Disney sues Ron DeSantis in battle over control of Florida resort

The entertainment giant wants a court to overturn state efforts to exert control over Walt Disney World in Orlando. The lawsuit was filed within minutes of a DeSantis-appointed oversight board voting to override agreements made in February that allowed the company to expand the theme park and maintain control over neighboring land.

The lawsuit is a dramatic escalation of a year-long battle between DeSantis and one of the largest employers in his state.

In response, Disney, which historically appointed members to its oversight board, passed covenants keeping such powers out of the hands of the board appointed by DeSantis.

DeSantis said he would fight back, joking with reporters about perhaps building a new state prison close to the Disney World park.

The company employs at least 75,000 people at the park and receives 50 million visitors annually.

DeSantis did not immediately publicly respond.

Neither, formally, has DeSantis. Having won re-election in a landslide last November, he was initially a strong rival to the former president Donald Trump in polling regarding 2024 but has recently slipped back, amid attacks on his personality and approach to relations with other Republicans at state and national levels.

A succession of Florida Republicans and other high-profile elected officials have endorsed Trump.

DeSantis has this week been traveling internationally, on a state trade mission widely seen as meant to burnish his presidential credentials. The Disney fight continues to dog him, however.