June 12 (Reuters) - Disney and Florida Governor

Ron DeSantis have put an end to their feud with a deal that

allows the entertainment giant to develop the Walt Disney World

Resort near Orlando for the next 15 years.

DeSantis and Disney, one of Florida's biggest employers, had

been embroiled in a dispute since 2022, when former Disney CEO

Bob Chapek criticized a state legislative effort to limit

classroom discussion of sexuality and gender issues for younger

students. Critics described it as the "Don't Say Gay" law.

Under the agreement with the Central Florida Tourism

Oversight District, Disney said it would spend at least $8

billion at the resort over a decade with a total of $17 billion

invested over 10 to 20 years.

It will also expand an affordable housing initiative and

ensure at least 50% of its total spending in the expansion goes

to Florida businesses, according to the Central Florida Tourism

Oversight District.

The agreement also gives Disney the ability to build a fifth

theme park, expand retail and office space and add about 14,000

hotel rooms for a resort total of nearly 54,000.

Disney President Jeff Vahle said in a statement the new

agreement "paves the way for us to invest billions of dollars in

Walt Disney World Resort".

The agreement comes after Disney and appointees of Ron

DeSantis reached a settlement in March to end a high-profile

lawsuit in state court over control of the special district that

includes the Walt Disney World theme parks.