The Florida district that governs Walt Disney World Resort unanimously approved the company’s expansion plans, officially ending a years-long feud between the resort and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
The Central Florida Tourism Board on Wednesday approved a proposal by Walt Disney Co. to expand its theme park complex in Orlando that includes an investment of $8 billion over the first 10 years and up to $17 billion over the next 10 to 20 years.
The expansion is part of a larger investment by the Burbank media and entertainment giant in its so-called “experience” division, which consists mainly of its theme park empire around the world. Disneyland Resort in Anaheim is also set to be expanded with an investment of at least $1.9 billion.
Read more: What you need to know about the Disney-DeSantis feud
At Wednesday’s meeting, local tourism executives and board members alike praised the merits of the proposal and its potential economic impact on the state.
“Walt Disney World is inextricably intertwined with the social fabric of the state of Florida, and the success of Walt Disney World is the success of Central Florida,” board member Brian Aunst Jr. said during the meeting. “I’ve always been very optimistic, and I knew we would get here because this is the right outcome.”
The road to Wednesday’s approval was long and winding. The controversy began in 2022 when Disney, Florida’s largest private employer, voiced opposition to Gov. DeSantis’ so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which would ban education about sexual orientation and gender identity in local schools.
Mr. DeSantis then took control of a quasi-municipal government known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District that manages the land on which Walt Disney World sits, but which for years had been essentially run by officials handpicked by Disney. Mr. DeSantis renamed the governing body the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and appointed his allies to the board.
Competing lawsuits followed, including a First Amendment lawsuit filed by Disney against the state and governor, which was ultimately dismissed. Tensions began to ease in March when Disney and Florida reached a settlement in a separate state lawsuit. The move came months after Mr. DeSantis ended his presidential bid, having made Disney a punching bag in the culture wars even before his unsuccessful campaign began.
After Wednesday’s vote, Walt Disney World Resort President Jeff Vale welcomed the outcome, saying in a statement that the new development agreement will “pave the way for billions of dollars of investment in Walt Disney World Resort to support the growth of this world-class destination, revitalize Florida’s economy and provide our guests with even more memorable and incredible experiences.”
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This article originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
