Disney says it has $40 billion economic impact in Florida as it battles DeSantis in court

Disney has recently unveiled a comprehensive study that highlights its substantial economic impact on Florida, amounting to an impressive $40.3 billion. This revelation comes amid an ongoing legal battle between Disney and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his associates, who have taken control of the governing body overseeing Disney’s vast theme park resort in central Florida.

The study, conducted by Oxford Economics and commissioned by Disney, covers the fiscal year 2022. It reveals that Disney’s presence in Florida translates into a staggering 263,000 jobs, which is more than three times the actual workforce at Walt Disney World. This substantial job creation extends beyond direct employment, encompassing various indirect factors, such as the supply chain and the spending of Disney employees.

These employment figures encompass Disney’s workforce of 82,000 individuals in Florida, spanning not only Walt Disney World near Orlando but also Disney Cruise Line locations in Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami, as well as a resort in Vero Beach.

In central Florida, Disney directly accounts for an impressive 1 in 8 jobs. Moreover, for each direct job within Disney, another 1.7 jobs are supported throughout the entire state, as reported by Oxford Economics.

It’s essential to note that this study’s timeframe predates the takeover of Disney World’s governing district by Governor DeSantis and his appointees earlier this year. This move followed Disney’s public opposition to a state law prohibiting classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades—a law championed by Governor DeSantis, who is pursuing the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.

Disney has expressed its commitment to further invest approximately $17 billion in central Florida over the next decade, with the potential addition of 13,000 new jobs. However, the company has also demonstrated a willingness to adjust its investments in the state. Earlier this year, Disney canceled plans to relocate 2,000 employees from Southern California for digital technology, finance, and product development roles—a move estimated at $1 billion.

Walt Disney World already boasts four theme parks, over 25 hotels, two water parks, and a thriving shopping and dining district, all sprawled across an extensive 25,000 acres.

The legal skirmish between Disney and Governor DeSantis centers on the takeover of what was previously known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District, now renamed the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District under DeSantis’s control. This district, established in 1967 by the Florida Legislature, was originally tasked with municipal services such as firefighting, road repairs, and waste management. Until this year, it was under the control of Disney supporters.

Before the transition of power, Disney-aligned board members had entered agreements with Disney that transferred control over design and construction at Disney World to the company. DeSantis’s appointees argue that these agreements diminished their authority, leading to a state court lawsuit in Orlando seeking to invalidate the contracts. In response, Disney has filed counterclaims, requesting the state court to affirm the validity and enforceability of these agreements.

Additionally, Disney has initiated legal action against Governor DeSantis, a state agency, and DeSantis’s appointees in federal court in Tallahassee, asserting that the company’s free speech rights were violated when they faced targeting due to their opposition to the controversial “Don’t Say Gay” law.

In a recent earnings report, Disney noted that while its theme parks worldwide experienced a year-to-year increase in operating income, the Florida theme park resort faced challenges due to costs related to the closure of its immersive Star Wars-themed two-night experience and reduced visitor spending linked to lower hotel rates.

For more updates, you can follow Mike Schneider on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @MikeSchneiderAP.

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