DeSantis and Florida Republicans move to strip Disney World of its self-governing powers



Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday announced that state legislature will consider repealing special privileges that give Disney quasi-government powers over the area where the Walt Disney World Resort is located.

The governor said at a press conference that when lawmakers meet in special session this week to redraw the state's congressional maps, their agenda will be expanded to consider repealing all special districts enacted before 1968, including the Reedy Creek Improvement District where Walt Disney World is located.

In addition to congressional reapportionment, this week's special session will include termination of legacy special districts and removal of exemptions from the big tech accountability law.pic.twitter.com/67sF4E113I
— Ron DeSantis (@Ron DeSantis) 1650374955

The move would strike a blow against Disney after the company inserted itself into a political controversy over Florida's Parental Rights in Education law, which bans classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in K-3 grades and restricts such discussions to what state standards determine are age- or developmentally appropriate settings.

Facing pressure from left-wing employees to fight DeSantis, Disney released public statements opposing the law, stating, "Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organizations working to achieve that."

DeSantis responded to the company's demands by telling Disney executives to go pound sand and earlier this month suggested that the legislature should repeal laws that essentially give Disney self-governing control over nearly 40 square miles in Central Florida and around Orlando.

Now it appears the governor and state legislature will follow through on that suggestion.

The Reedy Creek Improvement District that includes Walt Disney World Resort explains on its website that Florida law states "that landowners within the Reedy Creek Improvement District, primarily Walt Disney World, would be solely responsible for paying the cost of providing typical municipal services like power, water, roads, fire protection etc. Local taxpayers, meaning residents of Orange and Osceola County, would not have to pay for building or maintaining those services."

If the law is repealed, Disney would lose the right to govern itself like a city. The theme park's land would fall under the jurisdictions of Orange and Osceola counties and would be subject to the taxes, rules, and regulations of those county governments.

State Rep. Spencer Roach, a Republican who represents the Fort Myers area, tweeted on March 30 that legislators had met twice to discuss repealing the 1967 Reedy Creek Improvement Act, which grants Disney its special privileges.

On Tuesday, Roach said he is "proud that we are taking action to correct this aberration to the free market."

The government should never use the power of the state to pick winners & losers in the marketplace. No more corporate welfare," he said.

'Dress coded at Disney': Woman's revealing top triggers woke Disney employees



A Florida woman's video showing that she was allegedly flagged for wearing a revealing top at Disney World in Orlando has gone viral on TikTok.

The video, which has garnered more than 9 million views, shows TikTok user Tori Cannella following a park employee into a store, where she was issued a modest T-shirt to wear instead of her long-sleeved crop top with a loosely fastened front.

“So yeah just experienced getting dress coded at disney,” the video caption reads.


@toragrams i mean, I kinda agree w them looking back at this video. #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #WomenOwnedBusiness #OscarsAtHome #SeeHerGreatness #VenmoSpringBreak ♬ Thinking with My Dick (feat. Juicy J) - Kevin Gates


Even Cannella "kinda agree[d]" that her flimsy shirt wasn't especially appropriate in a park meant mostly for little kids, but it's worth pointing out here that this sudden need to protect children's innocence is coming from the same company that recently lost their woke minds over Florida's "Parental Rights in Education" bill, which gives parents the right to choose what their 5- to 8-year-olds do and don't learn about "sexual orientation or gender identity" in public schools.

The bill has misleadingly been labeled the "Don't Say Gay" bill by Democrats and left-wing critics, but as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has pointed out on more than one occasion, the bill isn't about banning the word "gay," but about empowering parents and keeping age-inappropriate lessons out of kindergarten through third-grade classrooms. But this hasn't stopped Disney's woke employees from going after DeSantis, accusing the governor of "bullying" and generally freaking out over a bill they obviously haven't read.

Here's the introduction to the bill:

Parental Rights in Education; Requires district school boards to adopt procedures that comport with certain provisions of law for notifying student's parent of specified information; requires such procedures to reinforce fundamental right of parents to make decisions regarding upbringing & control of their children; prohibits school district from adopting procedures or student support forms that prohibit school district personnel from notifying parent about specified information or that encourage student to withhold from parent such information; prohibits school district personnel from discouraging or prohibiting parental notification & involvement in critical decisions affecting student's mental, emotional, or physical well-being; prohibits classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in certain grade levels; requires school districts to notify parents of healthcare services; authorizes parent to bring action against school district to obtain declaratory judgment; provides for additional award of injunctive relief, damages, & reasonable attorney fees & court costs to certain parents.

Read the full bill here.

ESPN interrupts coverage of NCAA women's basketball tournament to hold moment of silence to protest Parental Rights in Education bill



During the NCAA women's basketball tournament on Friday, ESPN sports announcers interrupted the broadcast on two different occasions to protest Florida's Parental Rights in Education bill and other bills like it across the country.

Background on Florida's Parental Rights in Education bill

The Parental Rights in Education bill prohibits Florida school employees from engage in classroom discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity grades kindergarten through third grade. Florida HB 1557 has been inaccurately dubbed as the "Don't Say Gay" bill by Democrats, legacy media, and LGBTQ activists.

Some Disney employees were outraged by the bill protecting young children against sexual discussions that are not age-appropriate.

Some Disney employees have reportedly been organizing 15-minute daily walkouts and "sickouts," according to the Guardian. Disney workers will allegedly stage a full-day walkout on March 22.

The small faction of displeased workers put pressure on Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek to take action.

During a conversation with shareholders earlier this month, Chapek said Disney executives were "opposed to the bill from the outset" but chose to work "behind the scenes" with Florida lawmakers to address their concerns and "disappointment."

Florida's governor defends the bill

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis responded with a statement, "Governor DeSantis has always been open to hearing from Floridians and having conversations about legislation — as long as those discussions are grounded in facts, not false media narratives."

"Anyone who has questions or concerns about the Parental Rights in Education bill is encouraged to read the bill, rather than the distorted coverage in the mainstream media, which regurgitates false partisan talking points," the statement declared.

"Disney is a family-friendly company that creates wholesome entertainment for kids," DeSantis said. "The same Florida parents who take their families to Disney also support parental rights in education, because they do not want their young children exposed to inappropriate content about sex and gender theory at school."

During a campaign stop in Boca Raton earlier this month, DeSantis proclaimed, "In the state of Florida, we are not going to allow them to inject transgenderism into kindergarten."

In a video exclusively obtained by @FoxNews Digital. @GovRonDeSantis slams #Disney saying \u201cIn Florida, our policies got to be based on the best interest of Florida citizens, not on the musing of woke corporations.\u201dpic.twitter.com/Op87xgsLzB
— Kelly Laco (@Kelly Laco) 1646947906

ESPN announcers protest bill with a moment of silence

Disney is the parent company of ESPN. In solidarity with the Disney employees protesting, three ESPN announcers interrupted the broadcast of the NCAA women's basketball tournament to hold a moment of silence to protest the Parental Rights in Education bill.

During the broadcast of the tournament matchup between South Carolina and Howard University, ESPN announcers Courtney Lyle and Carolyn Peck protested the legislation with a two-minute moment of silence to start the second half.

"There are things bigger than basketball that need to be addressed at this time," Lyle said after halftime. "Our friends, our family, our coworkers, the players, and coaches in this community are hurting right now. At 3 o'clock, about eight minutes ago, our LGBTQIA+ teammates at Disney asked for our solidarity and support, including our company's support in opposition to the Parental Rights in Education bill in the state of Florida and similar legislature across the United States.

“A threat to any human rights is a threat to all human rights," Peck said, before telling the basketball audience they would be taking a "pause" during the broadcast to "show our love and support for our friends, our families, and our colleagues."

Today during the Women's NCAA Tournament, ESPN's Carolyn Peck and Courtney Lyle remained silent for two minutes in opposition of Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill.\n\n"There are things bigger than basketball ... Our LGBTQIA+ teammates at Disney asked for our solidarity and support."pic.twitter.com/d0xISZvNUh
— The Recount Alt (@The Recount Alt) 1647633512

During the ESPN halftime show of the same tournament game, sports anchor Elle Duncan also participated in a moment of silence in the middle of the broadcast.

"Because of legislation happening in Florida and across other states as well that are targeting our LGBTQI+ communities, many of our colleagues here at ESPN have planned and organized a walkout that will be happening at 3 p.m. Eastern today," Duncan said during the halftime show.

"And to be honest with you, we thought we were gonna come here today and really celebrate a sport that has meant so much and done so much, including for so many in the LGBTQI+ communities, but we understand the gravity of this legislation and also how it is affecting so many families across this country and because of that, our allyship is going to take a front seat and with that, we're going to pause in solidarity," Duncan said before having a moment of silence.

ESPN interrupted its coverage of women\u2019s NCAA tournament for a moment of silence to protest the \u201cdon\u2019t say gay,\u201d bill. So is @espn\u2019s official policy as a company that public schools need to teach kindergarten through 3rd grade kids about sex?! Insanity:pic.twitter.com/cJjQAMQVZL
— Clay Travis (@Clay Travis) 1647639343