Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ Newly Appointed Board Discovers Restrictive Covenant Limiting Their Power Over Walt Disney World

A new board appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to oversee Walt Disney World has discovered that their predecessors passed a restrictive covenant that limits their power. The covenant was signed just weeks before the new board was appointed and grants Disney “prior review and comment” over any changes made to properties in the district.

The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (formerly known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District) is a special governing district in Orlando that was created to manage the 27,000 acres of Walt Disney World. The current supervisors of the district said that their predecessors last month signed a development agreement with the company that gave Disney maximum developmental power over the theme park resort.

The new board was appointed by the Republican governor after the Florida Legislature overhauled Disney’s government in retaliation for the entertainment giant publicly opposing so-called “Don’t Say Gay” legislation that bars discussion of homosexuality in public schools.

The board members expressed their frustration at a meeting Wednesday, saying that the restrictive covenant passed by their predecessors had stripped them of many of their powers. They said that the document, signed on February 8th, was a way for Disney to maintain control over the district.

The new board is now working to find ways to challenge the covenant and gain back the power that was taken away from them. They are also looking into ways to ensure that any changes made to the district are done in a way that benefits Walt Disney World.