Allies of Florida governor Ron DeSantis and Disney have reached a settlement agreement in a lawsuit over who controls Walt Disney World’s governing district.
In a meeting, the members of the board of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District approved the settlement agreement, ending almost two years of litigation that was sparked by Mr DeSantis’ takeover of the district from Disney supporters following the company’s opposition to Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law.
The 2022 law bans classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early school years and was championed by Mr DeSantis, who used Disney as a punching bag in speeches until he suspended his presidential campaign this year.
The district provides municipal services such as firefighting, planning and mosquito control, among other things, and was controlled by Disney supporters for most of its five decades.
Jeff Vahle, president of Walt Disney World Resort, said in a statement that the company was pleased a settlement had been reached.
“This agreement opens a new chapter of constructive engagement with the new leadership of the district and serves the interests of all parties by enabling significant continued investment and the creation of thousands of direct and indirect jobs and economic opportunity in the state,” Mr Vahle said.
Mr DeSantis, who was in Orlando on Wednesday, said at a news conference that “we have been vindicated on all those actions”.
“I’m glad that they were able to do that settlement,” he said.
“Those 11th hour covenants and restrictions were never going to be valid. We knew that.”
As punishment for Disney’s opposition, Mr DeSantis took over the governing district through legislation passed by the Republican-controlled Florida legislature and appointed a new board of supervisors.
Disney sued Mr DeSantis and his appointees, claiming the company’s free speech rights were violated for speaking out against the legislation. A federal judge dismissed that lawsuit in January.
Before control of the district changed hands from Disney allies to DeSantis appointees early last year, the Disney supporters on its board signed agreements with Disney shifting control over design and construction at Disney World to the company.
The new DeSantis appointees claimed the “eleventh-hour deals” neutered their powers and the district
sued the company in state court in Orlando to have the contracts voided.
Disney filed counterclaims that include asking the state court to declare the agreements valid and enforceable.