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Credit: Inside the MagicFlorida Governor Ron DeSantis has canceled a speaking engagement at the last minute, days after fleeing the Sunshine State alongside parts of The Walt Disney Company.
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Nearly 200 new laws took effect in Florida on July 1, many of which impacted Walt Disney World Resort guests and cast members. They included a balloon ban, limits on mandated breaks for hourly employees, and restricting the use of public spaces by homeless Floridians (thousands of Walt Disney World Resort cast members are homeless).
The onslaught of new legislation came as The Walt Disney Company quietly pulled some operations out of Florida. Weeks ago, Inside the Magic reported that the once Walt Disney World Resort-exclusive Joffrey’s Coffee made its way to national retail outlets in states like Texas, Illinois, and more.
For a while, some Disney Parks fans thought that Walt Disney World Resort would pull out of Florida entirely. It started in 2022 when former Disney CEO Bob Chapek condemned Governor DeSantis’s Parental Rights in Education Act, dubbed “Don’t Say Gay” by activists.
DeSantis allegedly warned Disney not to speak out on the anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation and responded swiftly. He legally dissolved the Reedy Creek Improvement District, a municipal area that Walt Disney World Resort had controlled since 1967. The Republican governor renamed the area to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, appointed board members, and allowed them to make public policy changes at Walt Disney World Resort.
Disney CEO Bob Iger tried everything to prevent DeSantis’s Reedy Creek takeover. House of Mouse lawyers attempted to make the board powerless before transferring ownership in 2023. When that failed, Iger threatened to pull billions of investments out of the Sunshine State.
Iger took his most pointed action in April 2023, suing DeSantis for allegedly retaliating against Disney’s First Amendment-protected right to free speech. Lawyers argued that DeSantis allowed hundreds of other special districts to continue operating in the state and only targeted Disney because of Chapek’s comments on “Don’t Say Gay.”
Related: Satanic Temple Takes Control in Florida, Ron DeSantis Flees State Amid Battle With Disney
In January 2024, a judge dismissed Disney’s lawsuit against DeSantis. Iger vowed to continue fighting but slowly decreased pressure. Weeks ago, Disney resumed donating to political candidates in Florida for the first time since 2022. Construction projects continue at Walt Disney World Resort.
Governor DeSantis has remained largely quiet about The Walt Disney Company in recent months. After withdrawing his presidential primary bid against former President Donald Trump and Nikki Haley, the Republican governor unexpectedly appeared at the Republican National Convention (RNC).
Initially, DeSantis wasn’t pegged to speak at the RNC. He fled Florida at the last minute and gave multiple speeches, including a formal endorsement of Trump as the Republican presidential nominee.
DeSantis has since returned to Florida, giving numerous interviews and hosting press conferences in the days since the RNC. However, he recently canceled a scheduled appearance in St. Petersburg.
According to WINK News, Gov. DeSantis was scheduled to host a news conference at 10:30 a.m. on Monday at St. Petersburg College. Florida Department of Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. was set to join.
DeSantis canceled the appearance in St. Petersburg just 15 minutes before it was scheduled to begin. His team didn’t share the reason for the cancellation.
Do you support Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, or should another politician lead the Sunshine State? Share your thoughts with Inside the Magic in the comments.