Rivalry with Governor DeSantis only deepens… why Disney can’t leave Florida

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.


Source: BusinessInsider

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