Disney Gets a Big Break in Bringing Back Reedy Creek

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Uncategorized

All the way back in April 2023 — which seems like a lifetime ago — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis officially dissolved the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Reedy Creek had been in place since 1967 and essentially allowed Walt Disney World to function as its own government. Reedy Creek would pay its taxes, but they would not have to go through the red tape for things like permits and construction. They were also in charge of Disney World’s electrical grid, internet, first responders, and more.

After dissolving Reedy Creek, DeSantis hand-picked a new board and renamed the area The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.

Since then, things have not gone well for DeSantis’ new board. Things with Disney have gone from bad to worse, with the two locked-in dueling lawsuits. Then, there are the mass resignations that are happening within the CFTOD. In less than a year, dozens of qualified employees — some of whom have been there a long time — have quit. They have reported that morale is at an all-time low, calling the CFTOD board members “unqualified and incompetent.”

Central Florida Tourism Oversight District

Since its dissolution, thousands have been fighting to end the CFTOD and reinstate Reedy Creek. The first big attempt to legally bring back Reedy Creek was made in November 2023, but several Republican lawmakers walked out of the meeting. That meant that a vote on Reedy Creek could not take place.

But now, things have changed.

Reedy Creek fire department

On Friday, January 5, Orange County legislators backed a proposal to bring back Reedy Creek. Orange County is one of the counties where the Walt Disney World Resort is located. State Senator Linda Stewart said that Reedy Creek is essential to the area, because the new CFTOD board is not being “transparent” and they have broken the way the district should operate.

While this is a big win for Disney in its fight against DeSantis and the CFTOD, the repeal is still a long way off from becoming a reality. Orange County is one of the most liberal areas in the state. So, it makes sense that Orange County legislators would back it. However, the deal has to pass through the State House of Representatives and the State Senate.

Ron DeSantis

Both the state House and the state Senate are Republican-controlled, with many of the legislators supporting the dissolution of Reedy Creek. Legal experts think that it is unlikely that they would vote for the reinstatement of Reedy Creek.

Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Approves Replacing Walt Disney World Annual Pass Benefit with Stipend for Employees

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Uncategorized

During a meeting on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) Board of Supervisors discussed and unanimously approved a new benefits stipend policy for its employees and retirees, replacing the previous Walt Disney World Annual Pass benefit.

During today’s meeting, District Administrator Glen Gilzean Jr. revealed that instead of a Walt Disney World Annual Pass, district employees and retirees “in certain circumstances” will instead receive a $3,000 annual stipend. The stipend can be used to purchase an annual pass to Walt Disney World if desired.

Employees will receive the new stipend 90 days from their hire date, following the probationary period. The stipend will be issued annually, and is subject to tax withholdings and budget appropriations.

In the case of retirees, eligibility for the stipend is determined based on age and years of service, with variations in eligibility for spouses of deceased employees or retirees.

Gilzean said that the District is “doing everything possible” to enhance the annual pass program, and “this stipend is part of that process.”

This updated deal will last for two fiscal years from October 1, 2023, unless the board renews.

Employees and retirees of the CFTOD have historically received Walt Disney World Annual Passes, as well as passes for family and friends and sometimes other Disney benefits. After receiving a bill from Walt Disney World, the District released a press release in August calling the benefits a “scheme” and “handouts,” vowing to remove them. Later that day, a leaked email from District Administrator Glen Gilzean Jr. revealed the District had already ended the benefits with no warning. At the next CFTOD Board meeting, District firefighters spoke out against the decision, calling it a “low blow” against them.

Martin Garcia, Chairman of the Board, said canceling the program came down to three points: the policy only benefited Walt Disney World, it was inequitable to employees because larger families got more benefits, and the policy may endorse something “illegal,” that is a private company giving gifts to public employees.

Florida Senate Takes Over Disney’s Monorails

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

The Florida Senate has passed a bill that gives them some control over Disney’s monorail system.

This afternoon, May 2, 2023, the Florida State Senate passed SB 1250. While this is a standard transportation bill, it includes an amendment that would allow the Florida Department of Transportation to oversee inspections of Disney World’s monorails. The amendment states that “any governmentally or privately owned fixed-guideway transportation systems operating in this state which are located within an independent special district created by a local act which has boundaries within two contiguous counties.” The bill passed 26-14.

The amendment was originally filed days after a press conference with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in which he discussed the state’s takeover and dissolving of the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Previously, the Governor has threatened to make major adjustments to Walt Disney World’s operations, including the possibility of raising tolls on roads leading to the property or building a prison next to Walt Disney World.

So what does this mean for Walt Disney World? To start off, the bill allows the state government to oversee inspections of Disney World’s monorail system, meaning they could close, modify, or disable it for any reason they see fit. This bill could also go on to apply to Disney’s Skyliner system, boat transportation, or bus operations, which would grant the Florida Senate major control over how Guests get around Walt Disney World.

While the bill may seem innocent enough, Governor DeSantis and the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District have made it clear that they’re not pleased with Disney’s operations after the company spoke out against the Governor’s Parental Rights in Education Act.

In fact, the Governor has made his intentions of targeting Disney so clear that Disney recently filed a bombshell lawsuit against the Governor and the members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District for violation of their free speech as a company. Yesterday, the Board voted to file a countersuit against Disney. Public opinion on the case is largely in Disney’s favor, but the Governor has commented that he believes Disney’s lawsuit has no merit.

While something as drastic as a permanent closure of the monorail system or any other transportation system is unlikely, the bill does give the Florida Senate (and in turn, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District) a lot of control. If Disney’s lawsuit is to be believed, that means they could use it to hinder Disney’s operations if they see fit.

Disney Springs Shop Owners Break Silence on Reedy Creek Battle

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Uncategorized

Yet another afflicted party is speaking up in the battle between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Walt Disney World Resort’s Reedy Creek Improvement District.

DeSantis’s hand-picked Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board held its second-ever meeting on Wednesday, pressing forward despite the hastily-passed King Charles clause. Before transferring power to the new board, Reedy Creek essentially made itself powerless effective until 22 years after the death of the last current living descendant of King Charles III.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Disney Springs business owners appealed to DeSantis’s board for help. Representatives from Wine Bar George, Splitsville, T-Rex Cafe, Yak and Yeti, The Boathouse, and more were present at the meeting to express their concerns after the board voted to void an agreement between the State of Florida and Disney Springs tenants, upping their taxes to fund the battle between DeSantis and Reedy Creek.

Business owners say the change threatens their livelihoods and asked to create an ongoing conversation with the new board members. One told the Orlando Business Journal they felt like “collateral damage” in the battle.

“At the beginning of the meeting, they couldn’t be any nicer. At the end of the meeting, they say they are going to raise taxes,” another said.

Reedy Creek Fire Dept. truck in front EPCOT's Spaceship Earth at Disney World

Hours later, Walt Disney World Resort announced a lawsuit against DeSantis. The Walt Disney Company alleges that its First Amendment right to free speech was violated when the Republican Governor retaliated against former Disney CEO Bob Chapek, who spoke out against the Parental Rights In Education Act (“Don’t Say Gay”).

Nevertheless, DeSantis claims he and his board did nothing wrong. In a press release, the Governor’s communication director wrote that the “lawsuit is yet another example of [Disney’s] hope to undermine the will of the Florida voters and operate outside the bounds of the law.”

DeSantis’s Reedy Creek Board Leaks Emails From Disney

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CTFOD) board, now in charge of the former Reedy Creek Improvement District, has publicized emails that they claim show illegal action by Disney.

Before following Republican Governor Ron DeSantis’s orders to dissolve the district in February, Reedy Creek quietly rushed a development agreement that effectively rendered the board powerless. Beyond municipal maintenance, most of the former board’s power went back to Walt Disney World Resort. CTFOD is forbidden from using Disney-owned trademarks or making significant changes until 22 years after the death of the last current living descendant of King Charles III.

DeSantis bashed Disney in response, promising legal action, threatening increased tourism taxes, and suggesting he would build a state prison just steps from Walt Disney World Resort. Amidst consulting with legal counsel, the CTFOD board leaked emails between Disney lawyers and Reedy Creek board members.

First obtained by FOX News, the emails allegedly show Walt Disney World Resort chief counsel John McGowan attempting to hide The Walt Disney Company’s involvement in the last-minute scheme against DeSantis.

“My name is currently at the top of the document as a drafter,” McGowan allegedly wrote. “And I am comfortable having my name on it, but from an optics perspective that is not ideal and it would be better to have a non-Disney employee be the drafter.”

McGowan’s name was later removed from the document, which DeSantis claimed was “designed to usurp the authority of the CFTOD board.”

During its meeting on Wednesday, DeSantis’s hand-picked board voted to eliminate the former Planning Board and appointed itself to the task. After officially taking over, board members introduced agenda items like forbidding COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandates on Reedy Creek property.