The future of Disney World and the Reedy Creek Improvement District (now called the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District) is starting to take shape after the board held its first couple of meetings.
Cinderella Castle
The new, Governor DeSantis-appointed board appears to be more focused on fighting Disney rather than working with them, and members have shared that they may need to adopt an “adversarial position” against the company. Now, Disney has responded.
It seems the new board is considering challenging agreements made with Reedy Creek’s old Board that were approved before the takeover. One of those things is a Developer Agreement that “set in stone” Disney’s rights over the next 30 years, regardless of what the new board says or does.
©Governor Ron DeSantis
This agreement was unanimously approved by the previous board on February 8th — the day before the Florida House voted on the bill that changed the future of Reedy Creek.
Per the Orlando Sentinel, “The agreement allows Disney to build projects at the highest density and the right to sell or assign those development rights to other district landowners without the board having any say, according to the presentation by the district’s new special legal counsel.”
©Spectrum News 13
The new board has hired multiple law firms to look into “potential legal challenges for matters involving the District that occurred under the prior board of supervisors and that may involve the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiary and related entities.”
Reedy Creek Sign in Disney World
Legal counsel hired by the new board indicated they only recently found out about these agreements, despite them being approved in public meetings. Counsel continued by calling the agreements “unusual,” “suspect,” and “unlawful.”
DeSantis signing the new bill
Now, according to Bob Hazen with WESH, Disney has responded. The statement reads:
“All agreements signed between Disney and the District were appropriate, and were discussed and approved in open, noticed public forums in compliance with Florida’s Government in the Sunshine law.”
Statement from #Disney:
“All agreements signed between Disney and the District were appropriate, and were discussed and approved in open, noticed public forums in compliance with Florida's Government in the Sunshine law.” #WESH— Bob Hazen WESH (@HazenWESH) March 29, 2023
So, while the legal counsel for the new board indicates they didn’t have any idea about the agreements, they were discussed and voted on in a public meeting in accordance with Florida law.
We’ll be keeping an eye on this situation as it seems like Disney could be in for a lengthy legal battle. Stay tuned to DFB for the latest!
New Reedy Creek Board Discusses Potential Lawsuit Against Disney
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Absolutely hilarious, and im very glad that Disney and the board were able to stuff it to these Republicans
Interesting news, for sure. If these last minute moves withstand a legal challenge, it is a bold victory for Disney. If not, Disney just poked the bear in the eye. Sometimes things work against you in the long run if you are too cute. Someone on DeSantis’ team was not minding the store, as these last minute measures were disclosed properly in the public record prior to enactment. This hardly meets Iger’s earlier goal of quieting things down in the political sphere. Reedy Creek was originally set up by Florida, Walt and Roy, to avoid the same local interference Disney encountered in Anaheim. It worked well for 50 + years. The new board feeling they must now become adversarial is nothing short of tragic. Cooler heads please prevail and quell this.
With all the debt Disney has, they sure have enough for high priced lawyers. Maybe they should concentrate more on making movies that don’t lose money and theme park rides that don’t constantly break down. And maybe get a clue and stop supporting woke Democrat bills.
Disney’s governance is more ethical and more faithful to Florida constituents than anything done by the Republicans in the 13 years I’ve lived in Florida. Let’s strengthen it against Republican malfeasance.
What makes this concerning is that the new board did not care enough to pay attention.
How much will they pay attention moving forward?
If someone is mad about it they need to be upset with their new appointees.
🙄
Don’t mess with the Mouse.
Florida voters should get out their calculators and figure out what all these lengthy and frivolous lawsuits will cost them in tax money and lost job opportunities. What single good thing has deSantis done for your state? Does destroying education , banning books, and alienating LGBTQ, Blacks and attacking women somehow benefit you?
You are being preyed on and played for fools. Disney has the power to protect itself against this bigotry hate and let’s call it what it is – a bid for fascism. Do you have the power to protect yourself when you are added to the list of people the right hates?
Disney is like McD’s. A soon as they showed up, everybody else wants to feed off their notoriety. Imagine what the Orlando area would be today if it weren’t for the Florida legislature not seeing the win-win deal they had land in their lap, fifty years ago.
McD’s may not have even bothered to show up. Orlando is, because the RCID was.
This is better than any movie or TV show disney has put out, and more interesting than anything the Republicans have done.
So the new board is going to pay millions to private corporate lawyers to file and fight a frivolous lawsuit (and probably lose). I thought Ronnie said this would not cost taxpayers a Dime? I guess not.
There’s a new sheriff in town…and his name is dumb.
Well played Disney!
I love it!! Take that DeSantis! All because Disney went against him regarding that controversial bill. Don’t dare disagree with DeSantis because he will get even or at least try to. I hope that Disney and Reedy Creek win this. Well played.
Reedy Creek was a entity that can issue infrastructure debt through municipality bonds. It is a cheaper way to do infr work.
Provo for Disney. DeSantis is overreaching his power. He hasn’t done anything good for Florida’s people. Everything is starting to backfire on DeSantis. Hope the people impeah him. I’m with Disney world 🤗💞
Who has done more for Florida residents. DeSantis or Disney? DeSantis is using Florida as a springboard to become President. What will his legacy be?
1. Anti Women, Anti Abortion
2. Banned Books
3. Anti Gay
DeSantis Will be gone eventually but Disney World will still be in Florida. Citizens of Florida, where would Florida be if Disney NEVER EXISTED?
DO NOT SUPPORT DESANTIS A POLITICIAN WHO WILL ABANDON YOU OR DISNEY WHO HAS GIVEN YOU 50 YEARS AND COUNTING OF ENJOYMENT. Where would Florida be if Disney World never existed?