Orlando, Florida – Months after Disney and Governor Ron DeSantis’ appointments agreed to end a protracted legal process In the fight, the two sides must approve a deal that could result in the company investing $17 billion in its Florida resort and opening the doors to a fifth major theme park at Walt Disney World.
The five DeSantis-appointed supervisors who oversee the Disney World district will vote Wednesday on a new development agreement that both sides agreed to negotiate after a March settlement ended their state court cases against each other.
The agreement between Disney and the Central Florida Tourism and Supervisory District would last for the next 15 years. The district provides municipal services such as firefighting, planning and mosquito control, among others. It was controlled by Disney supporters for most of its five decades until it was taken over by DeSantis appointees last year.
Under the terms of the agreement, over the next two decades, Disney would be approved to build a fifth major theme park at Disney World and two more smaller parks, such as water parks. The company could increase the number of hotel rooms on its property from nearly 40,000 rooms to more than 53,000 rooms and increase the amount of retail and restaurant space by more than 20%. Disney would maintain control of building heights due to the need to maintain an immersive environment.
In exchange, Disney would be required to donate up to 100 acres (40 hectares) of Disney World’s 24,000 acres (9,700 hectares) for the construction of district-controlled infrastructure projects. The company would also need to award at least half of its construction projects to Florida-based companies and spend at least $10 million on affordable housing in central Florida.
The March settlement ended nearly two years of litigation that was triggered by DeSantis’ takeover of the district by Disney supporters following the company’s opposition to Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law.
The 2022 law prohibits in-person classes on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades and was defended by the Republican governor, who used Disney as a punching bag in speeches until suspended his presidential campaign this year.
As punishment for Disney’s opposition to the controversial law, DeSantis took over the gubernatorial district through legislation passed by the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature and appointed a new board of supervisors. Disney sued DeSantis and his appointees, claiming the company’s free speech rights were violated for speaking out against the legislation. A federal judge fired this lawsuit in January, but Disney appealed. As part of the March settlement, Disney agreed to suspend its appeal of the federal lawsuit.
Before control of the district changed hands from Disney allies to DeSantis appointees early last year, Disney supporters on its board signed agreements with Disney transferring control over the design and construction of Disney World to the company. DeSantis’ new appointees claimed that “last-minute agreements” neutralized his powers and the district sued the company in Orlando state court to void the contracts.
Disney filed counterclaims that included asking the state court to declare the agreements valid and enforceable. Those state lawsuits were dismissed as part of the March settlement.
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