Ever since Walt Disney wanted to build his own city and started buying up swampland in Florida, the relationship between his company and the state has been one of mutual benefit. However, in recent months the relationship between the two has soured significantly. A battle that began with the Walt Disney Company speaking out against a Florida law culminated last week with Disney filing a lawsuit against the governor of the state as well as several other involved parties. And now the district that oversees Walt Disney World has announced it will countersue Disney, meaning Disney will be exclusively finding the lawsuit against itself.
When Florida voted to create the Reedy Creek Improvement District in 1967, its borders perfectly matched the land owned by the Walt Disney Company that was designated for the creation of Walt Disney World. As such the district was funded by taxing the residents within its borders, which is to say, Disney World. While the resort and the district were technically separate entities, they worked in concert with each other to be sure, but now that has changed and the two are in a battle against each other.
