Attorneys for Disney and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) headed to federal court Tuesday as a judge considers whether to throw out Disney’s lawsuit accusing DeSantis of unlawful political retaliation, as the dispute between the Florida government and Disney over the special district that oversees Walt Disney World continues to heat up more than a year after it began.
U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor will hold a hearing Tuesday on motions to dismiss Disney’s lawsuit by DeSantis and the board he appointed to take over Walt Disney World’s special district, now known as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
Disney sued DeSantis and his handpicked board in April, arguing the governor violated the company’s First Amendment rights by retaliating against the company for criticizing the state’s Parental Rights in Education Law, known by critics as “Don’t Say Gay.”
DeSantis and the Florida legislature enacted a law that seized control of the special district and replaced its board with the governor’s appointees—kicking out the previous board, which was picked by landowners in the district, namely Disney—and the DeSantis board then attacked Disney when it discovered the company made an agreement with the outgoing board that took away many of the leadership’s powers over the district.
The DeSantis-appointed board countersued Disney in state court over that development agreement, which the board complained “essentially makes Disney the government,” which is now in the discovery phase—meaning both sides are gathering evidence to help them in the case—after a state judge sided with the board and allowed the lawsuit to move forward in July.
Since the DeSantis-appointed board took over, reports have emerged that morale is down at the special district—previously known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District—and the Associated Press reported more than 40 of the district’s 340 employees have left in the months since the takeover in February, with one unnamed employee saying in an exit survey the board “prioritizes politics above all else and will gladly sacrifice its employees, its community and its work if there’s an opportunity to score political points.”
The board slammed Disney and its relationship with the district’s previous leadership in a report released in December, which accused Disney of running an “absolute monarchy” with its power over the district and claimed the company gave gifts to the previous district’s employees that were “akin to bribes.”
It’s unclear when the court will rule on DeSantis and the board’s motions to dismiss Disney’s federal lawsuit against them, which accuses the government of levying a “targeted campaign of government retaliation” against the company that “threatens Disney’s
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Shanghai Disney Resort and eHi Car Services, a car services provider in the local travel market, announced today that the two companies have entered into a multi-year resort alliance, introducing eHi Car Services as the official car rental sponsor of Shanghai Disney Resort. Under this new alliance, eHi Car Services is set to bring the convenience of its services to guests driving to the magic of Shanghai Disney Resort.
The U.S. government has increasingly taken aim at junk fees, charges levied by travel service providers that are considered unnecessary or excessive and not clearly communicated to travelers.
Decades ago, Walt Disney said that Disneyland — the only park open at the time — would never be completed and would continue to grow as long as there was imagination left in the world. And boy, was he right — likely in ways he couldn't have dreamed of so many years ago.
Visiting Disneyland is a dream come true for many theme park fans, but finding the right hotel can be challenging. With only a handful of on-site options and dozens of Good Neighbor and other off-site hotels, the options are as limitless as Minnie Mouse's ever-changing wardrobe. But if you’re willing to be like Tiana and dig a little deeper, you can find the ideal hotel for your family, no matter your budget, group size, style preference, or how close you want to be to California's Disneyland Resort.
As the travel industry looks back on a wild 2023, the Walt Disney World Resort is looking forward to 2024 with events, openings and tips for the new year.
One hundred miles east of Los Angeles, Palm Springs is the choice weekend destination of Angelenos. The Sonoran Desert oasis has seen a star-studded population; Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, and most recently the Kardashians have put roots down in Old Las Palmas. Fortunately, Airbnb opens up the hot springs, hiking trails, and golf courses to us B-listers. We’re still waiting for Leo’s villa to hit the platform but until then these Guest Favorite Airbnbs in Palm Springs grant a taste of the superstar lifestyle.
USA TODAY’s 10Best announces Silver Dollar City’s An Old Time Christmas as America’s “Best Theme Park Holiday Event,” a sixth win for the internationally-awarded theme park. The announcement follows a four-week voting competition. Located in the heart of Missouri’s Ozark Mountains, Silver Dollar City collected the most votes of all 20 nominees, including Disney and Universal, along with SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Legoland parks. Nominees are chosen by a panel of experts, including USA TODAY editors and theme park experts.
AirAsia launched a special tribute livery dedicated to the late Datuk Irene Benggon Charuruks. She was a Sabah tourism icon and the former General Manager of the Sabah Tourism Board.
Disney fans may soon be able to live in a North Carolina residential community designed by the company’s theme park designers, as Disney announced plans Wednesday to expand its new residential living concept — even before its first community has opened, and amid the company’s recent high-profile financial challenges.
The aviation sector has long realized this also. The sector supports 58 million jobs and $2.4 trillion in GDP. Over half of all international tourists and a third of world trade travels by air. Today’s modern world, for business, for families and for trade would look very different without the rapid connectivity that air travel brings.
Genalguacil (Pueblo Museo), Recartografías and Camino del Cid are the winning projects of this edition in the categories of revitalising tourism services, management of depopulated territories and promotion of territories, respectively.
In addition to ITA Airways, an increasing number of airlines, cargo operators, and transport companies worldwide have adopted corporate policies against the transportation of hunting trophies.