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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis once told the entire state that he was working on a “rival” theme park that would put Walt Disney World Resort out of business. We now have an update on this project months after DeSantis ended his feud with the House of Mouse. After DeSantis quit the Republican Party Presidential campaign and fully endorsed former President Donald Trump, he set his sights on Florida.
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Yes, Ron DeSantis Has Officially Ended any Feuds With Disney World
Disney dropped its appeal last month in its First Amendment lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, officially ending the two-year battle that began with the company’s opposition to the “Don’t Say Gay” law. The decision came a day after a state board approved a new 15-year development agreement, permitting Disney to invest up to $17 billion to expand its Orlando theme parks. Brian Aungst Jr., a Central Florida Tourism Oversight District member, emphasized the mutual benefits of the agreement.
“Walt Disney World is inextricably intertwined in the fabric of the state of Florida, and the success of Walt Disney World is the success of Central Florida and vice versa,” Aungst said on Wednesday. “This agreement provides a lasting, sustainable, and prosperous future for the district and people of the state of Florida and the The Walt Disney Company.” The resolution marks the end of a highly publicized cultural clash that left Disney without control over the nearly 40-square-mile area surrounding its parks, a privilege it had since 1967.
The new development agreement allows Disney to construct a fifth central theme park in Orlando, up to two additional minor parks, and over 13,000 new hotel rooms. Additionally, Disney pledged $10 million over 10 years towards affordable housing development, while the state board committed to supporting infrastructure for Disney’s expansion. The settlement upheld a district court ruling that dismissed Disney’s claim that DeSantis had violated its constitutional rights by allegedly retaliating for opposing the Parental Rights in Education law.
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The Development Agreement With a Deeper Understanding
U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor dismissed the suit in January, stating Florida had the authority to revoke the district and that its motives were irrelevant. Disney, initially committed to an appeal, argued the case had “serious implications for the rule of law,” warning it could set a dangerous precedent for states to punish dissenting political views. However, after settling most conflicts in March and with state lawsuits dismissed, Disney and DeSantis focused on the new development plan.
The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District voted unanimously on June 12 to approve the new agreement, leading Disney to notify the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday of the case’s dismissal. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, led by five appointees selected by Governor Ron DeSantis, has unanimously approved a 15-year development agreement with Disney. This deal signifies a significant commitment from both parties, with the district pledging to facilitate infrastructure enhancements in exchange for Disney’s substantial investment of up to $17 billion in its Orlando-based Disney World over the next two decades.
This landmark agreement follows a period of détente initiated in March, wherein both Disney and the district agreed to cease their litigations in state court. Instead, they focused on negotiating a comprehensive new development plan slated for completion by the following year. The district, formerly under the influence of Disney supporters, provides essential municipal services such as firefighting, planning, and mosquito control.
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A district board member, Brian Aungst, hailed the agreement as a durable framework fostering collaboration between Disney and the district. “This is the day we all have been looking forward to,” Aungst remarked optimistically during Wednesday night’s board meeting. Under the terms of the deal, Disney is obliged to allocate up to 100 acres of its vast 24,000-acre Disney World property for district-managed infrastructure projects.
Additionally, the company must ensure that at least half of its construction contracts go to Florida-based firms and allocate a minimum of $10 million toward affordable housing initiatives in central Florida. In response to the agreement, leaders within Orlando’s tourism sector expressed praise, emphasizing the anticipated economic benefits of job creation, increased tourism, and heightened global attention to central Florida. Robert Earl, founder and CEO of Planet Hollywood International, Inc., underscored the agreement’s significance in showcasing the district’s readiness to collaborate with Disney for the more significant benefit of Florida.
From Governor DeSantis’ office, communications director Bryan Griffin issued a statement affirming the positive collaboration between Disney and the state under the new governance structure of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. He highlighted the agreement’s potential to secure substantial investments and enhance guest experiences across the state. Despite this progress, the fate of a federal lawsuit initiated by Disney against DeSantis and his appointees remains unresolved, pending further court actions.
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What About That “Rival” Disney World Theme Park?
In November 2023, Disney’s legal representatives argued in federal court in Tallahassee that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ remarks about establishing a competing amusement park on Disney-seized land were part of a deliberate effort to undermine the company. According to court filings submitted by Disney’s lawyers, DeSantis’ Reedy Creek Improvement District appointees were accused of wielding their land-use authority to diminish Disney’s interests and exert ongoing influence over the company’s freedom of expression.
The legal submission highlighted instances where Governor DeSantis publicly suggested that his appointed board could approve projects like constructing a state prison or developing a rival theme park adjacent to Disney’s properties. Disney’s attorneys contended that such actions violated their client’s rights and called for court intervention to invalidate the reorganization laws and compel the Governor to rescind his appointees.
The conflict between Disney and DeSantis escalated following Disney’s vocal opposition to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, which restricts discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity in specific school settings. DeSantis, a Republican, responded by announcing legislative measures to revoke Disney’s long-standing self-governance rights within the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which had granted Disney considerable administrative autonomy over its vast Walt Disney World Resort for decades.
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During an April 2023 press conference, Governor DeSantis joked about potential future uses for the land formerly overseen by the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which was dissolved in June 2023 under the new legislation. He mused about creating a state park, expanding amusement parks, or even constructing a state prison on the land, reflecting the broad range of possibilities now under state consideration.
So, with all that being said, and after Ron DeSantis has officially ended any feud with Disney in Orlando, it is safe to say that the update that nearly 23 million Floridians have been waiting for is that DeSantis has turned away from the idea of building a rival theme park in Florida, at least for now. No word has been said out of the mouth of the Governor regarding the rival theme park he spoke about last year. DeSantis has attended several press conferences and talked about Disney World and their new alliance.
But nothing has been said about this supposed rival theme park. It’s safe to say that Ron DeSantis has officially stepped away from this idea, never to mention this again in terms of telling the media or anyone close to him. Was it all a joke? Was he angry with Disney and wanted to instill fear into the hearts and minds of guests? Who knows? All we know is that with this new alliance formed, Disney will be profiting from billions of dollars now being allocated to allow for a more immersive experience for all guests over the next 20 years.
