After a years-long feud between Disney and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Disney will now be able to continue the development of Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando over the next 15 years. The five appointees of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight Distract gave final approval on June 12 for a deal that would allow Disney to make infrastructure improvements. The company will spend at least $8 billion on the new World Resort over the next decade in exchange for this deal, with a total of $17 billion to be invested across the next 10 to 20 years.
DeSantis, and Disney, have been entrenched in a dispute over who rightfully controls Disney World’s Reedy Creek Improvement District. This came as a result of former Disney CEO Bob Chapek publicly opposing a state law that limited discussion of sexuality and gender in classrooms, which was dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” law by critics.
Before DeSantis’s appointees completed the takeover, the Reedy Creek Improvement District was controlled by Disney supporters. They provided municipal services such as firefighting, planning, and mosquito control to the area.
This past March, Disney and DeSantis agreed to stop litigation over the district in court and work toward a new development agreement and comprehensive plan.
Under this deal, Disney has gained approval to build a fifth theme park and two more minor parks, such as water parks. It can also officially expand retail and office space and add around 14,000 hotel rooms, all of which will bring the resort’s total to nearly 54,000, according to Reuters.
Disney will be required to donate 100 of its 24,000 acres to construction projects that will be controlled by the district. The company will also be required to award half of its construction projects to Florida-based companies. Disney has agreed to spend at least $10 million on affordable housing in central Florida, per a report by CPS.
An appeal of a federal lawsuit filed against DeSantis and his appointees is still present. Disney has asked the appellate court to place that case on hold while the parties negotiate the development agreement. Disney has until next week to file a brief with the court if it wants to move forward with the case.
Disney has not been able to be reached for comment on the impending suit. The DeSantis appointees also canceled a closed-door meeting to discuss their lawsuit after their board meeting on June 12, CBS has reported.
Disney’s lawsuit claims that DeSantis’s takeover of the district in response to the company’s opposition to the “Don’t Say Gay” law violated their free speech rights. Disney appealed after a federal judge dismissed the lawsuit in January.
In a 17-page order, U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor dismissed the case, stating that Disney lacked the standing to sue the governor. The judge stated that, while Disney could sue the new DeSantis-appointed board, it had not shown evidence that actions by the new board had harmed the company.
