“Kind of Ironic”: DeSantis Reflects on Disney World Wedding Amidst Ongoing Battle with the Company
(Image: GETTY/INSTAGRAM/CASEYDESANTIS)
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis married his wife, Casey DeSantis, in 2009 in what seemed like a fairy tale setting at Walt Disney World Resort. However, a detail about their wedding came to light 13 years later, which DeSantis himself admitted was “kind of ironic” given the fierce conflict between him and the company.
In 2022, during an interview with Business Insider, the Florida governor confirmed that he and Casey tied the knot at Disney World, an iconic venue that has since become a symbol of their highly publicized feud. Reflecting on their decision to marry at Disney, DeSantis said, “In looking forward to what we ended up doing as governor and some of the face-offs that we had with some major institutions in Florida, it’s kind of ironic.”
The Florida First Lady, Casey DeSantis, also chimed in, acknowledging that the news about their Disney wedding created quite a stir. She explained that growing up in Ohio, her parents always loved visiting Disney, which is why the couple ultimately chose the magical venue for their big day. “One of the other great things was the fact that they did a lot of the planning for you,” she added, referring to Disney’s wedding packages.
“So it was I could just show up sort of thing. And it was really a lot of fun.” However, the wedding venue choice became an awkward footnote in the ongoing political battle between DeSantis and Disney. In March 2022, the Florida governor signed the controversial Parental Rights in Education Act, known by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The law prohibits discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in classrooms from kindergarten through third grade.
Initially silent on the bill, Disney later criticized the legislation, claiming it undermined the rights of LGBTQ+ children. In response, Disney’s then-CEO Bob Chapek issued a statement that the company would no longer support political campaigns in Florida and pledged to align their advocacy more closely with their values. “Our employees see the power of this great company as an opportunity to do good.
I agree,” Chapek wrote, according to POLITICO. He added, “Yes, we need to use our influence to promote that good by telling inclusive stories, but also by standing up for the rights of all.” Chapek went on to assert that this was not merely about a single bill in Florida but about a broader challenge to fundamental human rights.
The dispute between Disney and DeSantis escalated when the governor retaliated by signing legislation targeting Disney’s special status in Florida. These laws aimed to strip the company of its self-governing privileges and other legal benefits it had long enjoyed in the state. During a fiery speech at a Hialeah Gardens charter school, DeSantis made it clear that he viewed Disney’s stance as an attack on Florida’s values.
“You’re a corporation based in Burbank, California, and you’re going to marshal your economic might to attack the parents of my state? We view that as a provocation, and we’re going to fight back against that,” DeSantis declared. What started as a fairy tale wedding at Disney World has now become a central irony in the public clash between the Florida governor and the entertainment giant.
