Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis consigned Disney World’s self-governing status to the historical dustbin on Feb. 27 as he signed the bill setting up a new board to govern the Central Florida property, one of the world’s premier tourist destinations.
DeSantis staged the bill with a backdrop not of the Magic Kingdom, but of a big yellow fire truck at Reedy Creek Fire Station No. 4. Reedy Creek was the name of Disney’s self-governing district, which had governmental powers unlike those granted to any other business in the state.
“Today is the day the corporate kingdom finally comes to an end,” DeSantis said.
The state Senate had approved the bill on Feb. 10 after the House passed it the previous day.
Read more: DeSantis Signs Bill Ending Disney’s ‘Corporate Kingdom’