Disney has withdrawn its lawsuits against the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and acknowledges that the development agreement made at the last minute is invalid and unenforceable.
Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District was replaced with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD), a citizen-accountable entity, after Governor DeSantis signed House Bill 9-B into law in February 2023.
“There is a new sheriff in town, and accountability will be the order of the day,” DeSantis said during a bill-signing event at the Reedy Creek Fire Station #4 in Lake Buena Vista in February.
Related: Florida Gov. DeSantis Says Audit Of Disney’s Former Reedy Creek ‘Justified’ Concerns
The law removed parts of the district’s authority, such as the power to potentially construct a nuclear power plant, airport, and stadium.
Hours before CFTOD took authority, Disney entered into a last-minute Development Agreement with the former Reedy Creek board to grant itself additional powers and perpetual property rights.
Mainstream media outlets celebrated Disney’s move with headlines such as “Out-negotiated by Mickey Mouse,” “Ron DeSantis’ Board Rages Against Disney World After Legal Humiliation,” and “Disney struck a second secret agreement to mess up DeSantis’ power grab on the company, official says.”
“As usual, the media were wrong,” said Florida Governor DeSantis’ Communications Director Bryan Griffin Wednesday.
“Today’s settlement also includes acknowledgement from Disney that the last-minute Development Agreement is “null and void… hav[ing] no legal effect or enforceability” and stipulates the same to other similar restrictive covenants and comprehensive plan amendments made prior to CFTOD,” said Griffin.
Related: Disney Takes Fight Against Florida Gov. DeSantis To Appeals Court
In the settlement agreement reached Wednesday, Disney has agreed to dismiss multiple active lawsuits against CFTOD.
“We are glad that Disney has dropped its lawsuits against the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and conceded that their last-minute development agreements are null, void, and unenforceable. No corporation should be its own government. Moving forward, we stand ready to work with Disney and the District to help promote economic growth, family-friendly tourism, and accountable government in Central Florida,” said Griffin.
During a press conference Wednesday, DeSantis said, “Everything we’ve done has been in the best interest of the State of Florida, and we have been vindicated on all those actions. Going forward, we’re going to continue to govern with the best interests of the State of Florida. So I’m glad that they were able to do that that settlement.”
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