DeSantis says Disney’s last minute dealings will be ‘revoked’ under upcoming legislation

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday there will be legislation to “revoke” the quiet agreements between Disney and the former Reedy Creek board.

The governor called it a “sham agreement.”

“They negotiated with themselves to give themselves the ability to maintain their self-governing status,” DeSantis said. “Now that’s in direct defiance of the will of the people.”

The previous Reedy Creek district board, hand-picked by Disney, quickly slipped through an agreement to give Disney 30-year vested rights and control over all development rights throughout the entire district – not just on Disney’s property.

Those agreements were signed days before a new law went into effect to strip Reedy Creek board of its powers.

The new DeSantis-appointed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District would oversee the district that encompasses Walt Disney World.

The Central Florida Tourism district learned in March about the last minute Disney agreement. Lawyers said the agreements “bind” the hands of the new board and are “unlawful.”

“That’s not going to work. That’s not going to fly,” DeSantis said Monday. “The agreements themselves have a plethora of legal infirmities that render them void anyways.”

When asked about the legal problems, DeSantis said certain procedures, such as notifying affected property owners, were not followed.

However, Disney previously said in a statement that “all agreements signed between Disney and the District were appropriate.”

The governor said he expects the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board will hold a legal briefing Wednesday and find the agreements not valid.

Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson said the proposed legislation will allow the Department of Agriculture to conduct inspections on amusement rides where they previously weren’t permitted.

“We have a duty to inspect and decide whether a ride can safely reopen,” Simpson said. “We do that across the board for amusement rides everywhere except large theme parks.”

“Everyone should have to play by the same rules. This change proposed by the legislature and the governor makes sense.”

According to the governor’s office, the proposed legislation would prevent compliance with “poison pill” agreements such as the one between Disney and the Reedy Creek district.

Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, who has championed many of the governor’s priorities, gave a message to Disney at the press conference.

“You are not going to win this fight. This governor will,” Ingoglia said. “Just let it go.”