Disney, DeSantis settle feud over control of district
The Walt Disney Company and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration ended a longstanding feud on Wednesday over the state’s 2022 law limiting what teachers can say about gender and sexuality in their classrooms that has been dubbed ‘Don’t Say Gay’ by opponents.
The settlement was announced at Wednesday’s board meeting for the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District by Vice Chair Charbel Barakat.
“I’m very much pleased by this development,” Barakat said at the meeting. “With this settlement, which is complete and significant, we are eager to work with Disney.”
The settlement agreement closes two outstanding lawsuits between Disney and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District related to the entertainment giant’s self-governance and land development.
The company is not yet dropping its federal lawsuit against DeSantis, in which Disney claimed the governor retaliated against it for speaking out against the 2022 Parental Rights in Education law that critics called ‘Don’t Say Gay,’ which was championed by the governor. Under the settlement, Disney will pause its appeal on the case while it negotiates a new development agreement with
the district. A federal judge in January had sided with DeSantis.
Disney spoke out against the bill after it passed. DeSantis responded by calling back lawmakers to Tallahassee to repeal Disney’s control over the Reedy Creek Improvement District, a taxing district that governs the land on which the Disney World theme park is based. Lawmakers changed the name of the district and gave DeSantis the power to appoint its board members.
Walt Disney Resort President Jeff Vahle said in a statement Wednesday the company was “pleased to put an end to all litigation pending in state court in Florida between Disney and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.”
Vahle added it opened “a new chapter of constructive engagement with the new leadership of the district and serves the interests of all parties by enabling significant continued investment and the creation of thousands of direct and indirect jobs and economic opportunity” in Florida.
Speaking in Orlando at the Orange County state attorney’s office on Wednesday, DeSantis claimed victory against Disney.
“A year ago, people were trying to act like all these legal maneuverings are all going to succeed against the state of Florida,” DeSantis said. “And the reality is, here we are a year later and not one of them has succeeded. Every action that we’ve taken has been upheld in full.”
On Wednesday, the board appointed Stephanie Kopelousos, a former legislative and intergovernmental affairs director for DeSantis, to become administrator of the district.
The district’s Board of Supervisors unanimously accepted DeSantis’ recommendation to hire Kopelousos. Board Vice Chairman Brian Aungst pointed to Kopelousos’ resume, which included serving as
Florida Department of Transportation secretary under former Gov. Charlie Crist and later as Clay County manager.