Disney’s Economic Impact in Florida: Disney, the entertainment juggernaut, has flexed its economic muscle in Florida, releasing a study boasting a whopping $40.3 billion impact on the state’s economy. This revelation comes amid a heated tussle between Disney and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over the reins of the district governing Disney’s colossal resort in central Florida.
The study, commissioned by Disney and conducted by Oxford Economics, paints a picture of substantial influence. In the fiscal year 2022, Disney was the driving force behind 263,000 jobs in Florida, a figure more than three times the actual workforce at Walt Disney World. Beyond direct employment and spending, the study attributes Disney’s multibillion-dollar impact to indirect factors, such as the supply chain and employees’ spending habits.
Intriguingly, this economic powerhouse move by Disney comes as it grapples with Governor DeSantis and his appointees in both federal and state courts over the takeover of the district governing Disney World. The power shift occurred earlier this year after Disney publicly opposed a state law prohibiting classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades—a law championed by Governor DeSantis.
Central Florida bears the economic imprint of Disney, where the entertainment giant directly accounts for one in eight jobs. For every direct job at Disney World, an additional 1.7 jobs are supported across Florida, according to Oxford Economics.
Despite this economic might, Disney’s relationship with Florida’s leadership has taken a contentious turn. The battle involves federal and state lawsuits over the takeover of the district, previously known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District, now renamed the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District under DeSantis’ control. The legal skirmish extends to agreements signed before the change of control, with Disney’s allies shifting governance over design and construction at Disney World.
The new appointees by DeSantis argue these last-minute agreements curb their powers, leading to a legal showdown with Disney in state and federal courts. The lawsuits, coupled with Disney’s vocal opposition to the “Don’t Say Gay” law, showcase the clash between corporate interests and political ideology in the Sunshine State.
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