Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort (April 2022).
- Disney World sued Governor Ron DeSantis in April to maintain its “autonomy” in Florida.
- Disney has been at odds with the governor of Florida for more than a year.
- But Disney experts say Disney can’t get out of Florida.
Disney escalated its battle with Governor Ron DeSantis last week by announcing that it was scrapping plans to build a nearly $1 billion corporate campus in Florida.
Big Disney and 2024 presidential candidate Governor DeSantis have been at odds for more than a year. But even as the conflict escalates, Disney is essentially staying out of Florida.
An expert on the history of Disney World in Florida told Insider that Disney’s huge operating costs and sprawling grounds will keep Disney from leaving Florida.
“Disney can’t get out of there,” Richard Foglesong, author of “Married to the Mouse: Walt Disney World and Orlando,” told Insider.
“And Florida can’t escape Disney.”
disney can’t move
While facilities like factories can be moved easily, the 27,520-acre Disney World — hotels, attractions, stages, shops and restaurants — is just too big, Fogleson said. Building a new park would cost astronomical numbers.
Disney Parks and Disney Resorts are Florida’s largest attracting facilities, but Disney also receives various benefits from Florida. The so-called “autonomy” the company enjoys — one of the current litigation issues — is unlike other competing theme parks, where Disney passes plans ahead of time to building regulators. It means you don’t have to, saving you time and money.
Disney first entered Florida in the 1960s, and at that time Florida had no real strengths and struggled to attract companies. Disney knew they could ask for anything.
“Disney realized that and tried to get all the perks up front and lock them in,” Fogleson said.
“Because I thought I would never have another chance to get it.”
In addition, many small businesses in the area rely on Disney to bring more tourists to Florida. This reality was highlighted at the board meeting on May 17. Small business owners in the surrounding area have expressed concern about the potential for new taxes and tolls.
Fogleson continued that Disney can’t afford to stop investing in Florida. In fact, Disney plans to invest $17 billion in Florida over the next decade.
Given that 70% of theme park visitors are repeat visitors, he said, Disney needs to keep offering something new.
“It’s great, but it’s also a threat. How can we keep[guests]coming back to see the same thing? We have to have new rides and attractions.”
Other Republicans slam Governor DeSantis for getting into war with Disney
2024 Republican presidential nominee Nikki Haley has called on Disney to move from Florida to South Carolina.
In April, Nikki Haley, the former U.N. ambassador to the Trump administration seeking the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, suggested Disney move to South Carolina.
Haley, who served as South Carolina’s governor from 2011 to 2017, said South Carolina legislators would welcome Disney. He told Fox News that he would “willingly” introduce Disney to governors and legislatures.
Afterwards, Haley said of her own proposal, “Blessed with a great climate, great people, you can always have a great day in South Carolina! South Carolina is a state of “woke: awareness of environmental and social issues.” “It’s not expensive, but it’s not sanctimonious either,” he added on Twitter.
Haley is using the word “sanctimonious” here as a roundabout attack on Governor DeSantis — after former President Trump used the nickname “DeSanctimonious” for Governor DeSantis. That’s all. Haley’s oblique attack wasn’t overlooked by “Never Back Down,” a super PAC that helps Governor DeSantis run for president.
“Embracing Walk companies and mimicking Trump’s tacky attacks at the same time? Someone desperately auditioning for VP!” Never Back Downtweeted.
Haley’s remarks came as Disney filed a lawsuit to retain control of the land, escalating a feud with Governor DeSantis. In the lawsuit, Disney said it would fight the “Parents’ Rights in Education” bill (HB 1557, also known as the “Don’t Say You’re Gay” bill), which restricts education about gender and sexual orientation in public schools. Governor DeSantis has retaliated against the company.
Haley isn’t the only presidential candidate to criticize Governor DeSantis — who has yet to formally announce his candidacy for president. Former President Trump ridiculed DeSantis for his increasingly confrontational stance with Disney, while former Vice President Mike Pence, who will soon announce his decision to run for president in 2024, has criticized conservative values and criticized it for doing the opposite.
Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, who is running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, said the government “shouldn’t punish business too much.”
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[original text]
(Translated and edited by Yoshimi Yamaguchi)
Source: BusinessInsider
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