Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs legislation reducing Disney World district’s self-governing status.
Orlando – For more than 50 years, the amusement park “Walt Disney World” was self-managed as a separate district by the Disney group. On Monday (February 27), Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation severely restricting that status and placing it under state control. This is reported, among other things, by the conservative US tabloid New York Post.
“Today, the corporation’s empire finally comes to an end,” DeSantis said at the signing of the law. “There’s a new sheriff in town, and accountability will be the order of the day.” The Republican-backed bill renames Disney’s self-governing Reedy Creek Improvement District the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
Disney has to give up autonomy by signing DeSantis into law
This will oblige Disney to comply with state regulations within the county, where the company previously operated with near autonomy for decades. Initially, the 44-year-old, who is expected to run for the US presidency, initially even called for the district to be completely dissolved. Some members of the Republican Party had supported him in this proposal.
The signing of the law marks the culmination of a months-long dispute between DeSantis and Disney. The dispute was triggered by a controversial law that DeSantis signed in April 2022. After pressure from Disney employees, former Disney CEO Bob Chapek issued a public statement opposing the bill. It states that teachers in Florida should be forbidden from discussing gender identity and sexual orientation with their students up to the age of nine.
DeSantis has been at odds with Disney since the “Don’t Say Gay” law
With the law, the Republican Party in the USA wants to enforce its conservative line in socio-political discourses. DeSantis, who has repeatedly made headlines through scandals, is trying to raise his profile in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election. Critics condemn the law, calling it the “Don’t Say Gay” law. They see it as a blow to the LGBTIQ community.
DeSantis responded to the criticism by demanding that the Disney group be stripped of its special position. For more than five decades, the Reedy Creek Improvement District was essentially managed by the corporation. Disney is responsible for the basic needs of the population. The group collects taxes and is responsible for garbage collection and the fire brigade, for example.
Board of Directors is no longer appointed by Disney, but by DeSantis
In 1967, the Florida legislature decided that the Disney company would be self-governing. This should facilitate the construction of the world-famous theme park in Orlando. An area of just over a hundred square kilometers on which the amusement park was built has since been under almost autonomous management by the group.
The most recent law signed by DeSantis, which is intended to eliminate the possibility of self-government, was passed by the Florida House of Representatives and Senate two and a half weeks ago. This gives DeSantis the authority to appoint the members of a five-person oversight board for the special district. This power was previously reserved for Disney. (Clemens Dörrenberg)
