DeSantis-appointed board settles with Disney, ending two-year legal battle

The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board announced it reached and agreed to a settlement with Disney to resolve litigation over authority regarding the district encompassing the Walt Disney World Resort.

The board unanimously adopted the agreement, which will resolve state lawsuits levied by both the district and Disney, challenging the state’s 2023 takeover of the Central Florida district.

The settlement will dismiss the claims in state court, including a public records case brought by Disney against the district, according to a summary offered by the district during a board meeting on Wednesday. The agreement will settle that the development agreement and restrictive covenants are null and void, among other points.

Charbel Barakat, vice chairman of the district’s board of supervisors, said he is “very much pleased” by the settlement after announcing it at the board’s meeting on Wednesday.

“I think with this settlement, which is complete and significant, we are eager to work with Disney. I’m certainly eager to work with Disney and all other businesses to make the country’s tourist destination famous for a second reason, which is good government,” Barakat said.

Walt Disney World Resort President Jeff Vahle welcomed the agreement in a statement on Wednesday, saying it “serves the interests of all parties.”

“This agreement opens 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 the state,” Vahle said in a statement to the Associated Press.

The settlement ends nearly two years of fighting between Disney and Florida after the company spoke out against the Parental Rights in Education Act in March 2022. The law outlawed classroom instruction in kindergarten through third grade about sexual orientation and gender identity while also forbidding schools from withholding information from parents about students’ health and well-being.

In March 2022, Disney said it would strive to have the law “repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts.” DeSantis said the statement crossed a line and worked to restructure the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which was ultimately renamed and put under state oversight in February 2023.

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) said on Wednesday he was “glad” to see the agreement and touted legal victories in the fight against Disney while speaking at an unrelated press conference. He also added he believes that with Disney, there “is a desire to move forward” from the litigation with Florida.

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Another lawsuit, filed by Disney in federal court against DeSantis, the board, and acting Secretary of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Meredith Ivey, in April 2023 alleged retaliation in violation of Disney’s First Amendment rights. The lawsuit was dismissed in January due to lack of standing and “failure to state a claim.” Disney filed an appeal shortly after it was dismissed by a district judge.

The Washington Examiner reached out to Disney for comment.