The DeSantis Disney Back-and-Forth Takes Another Turn

Now it’s a real battle.

With an international twist.

The ongoing back-and-forth between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Walt Disney World is heating up. DeSantis, you will recall, felt slighted when Disney spoke out against one of his policies last year so he stripped the resort of its self-governing powers and installed five members to oversee Disney. These new members that were more sympathetic to his policies.

Not so fast.

Apparently, Walt Disney World has taken over again of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, invoking a little known clause in the original deal. The board members of the Reedy Creek Improvement District turned it back over to Walt Disney World because of this clause: the special tax district cannot be disbanded until the monarchy in the United Kingdom is disbanded.

With King Charles III set to take control officially next month with his coronation, and Prince William next in succession, that doesn’t appear to be happening anytime soon.

It will likely end up in a courthouse soon because right now, the DeSantis appointees cannot make any significant decisions legally.

But DeSantis isn’t backing down.

“There’s a lot of little back-and-forths going on now with the state taking control, but rest assured, you know, you ain’t seen nothing yet,” the Florida governor told a crowd in Smyrna, GA, according to CNN. “There’s more to come in that regard.”

A court battle is not welcome on either side, but that Walt Disney was a visionary, wasn’t he? End of the monarchy? He didn’t just look ahead with his business and his inventions, but in his business dealings. Whether it stands up legally remains to be seen. Unbeknownst to the governor, the new board had its power stripped as well.

Decisions about taxes, bonds, and even the fire Department will revert to the old board. This happened about three weeks before the DeSantis appointees were to take over and start making decisions. All power to make decisions now reverts back to the Walt Disney Corporation.

According to the clause, the rules can’t be changed until 21 years after the descendants of King Charles III pass.

In a statement provided to NPR, Disney said the move was “appropriate” and “approved in open, noticed public forums in compliance with Florida’s Government.” The old board unanimously approved the agenda at the last meeting in February, apparently because the new board was unaware of the clause in the contract that they decided to invoke.