- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Disney have been at odds since the company opposed the "Don't Say Gay" bill.
- In February, the Florida legislature voted to strip Disney of its self-governing ability.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he's considering imposing taxes on Disney hotels, as well as tolls on the roads leading to and from the amusement park, as part of his ongoing battle with the entertainment group.
The feud between DeSantis and Disney began last year after the entertainment giant opposed the so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill, which bans discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom. DeSantis signed the bill in March 2022.
As retribution for Disney's public opposition, Florida lawmakers voted in February to end "Disney's self-governing status," which had allowed the company to manage its park as an almost independent municipality for the last half-century. The vote allowed DeSantis to nominate board members to take over the management of the area, which was known as The Reedy Creek Specialty District.
But just before those new board members took control, Disney's old board made a surprising move that ensured the company would continue to control most aspects of the board, essentially stripping the new board of any real power.
It is in this context that DeSantis has proposed new taxes and tolls in and around Disney.
"They are not superior to the people of Florida," DeSantis said during a speech at Hillsdale College, a conservative liberal arts college in Michigan, on Thursday. "So come hell or high water we're going to make sure that policy of Florida carries the day. And so they can keep trying to do things. But ultimately we're going to win on every single issue involving Disney I can tell you that."