Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is continuing his threats to Disney, and his latest comments are a bit… unexpected.
After Disney entered into development agreements that gave them a significant amount of control over the Reedy Creek Improvement District (now called the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District), DeSantis and the new District Board have come up with a plan to try to control the House of Mouse.
On April 17th, 2023, the governor held a press conference about the District and the legal issues they’re having with Disney. During the conference, DeSantis discussed how the law is superior to “big corporations, even corporations as big and powerful as Walt Disney Company.”
When it comes to the agreements Disney made with the old Board, DeSantis calls them “legal fiction” and something done in “defiance” of the people of Florida. DeSantis said, “That’s not gonna work. That’s not gonna fly,” and then began to outline his plan of attack against Disney’s agreements — including potentially developing land owned by the District.
While Disney owns a majority of the land in the District, there are areas that are not owned by Disney and are instead owned by the District itself. DeSantis noted that he “wasn’t even thinking about that land” when the initial bill to change things about the District was introduced. But now that they’re in this position, DeSantis said people have been wondering, “‘What should we do with this land?’”
He continued on, saying that he’s heard a few suggestions. “People have said…maybe create a state park, maybe try to do more amusement parks…maybe you need another state prison. Who knows?”
DeSantis shared that “The possibilities are endless” and they will be analyzing what would “make the most sense.”
He also discussed changing inspection rules pertaining to accidents that happen on Disney World rides, selling utilities to a private entity, and accelerating the debt payment within the District.
You can check out a full breakdown of the recent press conference here, and we’ll be looking out for more updates from the upcoming District Board meeting on April 19th. Be sure to stay tuned to AllEars for more.
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I can’t believe this is happening in America. Its total persecutions of a company for their beliefs which like every other American they are entitled to. Doesn’t matter what the belief is. No one should face persecution from their state or federal government. I’ll never vote for Desantis as president.
I’m not defending the governor, but this “state prison” thing is all media hype. The statement from the governor is itself quoting others who suggested multiple uses for the land, only one of which was a prison. I’ve not seen anything that attributes the suggestion directly to him or that indicates his endorsement of the idea. It is simply being used to sway public opinion and generate internet traffic.
He’s a total clown.
Can’t get out of his own way, i.e., “DeSantis Threatened to Build a New State Prison Next to Disney But Last Summer He Vetoed Funding for One”