What is the feud between Disney and Florida?

The fight between the Florida governor and the company, now headed to court, began over an education law and grew into a feud about oversight of land that includes the amusement park. Sign Up for the Education Briefing From preschool to grad school, get the latest U.S. education news.



The feud between Disney and the State of Florida (specifically Governor Ron DeSantis) began in early 2022 when Disney's leadership publicly criticized the "Parental Rights in Education" bill, commonly referred to by critics as the "Don't Say Gay" bill. In retaliation, the Florida legislature moved to dissolve the Reedy Creek Improvement District, a special taxing district that had allowed Disney to effectively self-govern its land since 1967. This escalated into a series of legal battles, including Disney suing the state for "retaliatory" actions and the state-appointed board (the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District) countersuing Disney. By 2024 and 2025, the tension began to settle as both sides reached a comprehensive 15-year development agreement. Under this new 2026 framework, Disney agreed to invest $17 billion into the Florida resort over the next decade in exchange for more predictable regulatory oversight. While the political rhetoric has cooled, the "feud" fundamentally changed the power dynamic between the state government and its largest private employer.

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