Disney shockingly ends fight with DeSantis over resort development

In a stunning turn, The Walt Disney Co. dropped its fight against Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida for control over $17 billion in planned development at the Disney World theme park complex near Orlando, Fla.

Disney’s capitulation followed a legal setback. In January, a federal judge threw out a Disney lawsuit claiming DeSantis and his allies had violated the First Amendment by taking over a special tax district that encompasses the company’s 25,000-acre Florida resort, which employs roughly 75,000 people.

As part of a settlement announced Wednesday, Disney agreed to pause an appeal of that ruling — but not drop it entirely — while negotiating a new comprehensive growth plan with tax district officials.