DeSantis Claims No One Has Made More Money for Disney Than Him

Florida Govenor Ron DeSantis points out why Disney is in trouble; shockingly, he claims he isn’t to blame.

DeSantis vs. Disney

By now most people are aware of the ongoing legal turmoil brewing between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Shortly after Disney’s former CEO spoke out against the Parental Rights in Education Bill, the Governor signed Senate Bill 4-C into Law.

This effectively dissolved the Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID), the special tax district that governed Disney. DeSantis appointed the Central Florida Tourism Oversite District (CFTOD) in its place. This all led to two lawsuits.

If you need to catch up on what is going on, here is some reading material for you. Disney sued DeSantis in federal court with claims that DeSantis is punishing the Walt Disney Company for practicing free speech. You can get up to speed on the federal case HERE.

Meanwhile, the CFOTD has also sued Disney in a state case after the RCID transferred its power to Disney prior to the CFOTD takeover (a move that DeSantis has since passed legislation to invalidate). You can see the judge’s latest decision in that case HERE.

Problems with Disney

Last week, DeSantis claimed immunity from the current feud with Disney. DeSantis said Disney does not have the standing to sue. He also claims that, as governor, he is entitled to immunity from the suit. Tonight Governor DeSantis will appear on CNBC. In this interview he shares, “We’ve basically moved on, they’re suing the state of Florida, they’re going to lose that lawsuit.”

This is a rather bold claim to now say that he has “moved on” from this ongoing feud for the past several months. DeSantis shares, “No one has made Disney more money recently than me because, during Covid, they were open in Florida.” He shares that he never shut down Walt Disney World due to COVID, but they did that voluntarily.

The State of Florida provided unemployment benefits for Cast Members during the Park closure all while the state of California forced the Disney Parks to remain closed for month after month.

DeSantis shares that if he could talk to Disney CEO, Bob Iger, he would share that Disney has many problems. The current feud with the state of Florida was not mentioned as a possible cause. DeSantis details, “Apart from Florida, Disney had a lot of problems.”

“I think that the skirmish they got in with these young kids. I think that’s a symptom of why they’re not doing as well because I think parents have lost some confidence that this is a company that’s really speaking to what they want, the way it had been traditionally.”

DeSantis shares, “No one has made Disney more money recently than me because, during Covid, they were open in Florida.”

Governor DeSantis

Special Privileges

DeSantis again mentions how he is justified in removing special privileges from Walt Disney World. “This is a great place to do business. Your competitors all do very well here, Universal, and SeaWorld, but they have not had the same special privileges as you have.”

“So all we want to do is treat everybody the same and let’s move forward. I’m totally fine with that. But I’m not fine with giving extraordinary privileges, you know, to one special company at the exclusion of everybody else.” You can see how current Disney CEO, Bob Iger addresses these “special privileges” HERE.

What do you think of the claim of “special privileges” and also that he has helped raise more money for Disney than anyone else? Do you think DeSantis is really moving on from this feud? Share your thoughts and share this news with your Disney pals.