DeSantis leans on GOP-controlled Legislature to thwart Disney

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is escalating his ongoing rift with Disney after the entertainment giant appeared to outmaneuver the Republican governor in the long-running fight for control of its central Florida theme parks.

DeSantis, a likely presidential contender for 2024, on Monday announced that the GOP-controlled Legislature will attempt to change state law to subject the company theme parks to new inspections of its rides and famed monorail in the final three weeks of its annual session.

“They are not superior to the laws that are enacted by the people of the state of Florida,” said DeSantis at an afternoon press conference held near Disney World. “That’s not going to work, that’s not going to fly.”

The threat came after Disney in February quietly, through a bureaucratic vote, wrestled back control of the Orlando-area park — though state officials didn’t learn of it until March. Disney’s maneuvering left DeSantis administration officials scrambling to respond and the governor ordered an investigation into the California-based corporation.

During Monday’s press conference, DeSantis also suggested a newly-created state board that owns property in and around Disney World may convert that land into a state park, a rival amusement park or even a state prison. He also floated the idea that the board could look at whether to raise its tax rates, a move that would result in more costs for Disney.

The governor said that other ideas — such as imposing tolls on roads serving the park — would not be considered. But the recommendations, taken in whole, are meant to push back on the criticism directed at DeSantis by former President Donald Trump and others that he had been outfoxed by Disney.

During his remarks, DeSantis touted his decisive reelection victory as proof that Floridians backed his push to strip Disney — which is one of the state’s largest employers — of its long-held control over a special district that was initially created in the late ‘60s to spur the development of Walt Disney World.

DeSantis also added in a statement that “their cheerleaders in the media thought that Disney ‘outsmarted’ the state, but the new control board uncovered their sloppy scheme, and the agreements will be nullified by new legislation that I intend to execute. Disney will operate on a level playing field with every other business in Florida.”

Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The confrontation with Disney started over a year ago when the company opposed Florida’s parental rights in education bill, known by opponents as “Don’t Say Gay,” that banned classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in lower grades.

After the company vowed to fight for the law’s repeal, DeSantis countered by having legislators pass a bill to dissolve Disney’s special district known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District. The governor and lawmakers followed that up during a February special Legislative session, however, by passing another measure that kept the district intact but with a new board appointed by the governor.

However, before that new law took effect, Disney negotiated a deal with the old board during the winter that transferred control to the company. DeSantis and his board of appointees questioned the legality of this deal, though Disney has maintained in statements that it was perfectly legal and was approved in a public meeting.

Florida currently exempts large theme parks from state inspections, which carves out not just Disney but competitors such as Universal. GOP Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, whose agency oversees ride safety, said the legislative proposal would allow state inspectors to go in if there had been an accident. DeSantis, in clarifying remarks to reporters, added however this requirement would only apply to parks in special districts, which would mean the new requirement would apply to just Disney.

State Rep. Anna Eskamani, a Democrat from central Florida, blasted DeSantis over his latest confrontation with Disney.

“Gov. DeSantis once again demonstrates his latest attempt to target Walt Disney World that this has nothing to do with corporate accountability and everything to do with his own ego and attempt to get a ‘win” for his GOP base,” Eskamani said. “He needs to let go and move on.”

State Sen. Linda Stewart, another Democrat from Central Florida, said DeSantis was interested in “retaliation, not good government. Turning corporations and properties over to government-control, as DeSantis proposes, just because the governor doesn’t like a position they’ve taken on gay rights, belongs in the playbooks of banana republics, not the state of Florida.”

DeSantis had hinted at his latest actions earlier this month, but when asked about potential legislation, GOP Senate President Kathleen Passidomo said last Wednesday that if “somebody is working on it they haven't shared it with me."

Katie Betta, a spokesperson for Passidomo, said in email that DeSantis’ staff began speaking to Passidomo’s late last week and over the weekend ahead of his Monday announcement. She also added: “As you are aware, issues can develop throughout the course of session.”

The Disney legislation adds to a long line of priorities that DeSantis is pushing through in the weeks ahead of an expected presidential campaign. The Legislature has already passed measures on the death penalty, a ban on abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, and easing gun restrictions that had the backing of the governor.

Legislators who joined DeSantis on Monday said they fully backed his latest efforts to go after Disney, including one whose district includes the theme park and railed at what she called Disney’s embrace of “radical gender ideologies.”

“Here in the free state of Florida it is we the people not woke corporations,” said Rep. Carolina Amesty (R-Windermere). “We love Disney however you cannot indoctrinate our children.”