Disney officially ended its First Amendment lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday, concluding a two-year conflict triggered by the company's opposition to the so-called "Don't Say Gay" law.
This decision followed last night's Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board's approval of a new 15-year development agreement, permitting Disney to invest up to $17 billion to expand its Orlando theme parks.
"Walt Disney World is inextricably intertwined in the fabric of the state of Florida, and the success of Walt Disney World is the success of Central Florida and vice versa," said Brian Aungst Jr., a Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board member. "This agreement provides a lasting, sustainable, and prosperous future for the district, the people of Florida, and the Walt Disney Company."
In a statement, Jeff Vahle, President of Walt Disney World Resort said, "This new development agreement paves the way for us to invest billions of dollars in Walt Disney World Resort, supporting the growth of this global destination, fueling the Florida economy, and allowing us to deliver even more memorable and extraordinary experiences for our guests."
The resolution marks the end of a contentious culture war that dominated headlines in 2022. The legal battle left Disney in a weakened position, as it lost control over the nearly 40 square-mile area surrounding its parks, a privilege it had held since 1967.
U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor dismissed Disney's First Amendment suit in January, ruling that Florida had the authority to revoke the district. Disney had initially planned to appeal, warning that the case had significant implications for the rule of law.
In March, Disney and DeSantis settled most of their disputes, dismissing state lawsuits and agreeing to focus on the new development plan. Disney suspended its federal appeal pending the resolution of development issues.
On Wednesday night, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District voted 5-0 to approve the new development agreement. With the agreement finalized, Disney notified the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday that it was dismissing the case.
"All parties to this appeal hereby stipulate to dismissal of the appeal with prejudice," the notice stated.
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