DeSantis Asks Florida Authorities to Investigate Disney World Board

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida on Monday requested “a thorough review and investigation” into an effort by the Walt Disney Company to limit state oversight of development at Disney World.

The request came in a letter to Melinda Miguel, Florida’s chief inspector general. Last week, Mr. DeSantis and his allies realized that Disney had pushed through a development agreement in early February that would allow the company to sidestep a new oversight board whose members were appointed by Mr. DeSantis.

Last year, after Disney halted political donations in Florida and criticized a contentious state education law that prohibits classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity for young students, Mr. DeSantis asked Florida lawmakers to terminate self-governing privileges that Disney World had held since 1967. The privileges, formally called a special tax district, effectively allowed the company to self-govern its 25,000-acre theme park complex as a de facto county, controlling fire protection, policing, road maintenance — and, crucially, development planning.

Because terminating the district would have unfavorable financial implications for tax payers in the counties surrounding Disney World, it was decided that the district would remain, but that the previous, Disney-controlled board would be replaced with one controlled by the governor.

Before the new board was installed, however, the Disney-controlled one passed — in public meetings — restrictive covenants and a development agreement that gave the company vast control over future construction in the district; the new board has limited say. At a meeting last week, the new board hired five law firms to scrutinize the matter and, potentially, take Disney to court.

“These collusive and self-dealing arrangements aim to nullify the recently passed legislation, undercut Florida’s legislative process and defy the will of Floridians,” Mr. DeSantis wrote in the letter on Monday. “Any legal or ethical violations should be referred to the proper authorities.”

Disney had no immediate response. Last week, it said in a statement that “all agreements signed between Disney and the district were appropriate and were discussed and approved in open, noticed public forums in compliance with Florida’s Government-in-the-Sunshine law.”

Notice of a hearing on Disney’s action was made in The Orlando Sentinel on Jan. 18, according to tax district disclosures. The matter was discussed at a short public meeting on Jan. 25. After a second notice in The Sentinel on Jan. 27, it was approved at a second public meeting on Feb. 8.

Mr. DeSantis named five appointees to the oversight board on Feb. 27.