Disney has agreed with the state of Florida, ending their conflict. The dispute started after Governor Ron DeSantis criticized the company's LGBT+ positions. The American firm is known for its commitment to inclusiveness and is a significant regional employer. The conservative Republican Governor initiated a legal battle against Disney in 2022. However, the two parties have now resolved their differences and reached a mutual agreement concerning the operation of Disney World.
Charbel Barakat, appointed as the board's vice chairman by Ron DeSantis, announced that they look forward to working with Disney as the agreement is comprehensive and important. Jeff Vahle, the chairman of Walt Disney World, stated in a press release that they are pleased to resolve all the pending legal disputes in the courts of Florida.
A Special Status for Disney in Florida
The agreement will allow Disney World to continue significant investments in the state and create thousands of direct and indirect jobs. In the past, Disney had criticized a bill that limited the teaching of subjects related to sexual orientation in Florida elementary schools. This led to Ron DeSantis removing Disney's special status in the state, which had previously granted them various advantages such as administrative facilities, self-management of the site, and advantageous loans.
The new agreement ended statewide lawsuits between Disney and Ron DeSantis' board, although the two sides still faced a legal battle in federal court. Disney has recently appealed a court ruling dismissing its complaint against the governor, accusing him of leading a campaign of "targeted revenge" against the company.
Massive Investments in the Next Ten Years
The company has requested the courts postpone the matter for further negotiations following the announcement of the agreement. Ron DeSantis, a prominent figure of the American hard right who withdrew from the Republican presidential primaries in January, gained notoriety for promoting ultra-conservative measures on education, immigration, and LGBT+ issues.
In other news, Disney recently announced its plan to invest more than $60 billion in its theme park and cruise activities over the next ten years. Currently, Disney runs twelve theme parks across the globe, with two at Disneyland Paris. Its cruise line fleet comprises five ships.