DeSantis Administration Makes Changes

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Via InsideTheMagic.net

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is seemingly grasping at straws to save his reputation as his board undergoes a drastic change while his conflict against The Walt Disney Company continues.

Whether we like it or not, it is nearly impossible to separate Walt Disney World and Ron DeSantis from one another, especially after the two have been involved in a heated legal battle for over a year, which was triggered by Disney’s refusal to support the Florida Governor’s divisive Parental Rights in Education law, set in motion in early 2022.

With lawsuits flying back and forth, extreme motions being filed, and a ridiculous amount of spite, it seems like the conflict is far from over. And while DeSantis has been blasted by members of his own party, mocking him for being “out-negotiated by Mickey Mouse,” even receiving critics from former President Donald Trump, the Governor stubbornly refuses to let go of the conflict.

One of the most recent developments involved Michael Sasso’s resignation from DeSantis’ Central Florida Tourism Oversight District — as DeSantis renamed Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District — Board of Supervisors, which was unexpected after Sasso was appointed by Ron DeSantis himself.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on stage

However, DeSantis was quick to fill the position Sasso left behind, appointing the Vice President of the Federalist Society Charbel Barakat to the to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. The heavily charged change to DeSantis’ Board was announced, and while the appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate, polarized reactions to the news are sure to be expected.

It’s no surprise that Governor DeSantis appointed one of the lead members of a private conservative organization to support him during his crusade against Disney, as he recently announced his bid for presidency.

While DeSantis takes pride in going toe to toe against business he deems “woke,” his year-long feud against Disney might finally be the proof that he bit more than he could chew, as The Walt Disney Company continues to put up a fight after every blow.

DeSantis’ office states the following when describing Barakat:

Barakat, of Tampa, is the Regional General Counsel for D.R. Horton, Inc. He currently serves as a Commissioner for the Second District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission and serves on the Florida Development Finance Corporation. Barakat is Vice President of the Federalist Society for the Tampa Bay Chapter and Chairman of the Volume Builders Council for the Florida Home Builders Association. Barakat earned his bachelor’s degree in international studies from Johns Hopkins University and his juris doctor from New York University School of Law.

Judge Puts a Wrench in DeSantis’ Plans Against Disney

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

An important update has arrived regarding the ongoing legal battle between Governor Ron DeSantis and the Walt Disney Company.

If you follow Florida politics, it has been impossible to ignore the absolute mayhem that is the situation with the Reedy Creek Improvement District. It all started when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis proposed legislation that would affect the powers of special districts like the Reedy Creek Improvement District. The district was initially created by Walt Disney himself in the 1960s to give his company control over the development of the Walt Disney World Resort.

Disney is the largest taxpayer and explorer in the state of Florida, making it a sizeable threat to the Governor. Nevertheless, DeSantis has continued to fight back against Disney, thus drawing national attention to Orlando politics.

Ron DeSantis

While Disney fans and central Floridians have been aware of the squabble for a while, the situation became a national headline after it was announced that the Walt Disney Company would be seeing Ron DeSantis. The whole world has tuned in to see what will come of this high-profile lawsuit, which has elevated stakes due to the fact that DeSantis is a possible candidate for the Republican Party in the coming election.

Last week, DeSantis shocked the public when he filed a motion to disqualify the Judge assigned to the lawsuit. The Judge in question is Mark E. Walker, and DeSantis wants him removed because his “impartiality in this matter might reasonably be questioned.”

Just yesterday, a proposed briefing schedule and “forthcoming motions to dismiss” were revealed. Now, the judge has said that the court “will take no action.”

Bob Iger The Walt Disney Company CEO BuzzFeed Deal

This decision is because the Judge had determined that no further action could be made until it was figured out what would come from DeSantis’ wish to disqualify the judge. Judge Walker explained that “This court will take no action, scheduling or otherwise, in this case until it rules on the ending motion for disqualification.”

It will be fascinating to see what comes of this case once it is revealed if the Judge will be dismissed or now.

Gov. DeSantis Questions Impartiality in Disney Case, Files New Motion

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Via InsideTheMagic.net

As the legal battle between The Walt Disney Company and Ron DeSantis continues, the Florida Governor’s team has filed a new motion, questioning the impartiality of the Court in the case.

Florida has become the battlefield for one of the most discussed conflicts of the last years, with Ron DeSantis and The Walt Disney Company embroiled in a year-long battle over the Reedy Creek Improvement District that has forced Disney to take drastic actions across the company, including canceling million-dollar projects in Florida, and caused fear among fans, questioning if visiting Walt Disney World Resort is safe given the latest developments.

And as the conflict continues and lawsuits fly back and forth among both parties, it seems like the Florida Governor’s legal team fears that The Walt Disney Company may get the upper hand, as they have filed a new motion to disqualify Chief Judge Mark E. Walker in the case against Disney, arguing that “the Court’s impartiality in this matter might reasonably be questioned.”

Journalist Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin), who tweets about theme parks, entertainment, “and some politics,” shared the motion through his Twitter account.

DeSantis’ legal team argues that the Court — Chief Judge Mark E. Walker — has previously made remarks implying that DeSantis is trying to retaliate against Disney “based on Disney’s viewpoints” and could “reasonably imply that the Court has prejudged the retaliation question here.”

The motion cites two unrelated cases in which Disney has been brought up, including comments regarding “[Taking] away Disney’s special status because they’re woke,” and suggests that “the Court should recuse itself and order that the case be reassigned to another judge.” You can read the filing here.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis giving a conference in front of the United States flag

Disney Axes $1 Billion Expansion

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Via InsideTheMagic.net

Disney officials have canceled a $1 billion project that was previously set for Walt Disney World Resort.

Known as “The Most Magical Place on Earth,” Walt Disney World Resort welcomes millions of Guests to its four theme parks– Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom– as well as the Disney Spring shopping and dining district, and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park. Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park is currently closed for refurbishment but is expected to reopen later this year.

Disney has also been at the forefront of expansion. TRON Lightcycle / Run just opened at Magic Kingdom Park, and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is set to open in the place of Splash Mountain in “late 2024.” In addition, Disney has already teased major expansions coming to Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but nothing has been confirmed.

Over the last several months, however, Disney has been in battle with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis amid disputes over the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Disney spoke in opposition to the Parental Rights in Education bill last year, and has since come under fire from the Florida government over its self-governing abilities in Walt Disney World Resort.

Disney recently filed a lawsuit against Ron DeSantis and the governor’s newly-appointed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board filed a counter lawsuit against Disney. Though The Walt Disney Company has filed for the lawsuit to be dismissed, neither of the complaints has moved forward in court yet.

Governor DeSantis looking at Disney World Castle; The end of Disney in Florida?

Now, in the midst of these complaints, Disney has decided to pull one major project out of Florida.

Reporter Scott Gustin shared the news that, in an email to staff, Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro revealed the massive $1 billion expansion would not happen.

The Lake Nona Campus was originally set to house Walt Disney Imagineers, but the project has now been pulled out of the state of Florida. Disney shared in the email that it will no longer be asking employees to relocate to Florida. In addition, the company said it will help pull out those employees who moved from California to Florida in preparation for the project and assist them in moving out of the state and back to California.

Josh D’Amaro did share that Disney “remains optimistic” about the direction of the Walt Disney World business and that the company still has plans to invest $17 billion and create more than 13,000 jobs over the next 10 years at Walt Disney World, finishing by saying, “I hope we are able to do so.”

The full memo from Josh D’Amaro can be read here, from reporter Scott Gustin:

An update from Governor Ron DeSantis shares the statement from the Florida governor on Disney’s decision. You can read it below:

State Takeover of Disney World Ride Inspections No Longer Valid

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Via InsideTheMagic.net

In the DeSantis and Disney ongoing war, Disney had a big realization. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis lied about state-mandated Disney ride inspections. In his comments on April 17, he claimed Disney would have to bow to the state regarding these inspections, even though Disney has an impressive inspection rate.

As of May 13, those supposed “state-mandated” inspections are no longer valid, seeing how they never took place through the Bill DeSantis signed. Disney also ensured to mention the state-mandated assessments in their documents that they hope will be able to be presented to a court of law.

The War Between Disney and Desantis

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis just signed a new bill, SB 1604, that would kill the deal between The Walt Disney Company and its governing district, Reedy Creek, thus creating a whole new world of hurt for WDW.

DeSantis even went as far as to say Disney was “arrogant” in their pursuit of justice. But Disney fought back through a lawsuit with DeSantis on the run with their administration.

DeSantis filed a counter lawsuit a few days ago against Disney, bringing more hatred and remorse for the Florida Governor.

But now, DeSantis has been called out by news media outlets in Florida for not only allegedly lying about his proposed state-mandated ride inspections for WDW but for singling out Disney and not the other theme Parks in the state.

Disney ride inspections

DeSantis and His Disney Ride Inspections – All Lies?

Tourism and theme Parks reporter for the Orlando Sentinel, Katie Rice, published a news story on the ongoing war between DeSantis and Disney, bringing attention to the alleged lies by the Florida Governor regarding his intentions to force state-mandated inspections on Walt Disney World rides.

In her article, Rice mentions how State officials “will not take over Space Mountain or other Disney World ride inspections soon,” even though DeSantis had made it clear on April 17 that he would.

Disney World already has its system regarding attraction inspections, which makes them one of the safest, if not the safest, theme parks in America.

Here’s the tweet for reference. A big shout out to industry insider and digital at Nextstar Scott Gustin on Twitter for bringing this information to the public.

The article is also attached to the tweet, and Katie Rice is mentioned. Regarding DeSantis’s comments from April 17, here is a follow-up tweet Scott Gustin also put out for reference:

There are no other official comments from DeSantis or his administration regarding these alleged lies about state-mandated Disney World ride inspections.