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President Biden & King Charles Step in as Disney v. DeSantis Conflict Explodes

joe biden king charles cinderella castle

The battle between The Walt Disney Company and the state of Florida has morphed into an all-out war, and things have gotten so bad that President Biden and King Charles have stepped in to help.

RELATED: Johnny Depp to Be Knighted by King Charles, Except for a Massive Misunderstanding

joe biden king charles cinderella castle

It began when Disney stuck its proverbial nose into the state of Florida’s politics in March 2022, and he hasn’t stopped yet. The Disney-DeSantis debacle started when Disney took a loud and public stance of opposition to an education bill passed by the Florida legislature. Disney’s then-CEO Bob Chapek reportedly attempted to steer clear of meddling in Florida politics, but after pressure from some of the Cast Members within the company, he caved, ultimately speaking out against the bill shortly before it passed. Following the signing of the bill into law, Chapek issued yet another public statement of opposition

As punishment, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill to dissolve Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District, a special tax district incepted in the late 1960s that effectively allowed Disney World to execute its own practices of self-government. As time marched on toward July 1, 2023–the date on which the law was to go into effect–the feud between the Sunshine State and the House of Mouse seemed to lessen somewhat.

But appearances can be deceiving, and Disney had something else up its sleeve.

In early February 2023, as the Florida legislature held a special session to discuss a potential takeover of the district, Disney’s still-intact Reedy Creek board members were also meeting. Florida voted yes on a variation of its original plans–rather than dissolve the Reedy Creek District, legislators renamed it and gave the governor the exclusive rights to appoint board members.

governor ron desantis disney world aerial view

Disney’s board enacted a new development agreement, effectively limiting the new board members’ power for the foreseeable future–and beyond, and even the United Kingdom’s King Charles played a role in giving Disney a detour around the Florida governor’s edicts, as the board used verbiage from what’s called a “Royal Clause.”

“[T]his Declaration shall continue in effect until twenty-one (21) years after the death of the last survivor of the descendants of King Charles III, King of England living as of the date of this Declaration,” the document said.

Image of mickey mouse and King Charles III

Credit: Twitter/MoviePosterZack

The document might have sounded comical to some, as Cinderella Castle–not Windsor Castle or Buckingham Palace–was mentioned in the wording. While some thought Disney’s board used the King of England’s name as a dig toward Governor DeSantis for referring to Disney World as “the corporate kingdom,” The Orlando Sentinel says there’s more to it than that:

There’s a more straightforward explanation rooted in longstanding legal traditions and a common law concept known as the “rule against perpetuities.” As explained by Cornell Law School, the rule holds that “no interest in land is good unless it must vest, if at all, not later than twenty-one years after some life in being at the creation of the interest.” In other words, covenants must be tied to the lifespan of a person living at the time the covenant is signed, plus 21 years.

RELATED: Disney & the U. S. Mourning the Loss of Queen Elizabeth II, but Others Are Demanding an Apology

King Charles Hosted His Extended Family For a Pre-Christmas Lunch at Windsor Castle | Vanity Fair

Credit: Vanity Fair

On Tuesday, U. S. President Joe Biden spoke with King Charles III, who will be coronated next month during the British Royal Coronation. Though Mr. Biden won’t be in attendance at the King’s coronation, as no sitting U. S. president has ever attended a British Royal Coronation, he did congratulate His Majesty the King and “underscored the strength of the relationship between our countries and the friendship between our peoples,” according to the White House. Further, the president told the king that he wanted to meet with him in the United Kingdom “at a future date.” The First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, will attend the coronation to represent the United States as the United Kingdom officially crowns the British monarch.

President Joe Biden 'will NOT attend King Charles' Coronation and plans on turning down invite', sources claim | The US Sun

Credit: The US Sun

And now it seems that even President Biden’s name has been brought into the Disney vs. DeSantis war, even if only by one of the most respected names in media and journalism, Scott Gustin, who shared the following tweet on Tuesday afternoon, along with the release from President Biden’s call with King Charles.

Gustin pointed out that “Reedy Creek was not discussed” during the call, despite King Charles’s name being thrown around in the Disney/DeSantis/Reedy Creek/Florida debacle.

Though April Fools Day has come and gone, Gustin did get lots of chuckles from his humorous post.

About Becky Burkett

Becky's from the Lone Star State and has been writing since she was 10 and encountered her first Disney Park when she was 11. It was love at first Main Street Electrical Parade. Joy is blank lined journals, 0.7 mm pens, and all things Walt, Woody and Buzz, PIXAR, Imagineering, Sleeping Beauty (make it blue!), Disney Parks history and EPCOT. At Disney World, you'll find her croonin' with the birdies at the Enchanted Tiki Room or hangin' with Woody and the gang at Toy Story Land. If you can dream, you really can do it!