Governor Ron DeSantis celebrated the success of the state takeover of Walt Disney World’s governing district, which occurred almost a year ago. Despite controversy, including an exodus of workers and ongoing litigation with Disney, DeSantis praised the takeover during a news conference at Disney World. He claimed that the appointment of his own officials had increased transparency, accountability, and competition in the district, while also reducing the tax burden for Disney and other businesses within the resort. DeSantis viewed the victory in litigation with Disney as a win for both the region and the state of Florida.
DeSantis’ visit to Disney World followed a federal judge in Tallahassee dismissing Disney’s free speech lawsuit against the governor and his appointees to the district’s board. Disney had argued that the takeover was in retaliation for the company opposing the state’s controversial “Don’t Say Gay” law. The law, which banned lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades, had been championed by DeSantis. While Disney is appealing the ruling, a separate lawsuit over control of the district is still ongoing in state court in Orlando. Before the takeover, Disney supporters on the board had signed agreements with Disney, giving the company control over design and construction at Disney World. DeSantis’ appointees claimed these agreements limited their powers, leading to the ongoing legal battle.
Since the takeover, around 50 of the district’s 370 employees have left, raising concerns about the district’s ability to function effectively with so many vacancies. Departing workers have cited concerns about politicization, the hiring of politically-connected individuals, and distractions caused by the backgrounds of DeSantis’ appointees. One of the appointees, Bridget Ziegler, a co-founder of Moms for Liberty, faced criticism for hypocrisy after admitting to a sexual relationship involving her husband and another woman, despite her public opposition to LGBTQ+ rights. Her husband, Christian Ziegler, was removed as the head of the Republican Party of Florida, and faces potential charges for illegally recording the encounter.
Despite the challenges and controversies surrounding the state takeover of Disney’s governing district, Governor DeSantis remains optimistic about the outcome. He believes that the increased transparency, accountability, and competition resulting from the new appointees have been beneficial for the region and the state of Florida. The ongoing legal battles with Disney and the concerns raised by departing workers highlight the complexities and tensions involved in the governance of such a high-profile and economically significant entity like Walt Disney World. The outcome of the litigation and the ongoing operation of the district will continue to be closely watched and debated in the coming months.
