In the latest salvo in the Disney-Florida conflict, Governor Ron DeSantis said: “There’s more at stake than just the rule of law.” DeSantis emphasized this value in his press conference today. The First Rule of Holes is another principle, as well as Disney’s Bob Iger refusing to acknowledge it.

Jonathan Turley provided a prelude to today’s DeSantis reply that highlighted Disney’s shortsightedness. It’s foolish to provoke a sovereign state when you have assets worth tens or hundreds of millions of dollars in a fixed location. But yet…

Disney has total control of the development process and the “declaration restrictive covenants” even prevents the new board using Disney’s names or those of its “fanciful character”.

It added a clause known as a “royal clause” that has been used in England since 1792.

The declaration stated that it would continue to be in effect for 21 years following the death of any descendants of King Charles III of England who were still alive at the time of its publication.

Disney was perhaps a little too clever for his own good. The “Hail Mickey!” play seems to be fundamentally flawed.

The new board has informed me that they intend to declare the declaration null and void. The board seems to have good grounds for doing so.

DeSantis, the leader of the Florida legislature and other officials in today’s news conference plan to do more than declare Disney’s royal order null. The state legislature will increase the authority of its state-controlled board and take additional steps to make Disney operate in Florida like any other business.

He said, “Disney will not have its own government” in Central Florida. “You will live under the same law as everyone else.”

The presumptive presidential candidate for 2024 said that he would also work to eliminate other Disney benefits since 1967, when the special tax district was established.

Disney’s rides, monorails and transportation systems are exempted from external inspections. However, new regulations may make them subject to increased oversight.

DeSantis also threw some chin-music at Disney, suggesting novel uses for the state land in the district. What about a rival amusement park or perhaps some much needed additional capacity for the state’s penal system?

A prison near Disney World? If DeSantis takes that suggestion seriously, it would be like cutting off the nose to spite your face. It’s a good business you have there. Shame if anything happens to it.

DeSantis, however, is more likely to be serious about reassessing the value of Disney’s property in the Reedy Creek District. DeSantis pointed out that the agreement Disney made to avoid the previous legislative action would have permitted Disney to determine its own property value. DeSantis said that this was absurd. He noted that Disney is the only company or individual in Florida who has that capability.

DeSantis said that the “bigger issue” is who ultimately governs a republic. DeSantis concluded, “I think we are the people as defined by the Constitution.” “I believe that’s the answer.”

DeSantis’s issues revolved entirely around Disney’s corporate arrogance and its attempts to subvert lawmakers to maintain their self-governing status. DeSantis did not mention culture-war issues much, but this changed when Carolina Amnesty took the podium. She announced that “we the people are in charge here in the Free State of Florida, and not woke corporations.” Amnesty said, “We love Disney, but you can’t indoctrinate children.” Amnesty also accused Disney of giving in to extremists, who wanted to “indoctrinate children with radical gender ideology that has no basis in common sense, science, or basic human decency.”

You can debate these topics. Does Disney’s board really want this debate to define their board and their highest-grossing theme park? Do they really want the debate to be a source of continued tensions with the state legislature? All this to declare that a large portion of land in the Orlando area is not part of the self-government of the state where it lies?

Bob Iger may want that debate and fight. Ron DeSantis, on the other hand, is clearly enjoying it more. This is largely due to his having almost all of the cards. Disney’s best course of action is to apologize and withdraw the ridiculous “covenant” in order to make peace with Florida. It’s better to lose quietly and quickly than loudly.

How much will it cost? Disney’s FAFO cost will be more evident when the legislature produces a bill in the next few weeks. There’s still time for them to go backwards or keep pushing forward to see what DeSantis and his legislature can do. In the meantime, you can watch the entire press conference. DeSantis looked very happy to be in attendance.