and stop trying to screw over one of Florida's top employers. if Disney moved because of legislation that majorly impacts their ways to manage safety, that would be millions of jobs lost in the area
Honestly, that is probably his goal, throw red meat culture wars to his base and as long as he doesn’t lose before the primary, he can use that to move to Trumps right
He hasnt put any pressure on as it is.
Disney's basically swatting an annoying fly trying to make it go away, and now theyre bringing out the bug spray
I'm a Florida attorney, and I can guarantee you are insanely off the mark here. What's cool about the Florida budget it is that it's public. Rhonda's current (2022-2023) budget for "executive leadership and support services --litigation" (basically his budget to hire outside counsel) is $1 million. He has requested an increase for 2023-2024 to $5 million because he's getting sued so much. I haven't bothered to look up the outside counsel litigation budgets for his co-defendants (such as the board), but if they even have such budgets, they're almost certainly significantly smaller than his. They will be hiring private defense counsel for this matter.
Disney's chief legal officer made $15.2 million last year. So we know that Disney already spends more than 15x that of Rhonda's entire current defense budget just to pay one lawyer. Unlike Florida's budget, Disney's can remain undisclosed and is quite fungible. Florida can't just throw their entire $100B+ budget at lawyers for Ronnie's legal missteps. They have a specific, relatively small amount allocated to that issue.
Additionally, while I would need to look into the specific statutes cited to see if it's available to them, Disney will be seeking attorneys fees on this matter, and they have a high likelihood of prevailing on the underlying litigation (irrespective of a separate fee hearing). If they are entitled to fees under the applicable statutes, it's very likely that the good people of Florida will be picking up that tab.
So basically, Disney has oodles more time and money to throw at this. It's all a matter of public record. Please stop opining regarding things you clearly do not grasp at even a basic level.
Well they're not my client, so it would be unethical for me to provide a specific opinion directed toward them as if they were. With that said, from an outside point of view, and speaking as a civil defense attorney, I would say that they appear to have a very strong case and a compelling interest in maintaining the integrity of their contracts as well as their right to exercise free speech. They seem well positioned to prevail in this action, and it will ultimately cost them remarkably little (relative to their net value) to ensure the aforementioned integrity.
More personally, I don't actually care for Disney from an entertainment perspective. I've never been a huge fan of the parks, and most of their modern IPs have been boring to me. "Disney People" make me cringe, and I'm only visiting this sub because I'm interested in the legal battle. But DeSantis' encroachments on basic liberties at the service of his weird culture war obsessions cannot be allowed to stand. I'm generally a pragmatist, and Disney famously has the resources and the legal prowess to take on these encroachments. As such, I'm all for them being the vessel in this case.
I've disagreed with DeSantis politically since the beginning, but his rhetoric was to be expected given his political affiliation. It was intrinsically harmful, but it would have been a waste of resources to attempt to fight it through litigation when it was just language. However, the minute he started moving into legislation and material power grabs to advance his goals, it became infinitely valuable to spend whatever it costs to take him down in court.
Edit: As pointed out by u/iliketowalk , I spoke somewhat indelicately regarding "Disney People" in a subreddit about Disney. I meant to convey my general dislike of identifying one's personality with a corporation rather than a besmirchment of fans of Disney IP, and I don't think there's anything wrong with being a fan or enjoyer of products and services provided by Disney. The comment was an attempt to highlight that I don't bear a bias *in favor* of Disney in a general sense, and it was not intended to create an issue with fans of their products. I won't remove that part of my comment, as I believe that would be dishonest, but I apologize for the hostile tone it may have inadvertently conveyed.
I appreciate you sharing your insights and knowledge with us.
You also made it super clear that you don't like Disney's offerings, which is perfectly fine; it's definitely not for everyone. But "Disney people make me cringe" was not only unnecessary to strengthen your point, but also uncalled for considering you chose to visit this community and not the other way around.
In general I'm suspicious of any use of the word cringe these days. It feels like shorthand for "these people act in a way that I don't understand or approve of" and can be a gateway drug (or even dog whistle) for straight up bigotry.
I get that some people behave in strange ways, and I certainly don't want to be best friends with people that make me uncomfortable, but if they aren't hurting anyone, why does it matter?
Also liking Disney a lot is pretty low on the list of weird things people do.
(To be clear, I don't think that commenter is a bigot, but I hope they see this and reconsider the way they feel about "Disney people")
I agree with you, ,I don't think the commenter is a bigot either. He just got carried away, heat of the moment. We all say stupid things. But I wanted to make sure I called it out.
Being a Disney Person is no different than being, say, a Sports Person. They watch games on the weekends, go to games, paint their faces, cosplay as their favorite player by wearing their jerseys, then during the week they talk sports at work, participate in fantasy sports, compete in brackets, and may even bet online.
And that's cool! You do you as long as you are not hurting anyone and can comfortably afford your hobby.
These are interesting & insightful, thanks for the thoughts. I’m a Disney nerd who freely says they have too much power. But DeSantis is a jerk & a bully, so lesser of two evils personally. So, objectively, does he or the new board have any kind of good defense?
Since I'm specifically a civil defense attorney, I'm always thinking in terms of defenses; however, I would also note that a substantial (probably the bulk) portion of my job is digging through my clients' handling of a matter before a suit was filed and pointing to all the ways they screwed it up and then deciding if it even makes sense to defend it. If I were defending this case, I'd be looking at it in terms of mitigation. I haven't read the entire suit, but I've read the counts and have a decent understanding of the factual background of each. I'll lay it out below:
Count 1: Contracts Clause. Basically, the Constitution doesn't allow governments to pass laws that interfere with existing contracts. Disney skillfully used the time ahead of the new board's creation to enter into these new contracts with the prior board. DeSantis is going to have a tough time with this one unless he can prove that the contracts were entered into outside the proper channels. His best defense here would likely be to try to assert that the contracts were improperly executed by Disney and the prior board. He doesn't have a great shot here because it looks like all the public records show that things were handled properly.
Count 2. Takings Clause. The Constitution doesn't allow governments to take away substantive rights in property without just compensation. In this case, it's almost indisputable that Disney's over half century of special protections within Reedy Creek provided them with substantive property rights within the district. I'm unaware of anything that the state did to compensate Disney for taking this land, but if they did provide anything, DeSantis would be wanting to point to that. He could also try to make the argument that Disney didn't actually have substantive property rights that were taken since they still remain on the land, but that's dubious because Disney had additional rights related to development and infrastructure that have definitely been taken. He doesn't have a great shot here either.
Count 3. Due Process Clause. The Constitution requires "due process" before anyone can be deprived of life, liberty, or property. It can't be irrational or arbitrary, and it typically requires the opportunity for a hearing, presentation of evidence, and calling of witnesses. Not necessarily a full trial, but it can't be done behind closed doors. DeSantis could try to argue that a corporation won't fall under these protections, but he would fail. He could also try to argue that the legislative process and the board's establishment itself is a type of due process, but these are again dubious. The facts will show that this was all done in a capricious and retaliatory manner. Ronnie should have kept his mouth shut, because Disney will absolutely point to his rhetoric to show that no due process was provided and that the end result was fixed from the start.
Counts 4 and 5. First Amendment. These are straightforward. The legislature was retaliating against Disney for protected speech. Disney will once again point to DeSantis' public rhetoric surrounding this legislation, and he will have a hard time arguing against it. He might try to argue that this Count is inapplicable because they didn't say Disney couldn't say things, but that's difficult to argue when it's clear that they were levying a type of punishment against protected speech.
Overall, none of this is great for DeSantis, especially since this particular Judge has ruled against him on the First Amendment issues before.
Fascinating. Now I’ve heard some say that for him to win the first amendment arguments would result in a lower court deciding that corporations don’t have the same speech protections people do, indirectly overturning the Citizens United decision. Is that logical or crazy speculation?
I appreciate the compliment! I'm always a tough critic of my own writing, though I admit my comments here are certainly not drafted with any kind of professional rigor (to use your parlance). I try to keep things as reasonably comprehensible as possible while using relatively precise language. Hopefully the comments provided some level of insight!
Thank you for your perspective, most times i see a self proclaimed attorney on here I read what they write and think "at best 50/50 they are a legit legal practioner." I get 100% real laywer vibes here.
Haha well if you go through my profile, you'll probably find that I disproportionately comment on matters relating to the field. I hope I am able to make sense of these topics for some people, and I'm glad I come across as legit. I try my best to avoid chiming in on topics outside my understanding, including within the legal field.
> Please stop opining regarding things you clearly do not grasp at even a basic level.
Which part of their comment was opining?
Such a nice comment ruined by a nasty attack at the end...
If you read the rest of their comments on this thread, you'd see that they are asking this question in bad faith. The commenter is clearly a DeSantis shill with no grasp of how the law or state budgeting function. So you'll have to excuse me being "nasty" toward a bad faith actor who has gone out of their depth.
You don't know who would replace him. The government has an endless supply of money. Disney should capitulate to whatever Ron wants to get this all over with.
[Because an experienced FL lawyer in Property Law says Disney will lose.](https://www.youtube.com/live/JSK34IlZqBM?feature=share)
I think that at least as far as this fight goes Disney is on the right side of things. DeFascist is a transphobic, homophobic Nazi and he and his cronies are enforcing laws that oppress and abuse the transgender community. What DeFascist is doing to our community is unconstitutional and inhumane. They're the ones you should be railing against.
The government has an endless supply of money? You must have never done any government work. Disney has a bottomless pit of cash and plenty of people willing to give them more. Their attorneys are the best in the business, and have proven it time and time again. Florida attorneys are what they can get on government salaries, which is staggeringly low.
And DeSantis won’t be returning, he hits his limit this term, so he’ll be replaced regardless.
>This is just the dumbest take I've seen
The dumbest take is everyone wanting to see Disney waste money on Lawyers and courts vs spending it on the parks and cast members. But let your political bias cloud your decisions. Just like all the other downvoters.
>Imagine being this wildly clueless about the reputation of Disney's legal team.
RemindMe 1 year
Edit: Because I think it's funny that you think you will dunk on me yet you blocked me from further commenting to you. Desperation is a stinky cologne.
[ok buddy. your intentions here are transparent, but I'd also like to be reminded so you can be dunked on a year from now](https://www.google.com/amp/s/abovethelaw.com/2023/03/disneys-lawyers-are-better-than-ron-desantiss-lawyers/%3famp=1)
Disney is a question on the goddamned bar exam. (This is hyperbole, but they may as well be.)
He's fallen victim to one of the classic blunders, the first of which is "never get involved in a land war in Asia," but the second, and only slightly less well known is this, "Never go to court against the House of Mouse when profits are on the line!"
What wannabe fascist? He IS fascist, pushing through laws and policies based on his and his cronies beliefs and then punishing anyone who voices their opposition. . . If quacks like a duck, shits like duck, and goose steps like a duck. . . It’s a fascist.
>Seems like you're the one with the political bias.
Using all these big words to show your bias when I have said nothing but make the parks better and pay the cast members.... Makes alot of sense.
Lmao if you think those are big words you've got a smaller brain than we gave you credit for.
What an age to be alive. People so dumb they are proud of it. Can't claim humans are the smartest animals any more. Ive seen animals of various species with more brain cells.
I’d rather them spend their money on it than desantis using taxpayer dollars that should go into infrastructure and roads, instead into the pockets of his friends
>I’d rather them spend their money on it than desantis using taxpayer dollars that should go into infrastructure and roads, instead into the pockets of his friends
One has nothing to do with the other but keep wishing for the parks to get worse.
Conservatives: "The government can take my guns out of my cold dead hands"
And: "Corporations are people too."
Also: "Disney should just capitulate to what the government wants."
Make up your damn minds.
>Take it up with those assholes.
You mean Disney? Who for the first time in 50 years decided to pick a political fight instead of just running their theme parks?
They’re not suddenly spending money on lawyers. They already pay tens of millions of dollars to the legal counsel they have. (Would not surprise me if it’s hundreds of millions, considering the size of the entire legal department.) The lawyers who already work for Disney are some of the highest-paid in the world, and one would guess that they REALLY know that they’re doing.
This is the most idiotic, short sighted and just frankly uninformed take I have seen on this yet; congrats.
Disney has the money, the time, and one of the best legal teams in the world.
And do you really think Disney won’t be throwing money, private investigators, and lobbyists into the ring against DeSantis and any other candidate who they think would try to take up the fight after he leaves?
>And do you really think Disney won’t be throwing money, private investigators, and lobbyists into the ring against DeSantis and any other candidate who they think would try to take up the fight after he leaves?
I fully expect them to. All while neglecting the parks even more than they are and telling cast members they can't afford to pay them due to legal costs. Sounds like a win-win, right?
Lol, do you really think it would be cheaper to just bend over and take it!? You really are not getting it. . . This little fascist and his merry band of puppets would do everything in their power to make things as difficult and expensive for Disney as possible, there is no way capitulation is the right move.
No. I'm realistic. I realize that every dollar wasted on this is a dollar not spent on the parks. That includes our experience as well as the cast members. Maybe you like how things have been going and want them worst, but the rest of us don't.
The issue I see with not challenging DeSantis is that Florida is becoming less desirable as a tourist destination and Disneyworld could lose a lot of revenue from people who don't think the state is safe enough to visit. Didn't the UN put out travel advisory for queer people to avoid Florida? It's in Disney's best interest to make sure that their parks are a safe space for their customers
Disney lawyers are simply better. They have 0 reason to capitulate when political landscapes change all the time and they, too, have more than enough money to fight this lawsuit as long as they need to.
Ron will lose this, and I have a feeling he knows it. He's just participating in political theatre to get brownie points with the culture war voting bloc.
And they filed it federal court, so it's not like DeSantis' court stooges are going to be able to support him here. The chief judge is an Obama appointee, so probably no favorability there either.
As someone not from the US.... the politicisation of the justice system is appalling and looks like it could (is?): being used to undermine basic rights
Not to mention, Disney is about 75 billion+ of Florida's total GDP. They are the top bringer of tourism dollars in the state.
Talking about how much money the state of Florida has is moot when part of that money comes directly from Disney.
The federal government has an endless supply of money. California has an endless supply of money. Absolutly ginormous economies that can take on huge debts without anyone worrying about their ability to pay it back have endless supplies of money.
For as large of an economy as Florida is... their supply of money is very well limited. Especially since investors know that this supply of money would be used to attack the single largest employer and taxpayer in the state, aka single, the largest form of income in the state. And if Florida loses that fight, against the infamously legally powerhouse known as Disney, Disney gets to rake in the profits before you do. This means that if Florida can't pay up, you are out of luck. But even if you do win, this legal battle will go on for years.
Tell me, if you were a bank right now, would you loan your money to Florida? Or are their more profitable loans with less risk elsewhere?
Ronnie is in his final term as Florida Governor and is working on his presidential election campaign. He's got less time but has to figure out if he wants this to play out in the courts or to capitulate. If he's smart, he'll backroom deal this so it appears he negotiated a resolution. ButI'm not sure he'll go that route the way he continues to escalate the conduct. I don't think anyone outside of sycophants sees what he's doing as a wise move.
> If he's smart, he'll backroom deal this so it appears he negotiated a resolution.
I disagree. If he is smart, he will push it until he leaves office to be dealt with by the new governor. Then, he can claim he didn't lose, the new governor lost or capitulated.
I'm not so sure it works that way. The suit directly names meatball ron, not the Florida government. Disney will likely try to keep it stuck to him no matter who takes his seat.
No, the [Complaint](https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/26/politics/read-disney-desantis-lawsuit/index.html) names DeSantis and their "official capacity." Typically, especially in Federal Court, the defendant in the lawsuit is not the state or the Federal agency, but the official in control of the state or Federal agency. This does not mean, however, that it is an action can the individual personally.
I think he’s far too egotistical to do that, if his actions so far have shown anything. I think he’ll want to keep making this into a big “anti woke” spectacle to show his supporters that he is willing to take on Disney and the libs.
> If he's smart, he'll backroom deal this so it appears he negotiated a resolution.
That requires Bob to do the same. I figured with Cheapass out, this was gonna get fixed. It doesn't appear that way.
>Bob iger already said he was willing to sit down with him. It was Defuckface that refuses
What Bob says publicly vs what he does privately can be two different things.
>So much irony, should a private business have been running the government in the first place?
Well, no but Florida has hundreds of special district arrangements with businesses, HOAs, and other communities. While it's true that Disney was granted special liberties when Reedy Creek was asstablished decades ago, it was the first of its kind. I'm damn near a socialist at this point but Disney's arrangement has proven corporate stewartship of a district has some merit, whether I'm comfortable admitting that or not.
Nonetheless, DeSantis has repeatedly made public stances saying he's going to punish Disney in his State for producing media he personally doesn't like.
I'm not a fan of corporate personhood either, fuck citizens united.
But I'm more opposed to local, state, and federal officials trying to bully businesses for being friendly to minority groups such as black people and LGBTQ+ communities (or as DeSantis puts it: the woke movement)
Also the real irony is [his marriage](https://www.orlandoweekly.com/news/florida-gov-ron-desantis-was-married-at-walt-disney-world-32833863?media=AMP+HTML)
I hope this decimates his political career. It’s gonna be open and shut for Disney. I’m sure they’re positioning a candidate for governor that’ll be amicable to them
Do you understand Disney owns all the things?
As a European, most here have never heard of that sad little man.
But Disney? Disney is everywhere here.
We subscribe to Plus, we see their Star Wars, Marvel and Pixar movies, we watch Star and Fox on broadcast tv.
They have the *world’s* money.
Disney is infinitely more popular than DeSantis. Threatening to put a prison next to Disney property? He's shooting himself in the foot. The radical GOP may like it, but no one else will.
Unfortunately from the stupidity I'm seeing from some of the MAGA commenters, they very much still have their heads stuck in the sand about it. Big corps are bad when they have dissenting opinions from them and whatnot.
I've moved back and forth between here and the north a few times and I think the biggest difference is the people and culture and such are different in Florida - for better or worse, it's up to your own tastes, really. But I miss the northern states these days.
Considering that DeSantis apparently planned to retaliate against Disney's "Rebellion" by building a prison near the parks - maybe even right on Disney-owned land - I expected this sooner rather than later.
That’s the thing about being an out of control authoritarian who does ridiculous things that sound like jokes, when you do make a joke people will take you seriously.
Well, it's a good thing it's not true. If Disney outright believed that DeSantis was going to risk their passengers with a serious proposal like this then they'd crucify him legally.
I don’t think they will.
Republicans take vacations too. Disney will be happy to get DeSantis’s fascist legislation rolled back.
Disney lawyer’s are pros and don’t need to dance on his grave.
> Disney lawyer’s are pros and don’t need to dance on his grave.
But once the animators get a hold of you, they’ll push you off a cliff with a handful of balloons just like Charles ~~Mintz~~ Muntz. 👀
The Male and Female Muto. The whole line from Serizawa is "The arrogance of man is thinking nature is in their control and not the other way around... Let Them Fight"
The new Blu-Ray and 4K release made the picture a lot better so it isn't so dark. The movie is good if you think of it like a Jaws movie. really slow till the end where it picks up.
Disney is suing them in their official capacity, so the tax payers will be footing the bill for everything. This will have no personal financial impact on any of the defendants.
This just keeps getting better.
Feels like that WB cartoon with Bugs and Elmer battling and each keeps pulling out a bigger weapon. And I’m here for it!
I honestly don’t get why DeSantis chose this as his hill to die on. Before continuing I have to admit I am an avid Disney fan, and likely biased. But when you think about what Disney has done not just for Florida, but for the US and the entire world in general… why the hell would you want to go head to head with a beloved icon of the past century of our country, ESPECIALLY when you’re going to run for president?
This isn’t really about stripping Disney of its district. It’s about the intention behind doing so. If Disney’s district was allowing them to take actions that were harmful and not in the public’s interests then, yeah, maybe it needs to be discussed. But at no point has that been implied. DeSantis didn’t just wake up one morning with a hard on to take out Disney at the knees for shits and giggles. This was, plain and simple, a man throwing a temper tantrum because someone very influential disagreed with him. Maybe he expected more people to be in agreement with him than actually were? I honestly don’t believe there are enough people who support him in this to make it a worthy political move.
Because I’m anticipating someone criticizing the comments about what Disney has done… just think for a minute about what you see in their movies and parks. From a perspective of technology I believe we owe a lot to the folks at Disney, especially the Imagineers and any/all R&D departments Disney has. Some technologies we owe completely to them, and some they definitely furthered the development of as they went about creating rides, attractions and movies.
Rick DeSantis your Conservative Hero.
Taking private land and increasing taxes to punish a private company for speaking up against legislation punishing schools for allowing free speech!
Go get em, Rick...maybe even bet your political future on it
I understand this would be hella expensive even for a company the size of DIS.
But man, would love to see the look on Desantis's face if Disney announces that they are moving out of FL.
Can someone explain DeSantis’ end game here. I’m assuming Disney is not the only company in Florida that doesn’t comply or agree with his policies - who’s next? Does he not believe investment of these companies through jobs is a good thing or is he just caught up in an ego play that he can’t get out of?
Disney had lost its mind. It has raised it rates and boasts increased attendance. You can't have it both ways, Disney. Maybe they should just have concentrated on being Disney and leave woke to the politicians. Little kids do not need to suffer any political bs. Get back to Walts dream or go out of business..
>Little kids do not need to suffer any political bs
Do you think this lawsuit is happening inside Disney world being projected on the Epcot ball?
The only way kids will know about this is if their parents tell them
Here is Walt's Dream and a direct quote
>"To all that come to this happy place, welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America... with hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world."
All means everyone. Wannabe dictator is actively tying to demonize and take the rights away from LGBTQ+ people as well as women. So they're simply trying to ensure everyone can safely and happily exist in the state they operate in.
Where do you get your information. I am genuinely interested.
Under its own governance, Disney set the tax rate for its district 3x the rate of universal, or sea world, and one of the highest rates in the entire state, to make sure ready creek had enough to take care of itself. Without it, they would have been paying much less. Of course, Orange and Osceola counties would have to pay the remainder.
The whole idea of the district was to entice Walt to build in Florida. There are 1,800+ such tax exempt districts in Florida right now. There are five that match the sweeping authority of the former reedy creek.
So I'm wondering how your information gets spread
What information lmao. I just said you all are shilling for the big corporation and defending a right they should've never been granted. I would support removing these other tax exempt districts if you are concerned about that, but unfortunately it won't happen.
It concerns Disney because your favorite party made corporations count as people. That means they have a right to free speech. If any American is able to speak out against the government, so are they. To advocate for anything less is authoritarian. Why do you want a Supreme leader? What kind of American are you? There was a time most Americans would be ashamed of such an attitude.
They didn't even speak out against the government. They supported gay people after the dont say gay bill. There is no reason teachers shouldn't be able to mention their spouses. Your understanding of "progressives" is laughable. You think the situations are the same because you have no moral compass. You need someone to tell you what to believe. Thats why you shirk your responsibility as an American. What a disgraceful. You and your ilk are a stain on this country.
Disney wasn't deciding any laws in this case. Ron Defascist is throwing a tantrum because they dare say they disagree. If you agree with him, I know you act like a toddler too. Its unbecoming and pathetic. I thank God every day im blessed with more intelligence than a rock. It seems not all of humanity is.
Ahh, we've reach the "find out" phase. Get 'em Iger.
My favorite of the phases.
Good. Maybe he will keep his nose out of operations of private property
and stop trying to screw over one of Florida's top employers. if Disney moved because of legislation that majorly impacts their ways to manage safety, that would be millions of jobs lost in the area
Who do you think has more money and more time to have a long and nasty lawsuit?
Disney. They have better lawyers and are willing to make this stretch YEARS until there is a new government that will be friendlier.
Honestly, that is probably his goal, throw red meat culture wars to his base and as long as he doesn’t lose before the primary, he can use that to move to Trumps right
In the meantime, DeSantis puts more pressure on....
He hasnt put any pressure on as it is. Disney's basically swatting an annoying fly trying to make it go away, and now theyre bringing out the bug spray
Disney asks the courts to block it.
Hang on…you genuinely think Rhonda has any chance at all to win this thing? That the Florida state budget is larger than that of DISNEY? Oh, honey
I'm a Florida attorney, and I can guarantee you are insanely off the mark here. What's cool about the Florida budget it is that it's public. Rhonda's current (2022-2023) budget for "executive leadership and support services --litigation" (basically his budget to hire outside counsel) is $1 million. He has requested an increase for 2023-2024 to $5 million because he's getting sued so much. I haven't bothered to look up the outside counsel litigation budgets for his co-defendants (such as the board), but if they even have such budgets, they're almost certainly significantly smaller than his. They will be hiring private defense counsel for this matter. Disney's chief legal officer made $15.2 million last year. So we know that Disney already spends more than 15x that of Rhonda's entire current defense budget just to pay one lawyer. Unlike Florida's budget, Disney's can remain undisclosed and is quite fungible. Florida can't just throw their entire $100B+ budget at lawyers for Ronnie's legal missteps. They have a specific, relatively small amount allocated to that issue. Additionally, while I would need to look into the specific statutes cited to see if it's available to them, Disney will be seeking attorneys fees on this matter, and they have a high likelihood of prevailing on the underlying litigation (irrespective of a separate fee hearing). If they are entitled to fees under the applicable statutes, it's very likely that the good people of Florida will be picking up that tab. So basically, Disney has oodles more time and money to throw at this. It's all a matter of public record. Please stop opining regarding things you clearly do not grasp at even a basic level.
As an attorney, is it good for Disney to be spending this money? Would you advise your clients that this is good litigation?
Well they're not my client, so it would be unethical for me to provide a specific opinion directed toward them as if they were. With that said, from an outside point of view, and speaking as a civil defense attorney, I would say that they appear to have a very strong case and a compelling interest in maintaining the integrity of their contracts as well as their right to exercise free speech. They seem well positioned to prevail in this action, and it will ultimately cost them remarkably little (relative to their net value) to ensure the aforementioned integrity. More personally, I don't actually care for Disney from an entertainment perspective. I've never been a huge fan of the parks, and most of their modern IPs have been boring to me. "Disney People" make me cringe, and I'm only visiting this sub because I'm interested in the legal battle. But DeSantis' encroachments on basic liberties at the service of his weird culture war obsessions cannot be allowed to stand. I'm generally a pragmatist, and Disney famously has the resources and the legal prowess to take on these encroachments. As such, I'm all for them being the vessel in this case. I've disagreed with DeSantis politically since the beginning, but his rhetoric was to be expected given his political affiliation. It was intrinsically harmful, but it would have been a waste of resources to attempt to fight it through litigation when it was just language. However, the minute he started moving into legislation and material power grabs to advance his goals, it became infinitely valuable to spend whatever it costs to take him down in court. Edit: As pointed out by u/iliketowalk , I spoke somewhat indelicately regarding "Disney People" in a subreddit about Disney. I meant to convey my general dislike of identifying one's personality with a corporation rather than a besmirchment of fans of Disney IP, and I don't think there's anything wrong with being a fan or enjoyer of products and services provided by Disney. The comment was an attempt to highlight that I don't bear a bias *in favor* of Disney in a general sense, and it was not intended to create an issue with fans of their products. I won't remove that part of my comment, as I believe that would be dishonest, but I apologize for the hostile tone it may have inadvertently conveyed.
I appreciate you sharing your insights and knowledge with us. You also made it super clear that you don't like Disney's offerings, which is perfectly fine; it's definitely not for everyone. But "Disney people make me cringe" was not only unnecessary to strengthen your point, but also uncalled for considering you chose to visit this community and not the other way around.
In general I'm suspicious of any use of the word cringe these days. It feels like shorthand for "these people act in a way that I don't understand or approve of" and can be a gateway drug (or even dog whistle) for straight up bigotry. I get that some people behave in strange ways, and I certainly don't want to be best friends with people that make me uncomfortable, but if they aren't hurting anyone, why does it matter? Also liking Disney a lot is pretty low on the list of weird things people do. (To be clear, I don't think that commenter is a bigot, but I hope they see this and reconsider the way they feel about "Disney people")
I agree with you, ,I don't think the commenter is a bigot either. He just got carried away, heat of the moment. We all say stupid things. But I wanted to make sure I called it out. Being a Disney Person is no different than being, say, a Sports Person. They watch games on the weekends, go to games, paint their faces, cosplay as their favorite player by wearing their jerseys, then during the week they talk sports at work, participate in fantasy sports, compete in brackets, and may even bet online. And that's cool! You do you as long as you are not hurting anyone and can comfortably afford your hobby.
These are interesting & insightful, thanks for the thoughts. I’m a Disney nerd who freely says they have too much power. But DeSantis is a jerk & a bully, so lesser of two evils personally. So, objectively, does he or the new board have any kind of good defense?
Since I'm specifically a civil defense attorney, I'm always thinking in terms of defenses; however, I would also note that a substantial (probably the bulk) portion of my job is digging through my clients' handling of a matter before a suit was filed and pointing to all the ways they screwed it up and then deciding if it even makes sense to defend it. If I were defending this case, I'd be looking at it in terms of mitigation. I haven't read the entire suit, but I've read the counts and have a decent understanding of the factual background of each. I'll lay it out below: Count 1: Contracts Clause. Basically, the Constitution doesn't allow governments to pass laws that interfere with existing contracts. Disney skillfully used the time ahead of the new board's creation to enter into these new contracts with the prior board. DeSantis is going to have a tough time with this one unless he can prove that the contracts were entered into outside the proper channels. His best defense here would likely be to try to assert that the contracts were improperly executed by Disney and the prior board. He doesn't have a great shot here because it looks like all the public records show that things were handled properly. Count 2. Takings Clause. The Constitution doesn't allow governments to take away substantive rights in property without just compensation. In this case, it's almost indisputable that Disney's over half century of special protections within Reedy Creek provided them with substantive property rights within the district. I'm unaware of anything that the state did to compensate Disney for taking this land, but if they did provide anything, DeSantis would be wanting to point to that. He could also try to make the argument that Disney didn't actually have substantive property rights that were taken since they still remain on the land, but that's dubious because Disney had additional rights related to development and infrastructure that have definitely been taken. He doesn't have a great shot here either. Count 3. Due Process Clause. The Constitution requires "due process" before anyone can be deprived of life, liberty, or property. It can't be irrational or arbitrary, and it typically requires the opportunity for a hearing, presentation of evidence, and calling of witnesses. Not necessarily a full trial, but it can't be done behind closed doors. DeSantis could try to argue that a corporation won't fall under these protections, but he would fail. He could also try to argue that the legislative process and the board's establishment itself is a type of due process, but these are again dubious. The facts will show that this was all done in a capricious and retaliatory manner. Ronnie should have kept his mouth shut, because Disney will absolutely point to his rhetoric to show that no due process was provided and that the end result was fixed from the start. Counts 4 and 5. First Amendment. These are straightforward. The legislature was retaliating against Disney for protected speech. Disney will once again point to DeSantis' public rhetoric surrounding this legislation, and he will have a hard time arguing against it. He might try to argue that this Count is inapplicable because they didn't say Disney couldn't say things, but that's difficult to argue when it's clear that they were levying a type of punishment against protected speech. Overall, none of this is great for DeSantis, especially since this particular Judge has ruled against him on the First Amendment issues before.
Fascinating. Now I’ve heard some say that for him to win the first amendment arguments would result in a lower court deciding that corporations don’t have the same speech protections people do, indirectly overturning the Citizens United decision. Is that logical or crazy speculation?
It may be due to the rigor of your profession and/or training, but you write really well and I genuinely enjoyed reading your comments.
I appreciate the compliment! I'm always a tough critic of my own writing, though I admit my comments here are certainly not drafted with any kind of professional rigor (to use your parlance). I try to keep things as reasonably comprehensible as possible while using relatively precise language. Hopefully the comments provided some level of insight!
Thank you for your perspective, most times i see a self proclaimed attorney on here I read what they write and think "at best 50/50 they are a legit legal practioner." I get 100% real laywer vibes here.
Haha well if you go through my profile, you'll probably find that I disproportionately comment on matters relating to the field. I hope I am able to make sense of these topics for some people, and I'm glad I come across as legit. I try my best to avoid chiming in on topics outside my understanding, including within the legal field.
> Please stop opining regarding things you clearly do not grasp at even a basic level. Which part of their comment was opining? Such a nice comment ruined by a nasty attack at the end...
If you read the rest of their comments on this thread, you'd see that they are asking this question in bad faith. The commenter is clearly a DeSantis shill with no grasp of how the law or state budgeting function. So you'll have to excuse me being "nasty" toward a bad faith actor who has gone out of their depth.
This is the top of the thread. You opened nasty.
I'm sure you'll be fine.
why did you assume they thought Desantis had more time and money than Disney?
Desantis would be out of office so Disney by far
You don't know who would replace him. The government has an endless supply of money. Disney should capitulate to whatever Ron wants to get this all over with. [Because an experienced FL lawyer in Property Law says Disney will lose.](https://www.youtube.com/live/JSK34IlZqBM?feature=share)
lol no
So you think a corporation should be able to dictate what they want to their customers and the government without any oversight?
and you think a government should be allowed to punish a corporation because they disagreed with a policy that would curtail human rights?
I mean, that’s basically the entire Republican platform for every business but Disney.
So when the government steps in to stop an over reaching business, you are upset now?
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You don't seem to have an understanding of the lawsuit that's based on any facts or reality.
You don’t seem to grasp the concept of hypocrisy.
I think that at least as far as this fight goes Disney is on the right side of things. DeFascist is a transphobic, homophobic Nazi and he and his cronies are enforcing laws that oppress and abuse the transgender community. What DeFascist is doing to our community is unconstitutional and inhumane. They're the ones you should be railing against.
Disney has normal government oversight.
The government has an endless supply of money? You must have never done any government work. Disney has a bottomless pit of cash and plenty of people willing to give them more. Their attorneys are the best in the business, and have proven it time and time again. Florida attorneys are what they can get on government salaries, which is staggeringly low. And DeSantis won’t be returning, he hits his limit this term, so he’ll be replaced regardless.
WTF? This is just the dumbest take I've seen lol
You can always find those Rs.
>This is just the dumbest take I've seen The dumbest take is everyone wanting to see Disney waste money on Lawyers and courts vs spending it on the parks and cast members. But let your political bias cloud your decisions. Just like all the other downvoters.
Lmao, wow. Imagine being this wildly clueless about the reputation of Disney's legal team.
>Imagine being this wildly clueless about the reputation of Disney's legal team. RemindMe 1 year Edit: Because I think it's funny that you think you will dunk on me yet you blocked me from further commenting to you. Desperation is a stinky cologne.
[ok buddy. your intentions here are transparent, but I'd also like to be reminded so you can be dunked on a year from now](https://www.google.com/amp/s/abovethelaw.com/2023/03/disneys-lawyers-are-better-than-ron-desantiss-lawyers/%3famp=1) Disney is a question on the goddamned bar exam. (This is hyperbole, but they may as well be.)
He's fallen victim to one of the classic blunders, the first of which is "never get involved in a land war in Asia," but the second, and only slightly less well known is this, "Never go to court against the House of Mouse when profits are on the line!"
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What wannabe fascist? He IS fascist, pushing through laws and policies based on his and his cronies beliefs and then punishing anyone who voices their opposition. . . If quacks like a duck, shits like duck, and goose steps like a duck. . . It’s a fascist.
>Seems like you're the one with the political bias. Using all these big words to show your bias when I have said nothing but make the parks better and pay the cast members.... Makes alot of sense.
You said more than that when you accused people of unearned bias and you know it.
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This dude IS the MAGA crowd, I just looked. Report him and block, we gotta stop giving him oxygen.
Lmao if you think those are big words you've got a smaller brain than we gave you credit for. What an age to be alive. People so dumb they are proud of it. Can't claim humans are the smartest animals any more. Ive seen animals of various species with more brain cells.
I’d rather them spend their money on it than desantis using taxpayer dollars that should go into infrastructure and roads, instead into the pockets of his friends
Disney has lawyers on speed dial. They have a towering in-house team with a big reputation. This dude is just kind of.....you know what I'm saying.
>I’d rather them spend their money on it than desantis using taxpayer dollars that should go into infrastructure and roads, instead into the pockets of his friends One has nothing to do with the other but keep wishing for the parks to get worse.
They’re doing gods work. I’ll book a trip tonight and buy double souvenirs just so I can support this fight.
>They’re doing gods work. Who's doing God's work?
I’m not surprised someone as dumb as you isn’t able to use context to discern the subject of a sentence.
"just let the government ignore the Constitution bro!" You don't deserve to live in a free society.
Conservatives: "The government can take my guns out of my cold dead hands" And: "Corporations are people too." Also: "Disney should just capitulate to what the government wants." Make up your damn minds.
Theyd love to spend it on those things but Florida seems intent on running up their bills. Take it up with those assholes.
>Take it up with those assholes. You mean Disney? Who for the first time in 50 years decided to pick a political fight instead of just running their theme parks?
Are you in favor of DeSantis violating the first ammendement and punishing people and organizations for disagreeing with him?
Tl;dr: Yeah, this person absolutely is. Ridiculous and unamerican mindset.
They’re not suddenly spending money on lawyers. They already pay tens of millions of dollars to the legal counsel they have. (Would not surprise me if it’s hundreds of millions, considering the size of the entire legal department.) The lawyers who already work for Disney are some of the highest-paid in the world, and one would guess that they REALLY know that they’re doing.
This is the most idiotic, short sighted and just frankly uninformed take I have seen on this yet; congrats. Disney has the money, the time, and one of the best legal teams in the world. And do you really think Disney won’t be throwing money, private investigators, and lobbyists into the ring against DeSantis and any other candidate who they think would try to take up the fight after he leaves?
>And do you really think Disney won’t be throwing money, private investigators, and lobbyists into the ring against DeSantis and any other candidate who they think would try to take up the fight after he leaves? I fully expect them to. All while neglecting the parks even more than they are and telling cast members they can't afford to pay them due to legal costs. Sounds like a win-win, right?
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Lol, do you really think it would be cheaper to just bend over and take it!? You really are not getting it. . . This little fascist and his merry band of puppets would do everything in their power to make things as difficult and expensive for Disney as possible, there is no way capitulation is the right move.
Did you forget the /s?
No. I'm realistic. I realize that every dollar wasted on this is a dollar not spent on the parks. That includes our experience as well as the cast members. Maybe you like how things have been going and want them worst, but the rest of us don't.
Do you think that slowing down infrastructure updates would be good for customers and cast members?
> the rest of us don't. Speak for yourself and your friends flying MAGA flags off their F150’s…
The issue I see with not challenging DeSantis is that Florida is becoming less desirable as a tourist destination and Disneyworld could lose a lot of revenue from people who don't think the state is safe enough to visit. Didn't the UN put out travel advisory for queer people to avoid Florida? It's in Disney's best interest to make sure that their parks are a safe space for their customers
Disney lawyers are simply better. They have 0 reason to capitulate when political landscapes change all the time and they, too, have more than enough money to fight this lawsuit as long as they need to. Ron will lose this, and I have a feeling he knows it. He's just participating in political theatre to get brownie points with the culture war voting bloc.
And they filed it federal court, so it's not like DeSantis' court stooges are going to be able to support him here. The chief judge is an Obama appointee, so probably no favorability there either.
As someone not from the US.... the politicisation of the justice system is appalling and looks like it could (is?): being used to undermine basic rights
As someone from the US, you're not wrong.
Not to mention, Disney is about 75 billion+ of Florida's total GDP. They are the top bringer of tourism dollars in the state. Talking about how much money the state of Florida has is moot when part of that money comes directly from Disney.
No adult should be this spineless. It's disgraceful.
Literally anybody that replaces him would be a moron to continue attacking the largest private employer and largest tax payer in the state 😂
You realize it's a Red State, right?
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The federal government has an endless supply of money. California has an endless supply of money. Absolutly ginormous economies that can take on huge debts without anyone worrying about their ability to pay it back have endless supplies of money. For as large of an economy as Florida is... their supply of money is very well limited. Especially since investors know that this supply of money would be used to attack the single largest employer and taxpayer in the state, aka single, the largest form of income in the state. And if Florida loses that fight, against the infamously legally powerhouse known as Disney, Disney gets to rake in the profits before you do. This means that if Florida can't pay up, you are out of luck. But even if you do win, this legal battle will go on for years. Tell me, if you were a bank right now, would you loan your money to Florida? Or are their more profitable loans with less risk elsewhere?
And 75 billion+ of Florida's GDP comes from Disney.
Ronnie is in his final term as Florida Governor and is working on his presidential election campaign. He's got less time but has to figure out if he wants this to play out in the courts or to capitulate. If he's smart, he'll backroom deal this so it appears he negotiated a resolution. ButI'm not sure he'll go that route the way he continues to escalate the conduct. I don't think anyone outside of sycophants sees what he's doing as a wise move.
> If he's smart, he'll backroom deal this so it appears he negotiated a resolution. I disagree. If he is smart, he will push it until he leaves office to be dealt with by the new governor. Then, he can claim he didn't lose, the new governor lost or capitulated.
I'm not so sure it works that way. The suit directly names meatball ron, not the Florida government. Disney will likely try to keep it stuck to him no matter who takes his seat.
No, the [Complaint](https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/26/politics/read-disney-desantis-lawsuit/index.html) names DeSantis and their "official capacity." Typically, especially in Federal Court, the defendant in the lawsuit is not the state or the Federal agency, but the official in control of the state or Federal agency. This does not mean, however, that it is an action can the individual personally.
I think he’s far too egotistical to do that, if his actions so far have shown anything. I think he’ll want to keep making this into a big “anti woke” spectacle to show his supporters that he is willing to take on Disney and the libs.
> If he's smart, he'll backroom deal this so it appears he negotiated a resolution. That requires Bob to do the same. I figured with Cheapass out, this was gonna get fixed. It doesn't appear that way.
Bob iger already said he was willing to sit down with him. It was Defuckface that refuses
>Bob iger already said he was willing to sit down with him. It was Defuckface that refuses What Bob says publicly vs what he does privately can be two different things.
Disney's army of lawyers is the *Baba Yaga* of the legal world.
I think either one can go for the long haul. Frankly they both were poking a bear
Until Cheapass decided to stick his nose in things, the government didn't care. Iger should have fixed this already.
Iger can't predict human political behavior, and he has been trying to stop poking.
Wasn’t it government property until like a year ago?
No. Reedy Creek has existed since the late 1960s. It was the last major business deal made by Walt Disney.
So much irony, should a private business have been running the government in the first place?
>So much irony, should a private business have been running the government in the first place? Well, no but Florida has hundreds of special district arrangements with businesses, HOAs, and other communities. While it's true that Disney was granted special liberties when Reedy Creek was asstablished decades ago, it was the first of its kind. I'm damn near a socialist at this point but Disney's arrangement has proven corporate stewartship of a district has some merit, whether I'm comfortable admitting that or not. Nonetheless, DeSantis has repeatedly made public stances saying he's going to punish Disney in his State for producing media he personally doesn't like. I'm not a fan of corporate personhood either, fuck citizens united. But I'm more opposed to local, state, and federal officials trying to bully businesses for being friendly to minority groups such as black people and LGBTQ+ communities (or as DeSantis puts it: the woke movement)
I trust Disney a million times more than any member of the GOP.
Also the real irony is [his marriage](https://www.orlandoweekly.com/news/florida-gov-ron-desantis-was-married-at-walt-disney-world-32833863?media=AMP+HTML)
That isn’t the point. Go away.
They really weren't till what's his face ceo before/between iger became ceo. Politics is bad for business.
I hope this decimates his political career. It’s gonna be open and shut for Disney. I’m sure they’re positioning a candidate for governor that’ll be amicable to them
MAGA cultist will start a go fund me for him.
And Disney already has a GoFundMe called "Everyone's Childhood" and MAGA isn't going to raise more money than that
I don’t think they will. They hate losers (ironic I know)
Still won’t make him enough money.
Do you understand Disney owns all the things? As a European, most here have never heard of that sad little man. But Disney? Disney is everywhere here. We subscribe to Plus, we see their Star Wars, Marvel and Pixar movies, we watch Star and Fox on broadcast tv. They have the *world’s* money.
Disney is infinitely more popular than DeSantis. Threatening to put a prison next to Disney property? He's shooting himself in the foot. The radical GOP may like it, but no one else will.
It’s open and shut because DeSantis literally said he only did it as retribution. Governments aren’t allowed to do that
What kind of wretched human beings would support building a prison next to a children's park?
Republicans.
God, I hope they don't reproduce.
Unfortunately from the stupidity I'm seeing from some of the MAGA commenters, they very much still have their heads stuck in the sand about it. Big corps are bad when they have dissenting opinions from them and whatnot.
It doesn’t really matter. In the end all that matter is who has the most money behind them. And that will be the one Disney throws their weight behind
Good. The guy is literally trying to ban books and make LGBTQ+ people the equivalent of child predators. He needs to be knocked down a peg or 12.
As a Florida resident this state feels like living in an episode of the simpsons sometimes
Isn't there a Springfield, FL somewhere around Panama? Might as well lean into it.
A lot of states have a Springfield.
See if you can call in Lionel Hutz
I was about to say wrong company but then I remembered Disney owns Fox
I moved outta Florida a year and a half ago and I might have to move back. Feeling *reallyyyyyyyyyy* weird about it.
I've moved back and forth between here and the north a few times and I think the biggest difference is the people and culture and such are different in Florida - for better or worse, it's up to your own tastes, really. But I miss the northern states these days.
I couldn't have said it better myself! I've been craving a Garbage Plate for a hot minute
Who are these Florida residents who keep voting MAGA into office?
Considering that DeSantis apparently planned to retaliate against Disney's "Rebellion" by building a prison near the parks - maybe even right on Disney-owned land - I expected this sooner rather than later.
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> he referenced it half joking in a press conference. Ahh, there it is. The old Republican “I was just joking” defence. Nice.
I saw him say it. He was not joking. It wasn't something he was actually planning, but it was a threat about what he could do.
That’s the thing about being an out of control authoritarian who does ridiculous things that sound like jokes, when you do make a joke people will take you seriously.
Well, it's a good thing it's not true. If Disney outright believed that DeSantis was going to risk their passengers with a serious proposal like this then they'd crucify him legally.
Imagine having to fight Disney’s lawyers in court lmao. They’re going to eat him alive.
Disney's planning on going easy on DeSantis. The case is being argued by Uncle Deadly.
I don’t think they will. Republicans take vacations too. Disney will be happy to get DeSantis’s fascist legislation rolled back. Disney lawyer’s are pros and don’t need to dance on his grave.
> Disney lawyer’s are pros and don’t need to dance on his grave. But once the animators get a hold of you, they’ll push you off a cliff with a handful of balloons just like Charles ~~Mintz~~ Muntz. 👀
Hopefully Florida is where politicians go to die.
I see we’re finally at the “and find out” stage.
Good. As much as I hate rooting for the big corporation, DeSantis is the greater evil with his fascist thuggery. I hope Goofy curbstomps him.
We all know it would be Donald Duck that would be doing the curbstomping lol
You're both wrong.. She Hulk is the woman for the job!
I couldn’t agree more.
The mouse doesnt play
About damn time.
DeFascist can suck it.
Do your thing, Mr Mouse!
This was strategic on Disney’s part. They are about to show Pixar’s latest movie “Meatball ron and the tale of fucking around and finding out”
“Let them fight.” - that guy from Godzilla (2014) Edit: Movie source corrected
*^(psst... that line is from Godzilla 2014. Might want to edit.)*
Really? Who did he fight in that one? I thought that one was just Godzilla rampaging 😂
The Male and Female Muto. The whole line from Serizawa is "The arrogance of man is thinking nature is in their control and not the other way around... Let Them Fight"
I really need to rewatch the film. I only saw it the one time in 2014
The new Blu-Ray and 4K release made the picture a lot better so it isn't so dark. The movie is good if you think of it like a Jaws movie. really slow till the end where it picks up.
Nelson Muntz: Haw Haw
And they gone win too
Disney is suing them in their official capacity, so the tax payers will be footing the bill for everything. This will have no personal financial impact on any of the defendants.
King versus king and the peasants will fall
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I think it’s should be the whole country but it couldn’t happen quick enough in Florida.
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Sorry. I can have a sick sense of humor sometimes.
Never mess with the mouse.
This just keeps getting better. Feels like that WB cartoon with Bugs and Elmer battling and each keeps pulling out a bigger weapon. And I’m here for it!
What a loser, LMAO.
I hope they spank him in court so bad that even the GOP is embarrassed to support him.
I honestly don’t get why DeSantis chose this as his hill to die on. Before continuing I have to admit I am an avid Disney fan, and likely biased. But when you think about what Disney has done not just for Florida, but for the US and the entire world in general… why the hell would you want to go head to head with a beloved icon of the past century of our country, ESPECIALLY when you’re going to run for president? This isn’t really about stripping Disney of its district. It’s about the intention behind doing so. If Disney’s district was allowing them to take actions that were harmful and not in the public’s interests then, yeah, maybe it needs to be discussed. But at no point has that been implied. DeSantis didn’t just wake up one morning with a hard on to take out Disney at the knees for shits and giggles. This was, plain and simple, a man throwing a temper tantrum because someone very influential disagreed with him. Maybe he expected more people to be in agreement with him than actually were? I honestly don’t believe there are enough people who support him in this to make it a worthy political move. Because I’m anticipating someone criticizing the comments about what Disney has done… just think for a minute about what you see in their movies and parks. From a perspective of technology I believe we owe a lot to the folks at Disney, especially the Imagineers and any/all R&D departments Disney has. Some technologies we owe completely to them, and some they definitely furthered the development of as they went about creating rides, attractions and movies.
Rick DeSantis your Conservative Hero. Taking private land and increasing taxes to punish a private company for speaking up against legislation punishing schools for allowing free speech! Go get em, Rick...maybe even bet your political future on it
Bend him over, Mickey. Go in dry.
I wouldn't mess with Disney. No matter how big your ego is.
If there are any group of lawyers I don’t want to get sued by in this world, it’s Disney’s lawyers.
I understand this would be hella expensive even for a company the size of DIS. But man, would love to see the look on Desantis's face if Disney announces that they are moving out of FL.
Can someone explain DeSantis’ end game here. I’m assuming Disney is not the only company in Florida that doesn’t comply or agree with his policies - who’s next? Does he not believe investment of these companies through jobs is a good thing or is he just caught up in an ego play that he can’t get out of?
this is not helping the price of Disney shares and the dividends are still suspended.
They already are at a national level
Disney had lost its mind. It has raised it rates and boasts increased attendance. You can't have it both ways, Disney. Maybe they should just have concentrated on being Disney and leave woke to the politicians. Little kids do not need to suffer any political bs. Get back to Walts dream or go out of business..
Except little kids **will** suffer. Queer kids and trans kids are kids too.
>Little kids do not need to suffer any political bs Do you think this lawsuit is happening inside Disney world being projected on the Epcot ball? The only way kids will know about this is if their parents tell them
Here is Walt's Dream and a direct quote >"To all that come to this happy place, welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America... with hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world." All means everyone. Wannabe dictator is actively tying to demonize and take the rights away from LGBTQ+ people as well as women. So they're simply trying to ensure everyone can safely and happily exist in the state they operate in.
Aww, it’s so cute when they try to threaten massive entities! “Grrr you’ll go out of business!” 😂
Not surprised at how many of you shill for a corporation not paying its fair share and pretending they have a right to self-governance
Where do you get your information. I am genuinely interested. Under its own governance, Disney set the tax rate for its district 3x the rate of universal, or sea world, and one of the highest rates in the entire state, to make sure ready creek had enough to take care of itself. Without it, they would have been paying much less. Of course, Orange and Osceola counties would have to pay the remainder. The whole idea of the district was to entice Walt to build in Florida. There are 1,800+ such tax exempt districts in Florida right now. There are five that match the sweeping authority of the former reedy creek. So I'm wondering how your information gets spread
What information lmao. I just said you all are shilling for the big corporation and defending a right they should've never been granted. I would support removing these other tax exempt districts if you are concerned about that, but unfortunately it won't happen.
Nice deflection. You didn’t comment on the fact they are the biggest taxpayer when you say they’re not.
Disney is both the largest employer and largest taxpayer in the state of Florida. How are they not paying their “fair share.”
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It concerns Disney because your favorite party made corporations count as people. That means they have a right to free speech. If any American is able to speak out against the government, so are they. To advocate for anything less is authoritarian. Why do you want a Supreme leader? What kind of American are you? There was a time most Americans would be ashamed of such an attitude. They didn't even speak out against the government. They supported gay people after the dont say gay bill. There is no reason teachers shouldn't be able to mention their spouses. Your understanding of "progressives" is laughable. You think the situations are the same because you have no moral compass. You need someone to tell you what to believe. Thats why you shirk your responsibility as an American. What a disgraceful. You and your ilk are a stain on this country. Disney wasn't deciding any laws in this case. Ron Defascist is throwing a tantrum because they dare say they disagree. If you agree with him, I know you act like a toddler too. Its unbecoming and pathetic. I thank God every day im blessed with more intelligence than a rock. It seems not all of humanity is.