The ongoing feud between Disney and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has reached a new level of escalation. Last week, Disney filed a lawsuit against DeSantis and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, claiming retaliation for opposing the state's "Don't Say Gay" bill. In response, the board members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, all appointed by DeSantis, authorized a lawsuit against Disney in state court. The oversight board's lawsuit aims 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. 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 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 feud began last year when Disney publicly opposed a state law that bans classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades. 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. Before the new board came in, the company pushed through an 11th-hour agreement that stripped the new supervisors of much of their authority. The current board members, before and after the vote authorizing a state lawsuit against Disney, defended their work, claiming they were trying to promote better governance and bring the district into the 21st century. Board member Ron Peri, who used to run a Florida-based ministry and has been accused of making past anti-LGBTQ statements, urged the public to give the new board a chance. Meanwhile, the fight has engulfed DeSantis in criticism as he prepares to launch an expected presidential bid in the coming months. Business leaders and White House rivals bash his stance as a rejection of the small-government tenets of conservatism.