After Two Years, DeSantis Loses Government Control Over Disney World

Two years after a board appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took over the former Reedy Creek Improvement District encompassing Walt Disney World Resort, the last two board members appointed by the Republican leader have officially stepped down.

Gov. DeSantis vs. Disney

The battle between Ron DeSantis and Walt Disney World Resort began in early 2022, when former Disney CEO Bob Chapek publicly opposed the Parental Rights in Education Act.

Known colloquially as the “Don’t Say Gay” law, the legislation strictly limits teachers’ ability to talk about sexuality in the classroom, primarily affecting LGBTQIA+ teachers. Disney cast members and fans protested the bill, prompting Chapek to speak out, despite a private warning from DeSantis.

Weeks later, DeSantis signed legislation dissolving the Reedy Creek Improvement Act of 1967, which gave Walt Disney World Resort control over a special district board that handled municipal issues on its property. Thousands of similar districts exist throughout Florida, but DeSantis successfully argued that Disney had been given special privileges for too long.

DeSantis appointed five board members to control the area, which he renamed the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. They took control in February 2023 and immediately passed several measures, including a ban on COVID-19-related restrictions and mandates on Walt Disney World Resort property.

Disney tried to legally revoke the Reedy Creek Improvement District’s powers in the weeks before handing control to the DeSantis-appointed board, but its efforts failed. A judge dismissed a free speech lawsuit from Disney in DeSantis’s favor.

Final DeSantis Appointees Step Down

According to the official Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board website, the two remaining original board members appointed by Gov. DeSantis have stepped down. The board’s member list no longer includes Bridget Ziegler and Brian Aungst Jr., who had been serving since the district took over in 2023. The other three original DeSantis appointees have already left the board.

Ziegler was one of the authors of the Parental Rights in Education Act, which kick-started the conflict between DeSantis and Disney that led to the dissolution of the Reedy Creek Improvement District.

The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board now includes Alexis Yarbrough – Chair, David Woods, Matt Ravenscroft, John Gilbert, and Scott Workman. DeSantis recently appointed Woods and Ravenscroft, but their appointments are pending confirmation by the Florida state legislature.

Should Gov. Ron DeSantis ever have gained control over Walt Disney World Resort’s Reedy Creek Improvement District? Share your thoughts with Inside the Magic in the comments!