We’re all pretty used to hearing about Disney in the media.

©The Walt Disney Company

Disney gets lots of attention due to it being a massive entertainment company and having multiple divisions that it controls. In the past year or so, Disney has been in the headlines over the lawsuits they’ve filed against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, claiming he has retaliated against them for speaking out against a bill he approved. DeSantis most notably dissolved the Reedy Creek Improvement District and appointed his own governing board– the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.

Now, Disney has filed a new lawsuit against this DeSantis-appointed district board.

According to Click Orlando, late on Friday, December 22nd, Disney filed a new lawsuit against the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. The new file claims that the board is failing to provide public records that the company had requested back in May of this year.

Withholding public records is against Florida law and the state’s constitution, and Disney is suing.

Cinderella Castle

Also, in the claim is the accusation that CFTOD has been allowing its employees to use personal phones, personal email, and messaging to conduct government business, which has led to inefficient processing and the lack of public records being preserved or provided.

Disney claims the district and administrator allow them to “self-select what documents they were willing to provide from personal devices including email and text messages– if those records had even been preserved in the first place.”

©Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board Livestream

Disney also claims that more than 50 employees have left the district since the DeSantis-appointed board took over. The report states, “Employees are exhausted.” It also adds that employees, “lack confidence in the new board and those it has hired, and wish they could return to the days before Reedy Creek became CFTOD.” 

©Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board

The lawsuit states, “On the public records front, this has led to delays, inadequate preservation, storage and production of public records, and improper and unsupported claims of privilege and exemption from disclosure, in violation of the Florida Constitution and (Florida’s Public Record Act).” This is regarding employee retention and personal communication devices, email, and messaging use.

Magic Kingdom

Disney has requested an “immediate” hearing by an Orange County circuit court judge so they can receive the withheld public documents immediately from the district. We’ll be waiting for more information as the court makes its decision.

Until then, keep following DFB for more Disney news.

DeSantis’ Reedy Creek Board Accuses Disney of Bribery and “Egregious Corporate Cronyism”

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