Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Unveils New Measures Against Walt Disney World

Cinderella Castle 50th Anniversary Crest (Photo via Walt Disney World)

We told you this wasn’t over.

After the Walt Disney Company found a loophole in the original contract that allowed it to keep self-governing its so-called Reedy Creek Improvement District, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to unveil a series of measures that will further crackdown on the entertainment giant.

The dispute dates back to last year when a chagrined governor was upset that Disney publicly challenged one of his policies.

The governor installed a five-member board more sympathetic to his policies to oversee Disney. But Disney, just a few weeks ago, found a loophole in the original contract that ties oversight of the district to the end of the British monarchy. With King Charles said to be coronated in less than three weeks, that doesn’t appear to be happening anytime soon.

According to Reuters, DeSantis said the state legislature will introduce a new bill that would "formally nullify" a development agreement Disney struck with outgoing members of the oversight board that ties the hands of his appointees.  

“What they tried to do is an embarrassment,” a senior administration source told the New York Post. “The narrative the left is spinning is that Gov. DeSantis was outmaneuvered. But this is far from over, and he’s going to have the last laugh.”

Disney’s plan to strip the new board of its powers does not hold water, critics say. “They got used to doing whatever they wanted for far too long,” one source added. “Not this time. He’s not afraid of a fight on this,” the source said, referring to DeSantis.

The governor wants the state to inspect rides and monorails, for instance, something Disney opposes.

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