Disney SUES Ron DeSantis in war over Reedy Creek

Disney sued Ron DeSantis and the Florida Tourism Control Board to withdraw their control of Reedy Creek.

The company responded to the war on the region by accusing the Republican of “weaponizing” his power to impose political punishment.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court after the DeSantis-appointed board voted to void an agreement Disney had tried to make in recent days before stripping them of their power after attorneys for the new board claimed the deal was done illegally.

In the filing, company executives accused DeSantis and Florida of a “targeted campaign of government retaliation” in the fight sparked by Disney and criticized the so-called “Don’t say Gay” bill.

“This lawsuit is yet another unfortunate example of their hope to subvert the will of Florida voters and operate outside the bounds of the law,” DeSantis director of communications Taryn Fensky said in a statement to DailyMail.com about Disney’s lawsuit.

She added that the Florida governor’s team “is not aware of any legal right that a company should run its own government or maintain special privileges that other companies in the state do not have.”

The Reedy Creek Special Tax District is the home of Disney World, employing 75,000 people and attracting 50 million visitors each year.

Since 1967, it has effectively become independent and Disney has assumed control of property and decisions in the area.

“For more than half a century, Disney has had an incalculable impact on Florida and its economy, establishing Central Florida as a leading global tourism destination and drawing tens of millions of visitors to the state each year,” the suit says.

The report continues: “People and families from every corner of the world have traveled to Walt Disney World because of the unparalleled guest experience it provides and the deep emotional connection that connects generations of fans to timeless Disney stories and characters.”

“A targeted campaign of government retaliation — orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech — now threatens Disney’s business operations, threatens its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights.

The lawsuit comes in response to the new board moving forward to void deals Disney made before handing over control in an effort to strip power from the new board and give everything to the company.

The lawyers claimed that the deals were conducted illegally because the proper timetable for notification and procedure was not followed.

However, Disney has already celebrated its victory over DeSantis, a war that erupted after the former CEO publicly denounced last year the governor’s Parental Rights in Education Act, which restricts classroom instruction for sexual orientation and gender identity.

While Disney argues in its lawsuit that the Reedy Creek Improvement District has benefited Floridians, DeSantis and his allies in the Florida legislature claim that it receives special treatment that other businesses in the state do not.