CEO of Planet Hollywood International, Inc.
Still up in the air was an appeal of a federal lawsuit Disney filed against DeSantis and his appointees. After the settlement was reached in March, Disney asked the appeals court to put the case on hold while the development deal was negotiated. The company has until next week to petition the court if it wants to pursue the case.
Disney did not respond to an email Wednesday afternoon seeking comment on how the company planned to move forward. DeSantis’ appointees to the district had planned to hold a closed-door discussion about the lawsuit after their board meeting Wednesday, but canceled that meeting.
Matthew Oberly, a spokesman for the district, said Wednesday evening that the district had no comment on the future of the federal lawsuits.
The March settlement ended nearly two years of litigation sparked by DeSantis’ takeover of the district following the company’s opposition to a 2022 law banning classroom lessons about sexual orientation and gender identity in the elementary grades. The law was championed by the Republican governor, who used Disney as a punching bag in speeches during his run for the 2024 Republican Party nomination until he his campaign suspended earlier this year.
As punishment for Disney’s opposition to the controversial law, DeSantis took over the governing district through legislation passed by the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature and appointed a new board of supervisors. Disney sued DeSantis and his appointees, claiming the company’s free speech rights had been violated for speaking out against the legislation. A federal judge turned down that lawsuit in January, but Disney appealed.
Before control of the district changed hands early last year, Disney supporters on the board signed agreements with the company, transferring control of design and construction at Disney World to the company. The new DeSantis appointees claimed that the ‘eleventh hour agreements’ had neutralized their powerand the district sued the company in state court in Orlando to have the contracts voided.
Disney has filed counterclaims, including asking the state court to declare the agreements valid and enforceable. These lawsuits in state courts were dismissed as part of the March settlement.
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