On Wednesday, members of the new board appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to oversee Disney World's Reedy Creek Improvement District discovered that Disney had outmaneuvered them by pushing through a development agreement that would limit the board's power. The maneuver effectively restricts the governor's effort to take over the property in central Florida. The new council is not happy, and a Disney spokesperson has stated that all the agreements between the company and the district were appropriate and compliant with Florida's Government-in-the-Sunshine law.

The conflict between Disney and Florida Republicans began a year ago when Governor DeSantis asked lawmakers to terminate Disney's privileges of self-governance over its 25,000-acre theme park complex. These privileges included controlling fire protection, policing, road maintenance, and development planning. The move was viewed as retaliation by the governor for Disney's opposition to a new state education law known as "Don't Say Gay." However, Disney's strategy to protect its property rights has undermined these efforts.

Overall, Disney's quiet legal maneuver to prevent Governor DeSantis's takeover of its property demonstrates the company's willingness to protect its interests. The conflict between Disney and Florida Republicans may continue for some time, but the people of central Florida and beyond will continue to benefit from the company's significant contribution to the area's economy.