DeSantis’ Office Refutes Reports of Making ‘U-Turn’ on Disney’s Special District: ‘We Will Have an Even Playing Field’

Published Dec. 2, 2022, 11:45 a.m. ET | Updated Dec. 2, 2022

Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom (@waltdisneyworld, Instagram)
Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom (@waltdisneyworld, Instagram)

ORLANDO (FLV) – Amidst reports the Florida government reportedly has its sights set on compromising with the Walt Disney Company to salvage its independent special district in Central Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office restated intentions to keep an “even playing field.”

The Financial Times characterized potential plans by the Florida government as preparing a “U-turn” on its actions following the Parental Rights in Education Act political battle earlier this year, with Disney vowing to get the law repealed. But Bryan Griffin, the press secretary for Gov. Ron DeSantis, said that’s false framing.

“[Gov. Ron DeSantis] does not make ‘U-Turns.’ The governor was right to champion removing the extraordinary benefit given to one company through the [Reedy Creek Improvement District. We will have an even playing field for businesses in Florida, and the state certainly owes no special favors to one company,” he said.

Griffin reaffirmed what DeSantis has said since initially signing the law stripping Disney of its powers: “Disney’s debts will not fall on the taxpayers of Florida. A plan is in the works and will be released soon.”

Taryn Fenske, DeSantis’ communications director, called claims from former Republican Rep. Anthony Sabatini that Florida is going to “cave” to Disney “fake news.”

Earlier this year, lawmakers voted to strip Disney of its self-governing power by dismantling the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which encompasses the Walt Disney World area and allows the company to tax itself to pay for services. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the law in April.

At the time, the governor disputed the notion that debts owed by Disney would fall back on local taxpayers.

“More likely that the state will simply assume control and make sure that we’re able to impose the law and make sure we’re collecting the taxes.”

The governor’s office told Florida’s Voice that DeSantis would veto any legislation that takes a so-called ‘U-Turn’ as described by the Financial Times’ report. Under no circumstances, they said, would Disney’s debt be transferred to the taxpayers.

DeSantis previously said he would rather have the state assume control instead of local governments potentially raising taxes on residents. 

“I’m worried that they would use that as a pretext to raise taxes on people when that’s what they would want to do anyways, and then try to blame Reedy Creek, so we’re not going to give him that opportunity,” DeSantis said.

The governor repeatedly said that local residents will not take on more taxes once the district is dissolved. In May, he announced plans to work with state lawmakers after the November election on proposals ensuring residents do not pay more taxes. Griffin clarified that is what Republicans in the Florida government are working on.

After footage leaked of a town hall with Iger where the CEO said he was “sorry” to see Disney “dragged” into the battle over HB 1557, the Parental Rights in Education Act, the olive branch from new leadership could help bolster negotiation efforts.

Speaking to the Financial Times, Rep. Randy Fine, the Republican who drafted the law to strip Disney’s district, said the removal of Bob Chapek as CEO improved the odds “something will get sorted out.”

“It’s easier to shift policy when you don’t have to defend the old policy,” he said. “Chapek screwed up, but Bob Iger doesn’t have to own that screw-up.”

The Times reports the compromise could leave the original arrangement in place with “a few modifications.”

The ‘screw up’ Fine harkened to is when Disney meddled in Florida politics by vowing to get HB 1557 repealed, which activists falsely dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

“I am not comfortable having one company with their own government and special privileges when that company has pledged itself to attacking the parents in my state when that company has people very high up talking about injecting pansexualism into programming for young kids,” DeSantis said. “It’s wrong. Walt Disney would not want that.”

The governor “bet” that despite the legislation, Disney would not move out of Florida. The district originally would have been dissolved mid-2023.

“But you know, I looked at all that and said ‘I got elected to stand up for people. I can take the hit. I’m fine,’” DeSantis said. “My job is to protect the jobs of the people that I represent and if standing for the right thing, standing for their rights, standing for their livelihood meant that it didn’t work out for me politically and then I lost my job, well then so be it. That’s the price of leadership.”

At a town hall, Iger said he had no immediate plan as to how to handle the Reedy Creek situation.

“Have you given any thoughts on how to tackle the Reedy Creek situation in Florida?” he was asked, replying, “No. I have to get up to speed on that completely.”

Iger backtracked on the company’s former vows to go to war with the Florida government: “I was sorry to see us dragged into that battle and I have no idea exactly what its ramifications are in terms of the business itself, what I can say is the state of Florida has been important to us for a long time and we have been very important to the state of Florida.”

On politics in general, Iger toed the line, saying the company will never “make everybody happy all the time, and we’re not gonna try to.”

The new CEO said Disney will still promote “inclusion” but must “listen to an audience” and have “respect” for the listeners.

“To the extent that I can work to quiet things down, I’m going to do that,” he said.

Taking a victory lap on Tucker Carlson Tonight, DeSantis rebutted the notion that Disney was “dragged” into the battle by anyone other than themselves.

“We didn’t drag them in Tucker, they went in on their own and not only opposed the bill, they threatened to get it repealed,” DeSantis said. “They brought this on themselves. All we did was stand up for what’s right and yes, they’re a big powerful company. But you know what? We stand up for our folks and I don’t care what a Burbank based California company says about our laws.”

After the battle, subscriber growth domestically for Disney+ slowed to a near halt and the company’s reputation took a hit.

Former CEO Chapek announced a hiring freeze months after the entrenched political war, with Iger recently saying it will remain in place as he restructures the company.

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