Banned from the Bubble: Florida Republican Gubernatorial Candidate James Fishback Issues New Year’s Demand to Disney CEO Bob Iger

As the sun rises on New Year’s Day 2026, the ongoing war between Florida’s political hopefuls and the Walt Disney World Resort has entered an aggressive new chapter. James Fishback, a high-profile Republican candidate for Governor and CEO of Azoria Partners, has spent his holiday morning escalating a public feud with the world’s most famous theme park.

Following a dramatic removal from Disney property in late December, Fishback has officially released a letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger. The document is not just a complaint; it is a high-stakes demand for a face-to-face meeting and a formal apology, centering on accusations of political targeting within the “Disney Bubble.”

The New Year’s Escalation

While most Floridians were celebrating the arrival of 2026, James Fishback was finalizing his response to a permanent trespass warning issued by Disney security. The candidate, who is running to succeed Governor Ron DeSantis, was escorted off Disney property after attempting to hold what his campaign describes as a “community meet-and-greet” and what Disney classifies as an unsanctioned political rally last week.

In a letter that began circulating across social media on December 31, Fishback addressed Bob Iger directly, framing the incident as a calculated act of viewpoint discrimination.

“I am requesting an immediate meeting with you personally,” the letter states. “Disney cannot claim to be a place where ‘everyone is welcome’ while simultaneously using security forces to silence a native Floridian and a leading candidate for Governor because his platform threatens your corporate interests.”

The Incident that Sparked the Ban

The conflict began when Fishback and his team set up a makeshift meeting point at Disney Springs. Fishback, known for his “aggressive affordability” platform and his calls to abolish property taxes, has positioned himself as an anti-corporate outsider.

Disney’s internal policies regarding guest conduct are notoriously strict. The resort prohibits any form of solicitation, the distribution of printed materials, or organized demonstrations on its private property. When Fishback began engaging guests in political discussions, security staff intervened to shut down the event. When he refused to comply with orders to stop the “rally,” he was issued a trespass warning, which legally bars him from returning to any Disney-owned property in Florida.

Why Fishback is Taking on the Mouse

To understand why this confrontation is occurring now, one must examine Fishback’s 2026 platform. As a candidate who recently gained national attention for his “DOGE Dividend” proposal—a plan to return government savings directly to taxpayers—Fishback has made “corporate accountability” a cornerstone of his campaign.

By forcing a confrontation with Disney, Fishback is tapping into several key campaign themes:

• Anti-Corporate Sentiment: Fishback has frequently criticized “special interests” and corporate “slaves” in Tallahassee, specifically targeting his primary opponent, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds.
• Property Rights vs. Guest Rights: He argues that Disney’s massive land holdings and unique tax benefits should come with a responsibility to uphold First Amendment-style protections for guests.
• The “Affordability” Narrative: Fishback often points to rising Disney ticket prices—now exceeding $200 for a single day—as a symptom of the same corporate greed he claims is making Florida unaffordable for residents.

Disney’s Legal Standing

Despite the political theater, Disney’s legal position remains firm. As a private property owner, the Walt Disney World Resort is not a public forum. The Florida courts have historically upheld the rights of private businesses to exclude individuals who violate their terms of service or park rules.

Disney’s “Terms and Conditions” for guests explicitly state:

1. No unauthorized events or rallies.
2. No political campaigning or solicitation.
3. Security reserves the right to remove any guest who disrupts the “family-friendly environment.”

For Disney, the trespass isn’t about Fishback’s specific conservative views, but about maintaining a politics-free environment for guests who pay thousands of dollars to escape the real world. However, Fishback’s letter to Iger challenges this, alleging that “corporate-approved activism” is often permitted while his “grassroots dialogue” was met with a ban.

Impact on the 2026 Governor’s Race

James Fishback is currently positioning himself as the populist alternative to the more established candidates. By getting “banned from Disney,” he has successfully generated more headlines in the first week of 2026 than many of his rivals.

For many Republican primary voters, being “the guy Disney is afraid of” is a potent political identity. It echoes the strategies used by Ron DeSantis but adds a new layer of “outsider” energy. As the 2026 race heats up, Fishback appears ready to use his trespass warning as a badge of honor on the campaign trail, frequently citing the letter to Bob Iger as proof that he is willing to take on Florida’s “most powerful corporate entity.”

As 2026 begins, the eyes of the nation are once again on the intersection of Florida politics and Disney magic. Will Bob Iger grant Fishback’s request for a meeting, or will the ban remain a permanent part of the candidate’s platform? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.