Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE GOVERNING BOARD of Walt Disney World in Florida, which is made up of members appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis, has authorised a lawsuit against Disney.
It comes just days after Disney sued DeSantis in federal court for what it described as retaliation for opposing the state’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
Members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District voted unanimously to sue Disney in state court in the Orlando area, as well as defend itself in federal court in Tallahassee where the entertainment company filed its lawsuit last Wednesday.
The Disney lawsuit against the governor, the board and its five members asks a judge to void the governor’s takeover of the theme park district previously controlled by Disney for 55 years.
The oversight board’s lawsuit seeks to maintain its oversight of design and construction in the district that governs Disney World’s 25,000 acres after the previous Disney-controlled board signed over those powers to the company before the DeSantis-appointed board members held their first meeting earlier this year.
“We will seek justice in our own backyard,” said Martin Garcia, chair of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
Disney’s lawsuit was the latest tug-of-war in a more than year-old feud between Disney and Mr DeSantis that has engulfed the governor in criticism as he prepares to launch an expected presidential bid in the coming months.
DeSantis, who has framed himself as a Republican firebrand able to deftly implement his conservative agenda without drama, has dived headlong into the fray with the beloved company and major tourism driver, as business leaders and White House rivals attack his stance as a rejection of the small-government tenets of conservatism.
The fight began last year after Disney, in the face of significant pressure, publicly opposed a state law that bans classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades, a policy critics call “Don’t Say Gay”.
As punishment, DeSantis took over Disney World’s self-governing district and appointed a new board of supervisors that would oversee municipal services in the sprawling theme parks.
But before the new board came in, the company pushed though an 11th-hour agreement that stripped the new supervisors of much of their authority.
The creation of the self-governing district was instrumental in Disney’s decision to build near Orlando in the 1960s.
The company had told the state at the time that it planned to build a futuristic city that would include a transit system and urban planning innovations, so the company needed autonomy in building and deciding how to use the land.
The futuristic city never materialised and instead morphed into a second theme park, Epcot, that opened in 1982.
The current board members, before and after the vote authorising a state lawsuit against Disney, defended their work, claiming they were trying to promote better governance and bring the district into the 21st century.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Small angry man with possible sexuality issues goes to war with Micky mouse .
@Robert Halvey: Disney supported the Nazis
@shuttleJohn: as the Republicans now do
@Paul Furey: Touché
@shuttleJohn:
It seems Walt Disney did not support the Nazis.
Here is what Floyd Norman , the studio’s first black animator who worked closely with Disney during the 1950s and 1960s, said,
“Not once did I observe a hint of the racist behavior Walt Disney was often accused of after his death. His treatment of people—and by this I mean all people—can only be called exemplary.
Can someone explain like I’m 5; How does a politician take over the board of a corporation just like that? What does it mean exactly too ? Why did he want to take it over ? I find this very confusing. Excuse my ignorance.
@R: Spongebob Squatepants
@R:
Explain to you like your 5?
De Santis is not getting everything he wants so he is throwing his toys out of the pram.
Hmmmm thejournal.ie deletion massacre spree has begun…the unethical and malicious behaviour of thejournal.ie continues….refute me…
@William Slevin: if you want to post nonsense that means thejournal.ie could be sued then maybe create and host your own website. Then you can post what you like and you can be sued.
@William Slevin: me me me me
@William Slevin: Sure start your own blog or podcast if you have so much to write for free. Self-publishing is big now. They’re not obliged to publish everything offered to them.
Ah bless, Meatball Ron thinks he can go against Disney’s lawyers, the most ruthless in the land
Theme Parks are supposed to be a fun place to go. Where the kids can have a great time. Many visitors to Disney is a once in a lifetime event. I visited Disney with family back in 2011. We went to most of the Parks as we were there for two weeks. I always remember for one day or more there appeared to be a Gay Pride Gathering taking place in the Magic Kingdom.Couples mostly male were dressed in Red Teeshirts with their logo. There must have been thousands of them present because every turn we took we met couples hugging and kissing in broad daylight . At the time I thought that some of their behaviour was inappropriate in front of young children. Disney would be far wiser to keep their Parks Fun Places to go and give families the great experience Walt Disney intended.
@Aine O Connor: I also enjoyed a visit to Disney once. I can’t say that it bothers me at all that couples were hugging and kissing. At all. Good for them. It rained once too – again, these things happen even on sunny days.
I wish DeSantis luck with running for president. Every Disney loving voter will vote for the opposition, he could even lose his position as Governor too. I wouldn’t like to go up against Micky and Minnie, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Bambie ect. He’d definitely be on the losing side.
@Rosemary Flowers: nobody watches or likes disneys movies or content anymore
@BLD Games: second highest grossing movie of all time is Avengers: Endgame, Disney made that.
But yeah sure, nobody watches Disney stuff.
Other high grossing movies by Disney are
Number 5 – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Number 6 – Avengers: Infinity War
Number 7 – Spider-Man: No Way Home
Number 9 – The Lion King
Number 10 – The Avengers
Yep, you appear to be 100% wrong. Millions and millions of people still watch Disney stuff.
Why is he on Israel signing in legislation for Florida? That’s like varadkar doing the same.
@Gummo: because de santis is pro zionist and aipac has been trying to ban the promotion of boycotts of Israeli made products in protest of Israels brutal attacks on the Palestinians and stealing their lands in illigal settlements in Palestinian territory which has been condemned by the eu and un…but aipac has alot of power in the US especially the republican party and is why the US supports Israel so much…
@Martin Bishop:”@William Slevin: if you want to post nonsense that means thejournal.ie could be sued then maybe create and host your own website. Then you can post what you like and you can be sued.”
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…I’m only holding thejournal.ie to their own standards and guidelines, what I am challenging is their unethical and malicious behaviour deleting comments disproportionately of one political persuasion that runs against their obvious biased narrative.
As for your they delete in case they will be sued, one. Im speaking about comments being deleted that fall with in their guidelines not outside of them and two. No the journal is not liable for what commenters are said as they only host the comments thejournal.ie does not publish the comments and they have taken steps within its guidelines to minimise a damage that could be caused by any users comments…like defamation or incitement to violence are two examples that are exciplictly banned…
I’d like to point out an opinion about someone is not a accusation or claim so therfore is not defamation.
have your say