Disney quietly tied the hands of new DeSantis-picked Disney World district board for decades, board complains


Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' (R) culture war against the Walt Disney Co. took another surprising turn Wednesday. Point: Mouse.
Weeks before a group of Republicans handpicked by DeSantis took over the board of the special administrative district surrounding Walt Disney World, the Disney-appointed board approved a raft of binding agreements that ties the hands of the board for the next 30 years, the DeSantis-appointed board said at a public hearing Wednesday. The new board, renamed the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District in legislation DeSantis pushed through the GOP-led state Legislature, threatened a prolonged legal fight.
The former board, called the Reedy Creek Improvement District, unanimously approved the "declaration of restrictive covenants" on Feb. 8, at a public meeting held the day before the Legislature approved the bill giving DeSantis control of the board. The 151-page agreement gives Disney final say over many building projects and development rights in the district, and bars the new board from using the Disney name or any "fanciful characters" owned by Disney, including Mickey Mouse, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The package of agreements is valid until "21 years after the death of the last survivor of the descendants of King Charles III, king of England living as of the date of this declaration," the document states. "Such so-called royal lives clauses have been inserted into legal documentation since the late 17th Century, and they are still found in some contracts in the U.K., though rarely in the U.S," BBC News notes.
"This essentially makes Disney the government," new GOP board member Ron Peri said Wednesday. "This board loses, for practical purposes, the majority of its ability to do anything beyond maintain the roads and maintain basic infrastructure."
"We're going to have to deal with it and correct it," said board member Brian Aungst Jr. He said he hopes Disney will work with the board to correct the agreement in a "very collaborative manner." But the board also approved hiring four law firms, including high-powered conservative D.C. firm Cooper & Kirk — which has already earned $2.8 million from the DeSantis administration and will bill $795 an hour in this case, the Sentinel reports — to try and void the agreements.
DeSantis engineered the takeover of the Reedy Creek district in retaliation for Disney's opposition to his law restricting gender and sex ed in schools. In a statement, DeSantis spokeswoman Taryn Fenske said "an initial review suggests these agreements may have significant legal infirmities that would render the contracts void as a matter of law."
Disney disagreed. "All agreements signed between Disney and the district were appropriate and were discussed and approved in open, noticed public forums in compliance with Florida's government in the Sunshine law," the company said in a statement.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
The End: not the 'uncompromising masterpiece' it aspires to be
Talking Point Post-apocalyptic musical has an excellent cast – but is 'catastrophically self-indulgent'
By The Week UK Published
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures A leaning palace, massive waves, and more
By Anahi Valenzuela, The Week US Published
-
Diana Henry picks her favourite books
The Week Recommends The food writer shares works by Claire Keegan, Molly O'Neill and Richard Yates
By The Week UK Published
-
Snow White: Disney's 'earnest effort to meet an impossible brief'
Talking Point Live-action remake of Disney classic is not the disaster it could have been – but where's the personality?
By The Week UK Published
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
2025 Oscars: voters, record-breakers and precedent-setters
The explainer A walk through Academy Awards history, both past and present
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top Grammys
Speed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published