When Walt Disney chose Central Florida as the home for his Project X, i.e. what would come to be known as Walt Disney World, it was a major win for the state. Florida was very happy to welcome Disney to the Sunshine State, knowing that the tourists visiting the “East Coast Disneyland” would be a boon for the state’s economy. In the decades since, the state and the House of Mouse have worked well together and relied on each other, as Disney World has expanded well beyond its original plans. But for a little over a year, that’s all seemingly coming apart. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis decided that Disney has too much power and has instituted a major change in the relationship between the state and the company.
Back in the 1960s, Florida voted to create the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which gave Walt Disney World a significant amount of autonomy, but now that autonomy will be up to a court to decide. If you’re just catching up, here’s a complete timeline of just what is going on in the battle between Florida and Disney World.
The Parental Rights In Education Act Is Introduced - February 2022
In early 2022, the Florida legislature introduced the Parental Rights in Education Act. The new law was designed to limit what teachers could teach in public schools regarding a variety of topics, from sexual orientation to gender identity. Critics dubbed the law “Don’t Say Gay,” as it effectively muzzled teachers’ ability to even acknowledge the existence of such topics in the classroom.
As the largest single-site employer in the state of Florida, many who were against the bill hoped that The Walt Disney Company would exert its considerable sway on public opinion, as well as on the politicians whom the company had donated to, by speaking out against the law. Then-CEO Bob Chapek initially tried to keep out of the political fight.
Disney Cast Members Plan Walkout, Don’t Say Gay is Passed, And Disney Speaks Out - March 2022
During a March 8, 2022 earnings call, Bob Chapek did take a moment to speak out against the law. Then on the 11th, in a follow-up statement, Chapek apologized to Cast Members for not speaking up sooner and announced the company was pausing all political donations in Florida. For many Disney Cast Members though, it was not enough, and a company-wide walkout took place on March 22
The overwhelmingly conservative legislature passed the law and Governor Ron DeSantis signed it on March 28. Alongside the signing, however, Disney released its strongest statement to date, not only condemning the law, but promising to help assist in the fight to have it repealed.
Ron DeSantis Threatens To End The Reedy Creek Improvement DIstict And Florida Follows Through - April 2022
Governor DeSantis took exception to Disney making public statements against Florida laws, and so following the company's statement, the Florida governor, alongside some key legislators, began to talk openly about repealing the Reedy Creek Improvement District. The argument was that the special district gave Disney too many perks that the company should not have.
On April 22, a Florida law dissolving RCID was passed, though even before that happened, there were significant concerns about such a move. RCID gave Disney more power than other theme park companies, to be sure, but it also included a number of responsibilities that the state would now need to handle itself.
Disney Delays Cast Member Move To Florida - June 2022
Back in July 2021, before all this insanity started, The Walt Disney Company announced plans to build a new campus in the Lake Nona area of Florida, not far from Walt Disney World, 2,000 Cast Members were set to make the move, including the vast majority of Disney’s crown jewel Walt Disney Imagineering. The plan was to complete the move by 2023.
But by summer 2022, it seemed things were moving much more slowly than planned. The Imagineering move was delayed to 2026, and while the issues in Florida were not specifically cited as a reason for the delay, many wondered if that was actually the case.
Disney World Makes A Move To Protect Itself Before Florida Replaces Reedy Creek - February 2023
In order to overcome the potential hurdles that abolishing Reedy Creek entirely could have caused in Florida, the legislature introduced a new bill on February 6 that would not abolish Reedy Creek, but would instead replace it with a new governing board whose members would be chosen by Governor DeSantis.
Knowing the bill was all but certain to pass, the Reedy Creek Improvement District held a public meeting on February 8, 2023, in which the board and Disney made a deal that gave Walt Disney World more direct control over much of the land within the district.
The Reedy Creek Improvement District Is Replaced With The Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board - February 27, 2023
The new law was signed by Ron DeSantis on February 27, 2023, creating the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District in place of the Reedy Creek Improvement District. The new board would be made up of individuals picked by the Republican governor who shared his values.
Of course, initially, it wasn't specifically clear what the new board would do differently from the governing body that had been there before. Still, it wouldn't be long before the real battle lines were drawn.
Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Discovers The Disney World Land Deal - April 17, 2023
The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District held its first meeting on March 8, 2023, but it was in the second meeting, in April, when the sparks would begin to fly. In the interim, the new board discovered the land deal put in place by the RCID and Walt Disney World, as well as learned that the deal had been written in such a way that it could not be undone by the new board.
While the deal did not strip all power from CFTOD, it did severely limit it, and needless to say the board and Governor DeSantis were not at all happy about that. The board made it clear that it would investigate legal remedies to undo the deal.
During a speech the next day, DeSantis suggested that Florida might consider building a state prison on Disney World property.
Disney Sues DeSantis, New Board - April 26, 2023
Once it was clear that this was all going to court, Disney apparently decided it wanted to go to court on their own terms. At the end of April, Disney filed a lawsuit against Governor DeSantis and the members of the CFTOD in their official capacities, claiming that everything that the state had been doing was part of targeted retaliation against Disney for exercising its First Amendment right to free speech. All the new laws had not changed all special districts, just the one that covered Walt Disney World, which the company is now arguing is unfair.
CFTOP Counter Sues Disney - May 1, 2023
Not to be outdone, Florida has fired its own legal salvo at Disney World in the form of both a lawsuit and a new law. On May 1, the CFTOD filed a countersuit, claiming that the Disney/Reedy Creek deal was one-sided and rubber-stamped by what it called Disney’s “puppet government."
Four days later, Governor DeSantis would sign a new law that retroactively changed the rules on the deal between Reedy Creek and Disney, giving the new board the power to undo the deal itself.
DeSantis Signs Transportation Law That Impact Disney World’s Monorail May 11, 2023
While the ultimate battle over Reedy Creek and Disney World is likely destined for a courtroom, that hasn’t stopped DeSantis and Florida from continuing to move into Disney property. On May 11, 2023, DeSantis signed HB 1305, a transportation bill that covered a lot of different issues, but among them was the Disney World Monorail. The language in the bill allows the state of Florida to conduct its own inspection of the Monorail, which had previously been up to Disney World to do. The law limits its scoop so that it only impacts the Monorail, reading…
Any governmentally or privately owned fixed-guideway transportation systems operating in this state which are located within an independent special district created by a local act which have boundaries within two contiguous counties.
Needless to say this particular language ensures that no other transportation system other than the Disney World monorail is impacted.
Disney Moves To Dismiss Countersuit May 16, 2023
As mentioned earlier, within only a few days, the CFTOD countersued Disney over the land agreement, and the government passed a law allowing the board to undo the land deal. Disney has now asked that the lawsuit against the company be thrown out for that reason.
Disney’s argument is that since a law was passed regarding the deal, there’s no reason for the lawsuit to move forward, as the final decision of that lawsuit would ultimately be irrelevant. Even if Disney were to win the lawsuit, it would be prevented by doing anything differently with that win due to the fact that the law is still enforceable.
Disney Decides Not To Move 2,000 Cast Members To Florida - May 18, 2023
In addition to fighting with Florida, Disney spent the first part of 2023 in a period of cost-cutting. Disney has seen several thousand layoffs between March and May 2023, and has been working to streamline its entertainment division. Officially, that’s the reason that the plan to move 2,000 Cast Members, including Walt Disney Imagineering, to Florida has been abandoned.
When the move to Florida was first announced, the “business-friendly” climate of Florida was given as one of the reasons for making the move. It’s hard to argue that the climate is much less friendly, specifically to Disney right now.
Florida Tries To Get The Judge Dismissed - May 19, 2023
Judge Mark Walker has been given the task of dealing with the lawsuits between Disney and Florida. However, he may not be in that position very long. The Florida side has filed a motion in U.S. District Court to have Walker dismissed. Walker has apparently spoken about the Disney special district issue on the record previously, and Florida is claiming the judge has shown some bias.
A ruling has not been made on Judge Walker's removal yet, but the attempt to remove him has resulted in the case being held in place, as no other rulings will be made until a decision is reached on that issue.
Clearly this battle between the state of Florida and Walt Disney World is far from over. There may still be many moves between the two sides before this ever actually goes to court. It’s even possible some sort of settlement will be reached before things get there, though that seems unlikely.
CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER
Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News
Dirk Libbey
Content Producer/Theme Park Beat
CinemaBlend’s resident theme park junkie and amateur Disney historian. Armchair Imagineer. Epcot Stan. Future Club 33 Member.
More about theme parks
Latest
Most Popular
By Alexandra Ramos
By Alexandra Ramos
By Heidi Venable
By Jerrica Tisdale
By Sarah El-Mahmoud
By Mack Rawden
By Philip Sledge
By Jerrica Tisdale
By Mike Reyes
By Mick Joest
By Dirk Libbey
FAQs
What is the fight between DeSantis and Disney about? ›
The fight between the Florida governor and the company, now headed to court, began over an education law and grew into a feud about oversight of land that includes the amusement park.
What if Disney left Florida? ›If Disney were to flee, Florida would lose a visitor magnet and major moneymaker: In 2019, the four theme parks drew nearly 60 million guests combined, according to an industry estimate. And the company said the resort contributed more than $780 million in state and local taxes for fiscal 2021.
What is the story behind Disney World? ›In the mid-1960's, Walt Disney wanted to build another park in Florida, based on the concept started in Disneyland. In 1971, the concept became a reality when Walt Disney World opened in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
What was Disney World originally called? ›The Disney vs DeSantis feud, explained
Disney is suing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for violating its free speech as a company, a major escalation in a year-long battle between the GOP leader and big business.
Disney World Closing Theme Park Indefinitely in 2023 - Inside the Magic.
Is Disney moving out of FL? ›While Disney could pick up and move some of its businesses from Orlando to another state, Disney World and its other theme parks aren't going anywhere. Moving all the infrastructure, including hotels, restaurants and shops as well as transportation to move guests around, just wouldn't be feasible.
How much of Florida's economy is due to Disney? ›In fact, when you add it all up, the Orlando tourism economy, of which Disney sits at the center, has a gigantic impact on the Florida economy. A 2019 study by Oxford Economics found that Orlando-area tourism generated $75.2 billion in economic impact for central Florida — about $1,000 for every tourist.
How much land dies Disney own in Florida? ›The Walt Disney World Resort is made up of 47 square miles of land…. or about 30,000 acres. Only about 1100 acres of that land is devoted to the 4 theme parks. In fact, with only 7,100 acres developed, there's quite a lot of room for expansion! But how (and why) did Disney buy up all that land?
Which country owns Disney? ›The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (/ˈdɪzni/), is an American multinational, mass media and entertainment conglomerate that is headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California.
How did Disney get so much land in Florida? ›
In 1964, Walt Disney began secretly buying millions of dollars worth of Central Florida farmland. As vast areas of land were purchased in lots of 5,000 acres here, 20,000 there -- at remarkably high prices -- rumors flew as to who needed so much land and had the money to acquire it.
Which is older Disney World or land? ›Disney World: Opening Day. The Disney theme park in Anaheim opened in 1955, while the Orlando theme park opened 16 years later in 1971.
What's the smallest Disney park? ›Magic Kingdom is actually technically the smallest park, if you can believe that as you wander the countless streets! The zones of Magic Kingdom are: Frontierland, Fantasyland, Liberty Square, Adventureland, and Tomorrowland.
What is the smallest Disney World theme park? ›The largest Disney World park is Disney's Animal Kingdom. It covers an area of covering 580 acres (230 ha), making it the largest theme park in the world. The smallest Disney World park is Disney's Magic Kingdom and spans an area of only 107 acres (43 ha).
Has a president ever gone to Disney? ›Bush visited Walt Disney World during their presidencies, they never actually went inside the parks. Bill Clinton actually visited the Disney Institute in 1996 while George W. Bush delivered speeches at both the Contemporary Resort in 2003 and then the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa in 2006.
Why did Disney choose Florida? ›Disney settled on Orlando as the perfect site, convinced by its year-round sunshine, its excellent road access and relatively cheap land, as much of its was covered by swamps. In 1965, Walt Disney made an announcement that would forever alter the course of Orlando's history.
Who owns Disney World Florida? › Is Animal Kingdom closing permanently? ›Is Animal Kingdom closing in 2024? No, Animal Kingdom is not closing in 2024. Nor is there any major park closure in store for Disney World in the foreseeable future. The TikTok video, which can be viewed here, is just another viral hit from a new Disney-themed parody site called The Mouse Trap.
Is Epcot closing 2023? ›EPCOT Refurbishments and Closures
Harmonious will close April 2, 2023, EPCOT Forever will return April 3, 2023.
Disney scraps plans for new Florida campus, mass employee relocation amid DeSantis feud. Disney will no longer be moving forward with the construction of its Lake Nona, Florida, employee campus. The company will also no longer be requiring California-based employees to relocate.
Is Disney opening a park in Texas? ›
Disney is not relocating their headquarters to Texas. Even plans to relocate a large number of additional employees from California to Florida have been put on pause, so it appears Disney is staying put in California and Florida for a long time.
What is being replaced at Disney World? ›February 3, 2023, 9:10 PM · We are learning more about the story that will drive the replacement for Disney's popular Splash Mountain flume rides when it opens at Disneyland and Walt Disney World next year.
Where does Disney make the most profit? ›Disney Segment Breakdown: Revenue: Linear Networks, 35%; Direct-to-Consumer, 21%; Content Sales/Licensing and Other, 11%; and Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, 33%; and Operating Income: Linear Networks, 38%; and Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, 62%.
Where does most of Disney's money come from? ›Revenues come in the form of affiliate fees, advertising sales and TV and SVOD distribution. Direct To Consumer: This division includes Disney's streaming offerings such as Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu.
What percentage of Florida residents work for Disney? ›The same report found that in 2009, more than 1 in 50 employed Floridians had a job tied directly or indirectly to Disney World and its resorts. In Central Florida, the proportion was even higher, at 6%. Disney is also the largest taxpayer in Central Florida, making the park a revenue boon for the government.
Can you live on Disney property? ›This magnificent resort-style community offers whole ownership of custom single-family homes at Walt Disney World® Resort. Celebrate traditional European and Caribbean styles steeped in the timelessness of Old Florida architecture while you enjoy the contemporary comforts and amenities of resort living.
Where would Disney World move to? ›This was a power move by Desantis. However, Disney is taking back control with the breaking announcement that they are officially moving Disney World to New Orleans. Disney is tired of battling with Ron Desantis and the Florida government. They have finally decided enough is enough.
Is Disney the largest landowner in Florida? ›As the largest landowner in the region, which was recently renamed the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, Disney maintained a de facto control over the previous board. DeSantis also alleges the February declaration may not be legally binding, citing unnamed legal counsel.
Is there an underground city in Disney World? ›The utilidors have been referred to as an "underground city", the functions of which include: Waste removal: The Magic Kingdom uses an automated vacuum collection (AVAC) system for waste removal. Custodians remove trash from the park twenty-four hours a day, then dump it into AVAC system processors throughout the park.
What does pixie dusted mean at Disney? ›At times a cast member will provide “pixie dust”- a little magical “extra” to help make a guest have an extraordinary experience. This pixie dust can be significant- think a room upgrade or small- think a little special attention at a parade, but one thing holds true: Not everyone can get pixie dusted!
What is the secret door in Disney World? ›
The Secret Door is the final quest for Mickey, at Friendship Level 10, which helps to uncover a secret hidden room that may have treasures abound, waiting for you to get them.
What part of Disney is owned by China? ›Do shareholders know that The Walt Disney Company is engaged in a joint venture with the Chinese Communist Party that allows for the operation of the Shanghai Disney Resort? And it's not an equal split, by the way. Instead, the CCP has 57% ownership while Disney holds only 43% ownership.
Who owns most of Disney World? ›- Significantly high institutional ownership implies Walt Disney's stock price is sensitive to their trading actions.
- A total of 25 investors have a majority stake in the company with 37% ownership.
USA has the most amusement parks in the world. Currently, there are over 624 steel roller coasters in the United States and over 117 wood roller coasters. The total number stands at around 741.
How much land is Disneyland Florida? ›Ringing in at a total of 43 square miles — or 27,520 acres — Walt Disney World is substantially larger than its older sibling. The park also has grown and it now covers 47 square miles.
What is the most successful Disneyland? ›The most visited amusement park in the world is Magic Kingdom. Not surprisingly, Disney's flagship amusement park, Magic Kingdom at the Disney World Resort, is the most popular amusement park in the world. Magic Kingdom had 12,691,000 visitors in 2021.
Is Disney World built on a swamp? ›So, how was Disney World built on a swamp? Well, it wasn't, not really. They scooped out material from what was to be the Seven Seas Lagoon, made it into a vast dirt mound, and then built Disney World, the theme park we know today, on the top.
What is the oldest thing in Disney World? ›1 Prince Charming's Regal Carrousel
Before being adopted and refurbished by the Walt Disney Company, the carousel was built in 1917, making it the oldest attraction in any Disney-owned property.
If you're looking for history and nostalgia, Disneyland is the way to go. That's because it was Walt Disney's very first theme park, which opened its doors on July 17, 1955.
Is Disney World the oldest theme park in America? ›Despite these achievements, Disneyland actually opened nine years after America's first theme park. The oldest park that claims to be “the first theme park” is Knott's Berry Farm, built in the area now known as Buena Park, California.
What is the abandoned Disney park called? ›
There's an abandoned island at Walt Disney World, and it's hidden in plain sight. Located in Bay Lake near Magic Kingdom and several Disney hotels, Discovery Island was once a tropical rain forest oasis that welcomed guests for 25 years before closing in the late '90s.
Which Disney park is easiest? ›As a general matter, Animal Kingdom is the park that requires the least strategy and is the easiest place to beat the crowds in all of Walt Disney World. It doesn't require Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lanes, and is pretty easy to knock out everything–and then some–if you stay for a full day.
How many miles a day do you walk at Disney World? ›The average Walt Disney World guest walks 7-10 miles PER DAY during their vacation. For some guests, this is great – you want to get those steps in as your form of vacation exercise (gotta work off all those cupcake and turkey leg calories).
What is the least busiest park at Disney World? ›The least-crowded park can vary from day to day based on the season and special events, but typically Animal Kingdom has the fewest visitors. Disney's Animal Kingdom is the largest park, which helps the crowds to seem more spread out.
What day is the slowest day at Disney World? ›In general the best days of the week to visit the Disney World parks are Tuesday and Wednesday. The reason being is many families find that you need an entire week for a Disney vacation and typically arrive on Saturday or Sunday. We find weekends and Monday to be the busiest days at Walt Disney World.
Is Disney replacing Small world? ›Currently, Splash Mountain is closed to retheme to Tiana's Bayou Adventure. In fact, Disney has already started construction. Soon Pirates of the Caribbean will close to make way for Splash Mountain to replace it. Now it's a small world is closing and will reopen as Pirates of The Caribbean.
Why were people fighting at Disney World? ›The altercation occurred at the Magic Kingdom when a member of a family posing for a photograph in front of the park's 100th anniversary sign asked someone from another family to move, the sheriff's office said.
Why did Disney go on strike? ›On May 29, 1941, Disney animators launched a strike. Tom Sito, one of the animators, explains: Labor pressures had been building in the Magic Kingdom since promises made to artists over the success of Snow White were reneged on, and Walt Disney's lawyer Gunther Lessing encouraged a hard line with his employees.
What infringement was Disney accused of? ›Selling those items are what got Martin into a legal fight with Disney in the first place. Disney is suing Christopher and Hannah Martin for copyright and trademark infringement and accusing them of selling unauthorized products using Disney's copyrighted properties.
What is the latest scandal with Disney? ›Controversy arose again in 2022 between Disney and the state of Florida over a bill passed and widely referred to as "Don't Say Gay." Florida politicians passed the bill attempting to limit the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.
Why is TikTok banned from China? ›
A handful have imposed nationwide bans on the app. TikTok, owned by Chinese technology company Bytedance, has long maintained that it doesn't share data with the Chinese government.
What did TikTok get in trouble for? ›Have any countries banned TikTok? India banned the platform in mid-2020, costing ByteDance one of its biggest markets, as the government cracked down on 59 Chinese-owned apps, claiming that they were secretly transmitting users' data to servers outside India.
Why did Walt Disney get kicked out of the military? ›Walt was either too young or too old when the United States went to war, and as a result was never a member of any of the branches of the armed forces. However, Walt grew up in a time when it was an honor and an obligation as an American to serve your country.
Did Disney fight in ww1? ›Disney, born in 1901, was too old to be drafted. He was, however, eager to serve his country. During World War I, he dropped out of school at the age of 16 and tried to enlist, but he was rejected for being too young.
What did Disney do during WWII? ›During this unique period in animation history, The Walt Disney Studios functioned as a morale-builder for both the civilian public and deployed Allied troops. Walt knew that cartoons would provide a direct yet amusing way to communicate with the American people about war-related issues and anxieties.
What is Disney losing the rights to? ›The copyright on Mickey Mouse will expire just next year in 2024, 95 years after his first appearance, sending him to the public domain. This copyright applies explicitly to the very first iteration of Mickey Mouse in his animation debut, Steamboat Willie (1928).
How much do Disney workers get paid? ›Currently, the minimum starting hourly wage for Disney World workers is $15, significantly higher than Florida's state minimum wage of $11, which will rise to $12 in September.
How did Disney treat his workers? ›Walt Disney's treatment of his employees was one instance of how he showed compassion and forgiveness. His reputation as a just and sympathetic leader contributed to a supportive work atmosphere. Additionally, he showed forgiveness in his private life.
Who just sued Disney? ›Walt Disney and Scarlett Johansson have settled a legal dispute over the release of the Marvel superhero movie Black Widow. Johansson sued Disney two months ago, accusing it of breaching her contract when it offered the movie on its Disney+ streaming service while it was still showing in cinemas.
What celebrity is suing Disney? ›Scarlett Johansson may have sued Disney in 2021 for breach of contract, but the “Black Widow” star still is – and always has been – a full-fledged Disney adult.
Who recently sued Disney? ›
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Days after Disney sued Florida's governor in federal court for what it described as retaliation for opposing the state's so-called “Don't Say Gay” bill, members of Disney World's governing board — made up of Gov.