The saga with Disney World’s Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID) continues in the state of Florida.
The Walt Disney World main gate
The RCID is a special district under which Disney World’s land has operated for 50+ years. The special district arrangement essentially allows Disney to, in many ways, act as its own county and have a great deal of control over decisions made regarding the land it operates on in Orlando. But a recent bill passed by the Florida legislature and signed into law by the Florida Governor would dissolve the district in 2023 (unless a new agreement is reached). Now some Florida taxpayers are making their voices heard when it comes to this matter.
We’ve discussed some of the roadblocks that Florida may face in dissolving Reedy Creek and what certain representatives have said about the manner in which the bill was passed. One of the major things that has been discussed when it comes to the dissolution of the RCID is how it could impact local counties when it comes to the RCID’s debts.
ClickOrlando.com shared that 3 Florida state senators “criticized the law saying it was done in retribution for the parental rights in education law, it was done in haste without a proper economic analysis, and it could leave residents in Orange and Osceola counties on the hook for well over a billion dollars in the district’s bond debt.”
Reedy Creek Sign in Disney World
DeSantis, however, has previously said, “Under no circumstances will Disney not pay its debts,” but he has not specified how that will happen. (Miami Herald)
Now, some taxpayers are making sure their voices are heard when it comes to this debt issue. According to The Hollywood Reporter, taxpayers from counties that surround Disney World have filed a complaint in a Florida federal court about this issue.
Reedy Creek Fire Department ©Reedy Creek
In the complaint, they argue that “they and other taxpayers will be burdened with at least $1 billion in Disney’s bond debt if the state follows through with its plan to dissolve the Reedy Creek Improvement District.”
Through this court action, the residents are seeking to block the law that was passed. The lawsuit notes, “It is without question that Defendant Governor DeSantis intended to punish Disney for a 1st Amendment protected ground of free speech…Defendant’s violation of Disney’s 1st Amendment rights directly resulted in a violation of Plaintiffs’ 14th Amendment rights to due process of law.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ©Deadline
The residents who filed the lawsuit argue that the dissolution of the RCID will lead to an increase in taxes for the residents in Central Florida in order to pay off Disney’s bond debt. That bond debt is estimated to be somewhere between $1 and $2 billion.
The complaint also discusses how the RCID provides essential services to the land it governs. This includes emergency services, waste management services, and more.
The complaint goes on to say, “Stripping Disney of this special district designation will move these major regulatory burdens unto the county, thereby increasing the Plaintiff’s taxes, and will cause significant injury to plaintiffs.”
Hollywood Studios
The lawsuit alleges that the Florida Supreme Court has “historically given standing to taxpayers allowing them to challenge ‘threatened wrongful proceedings.'” It also claims that people who aren’t technically parties to contracts can still sue under Florida law to enforce them when a breach of that contract could injure them.
And there’s more. The lawsuit also alleges that Florida lawmakers are “‘threatening to take thousands of jobs’ from the state in retaliation for protected speech,” and alleges that “Florida is violating Disney’s constitutional rights.”
Magic Kingdom
Disney really hasn’t made any statements regarding this issue, though the RCID has sent a message to investors indicating that the dissolution of RCID would violate a pledge made to bondholders when the RCID was created.
This is still a developing situation. We’ll be sure to check for more updates and we’ll let you know what we find.
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
Huh. I am not agreeing with the plaintiffs, but it seems Facebook is permitted to disregard people’s right to free speech.
If Facebook can do it, why can’t anyone else?
Corporate greedy and welfare should never be condoned.
In response to Joan’s question: The right to freedom of speech in the First Amendment has to do with preventing government retaliation. The government (1A is mainly about the federal government, but the Supreme Court has ruled that it applies to state/local governments as well) cannot silence or punish the expression of opinion. Facebook, on the other hand, isn’t the government. It’s a company. It’s allowed to have rules, and to remove posts that break those rules at its discretion.
No matter where you stand on the DeSantis vs. Disney feud, if you’re an American, witnessing a government openly punish a private entity for voicing an opinion should give you pause. If it’s allowed to stand, it will set an alarming precedent.
Following
Thanks to the First Amendment, the government is not able to retaliate citizens or businesses for enacting their right to free speech. Facebook is a privately owned company which is allowed to enact it’s own rules, standards, and guidelines.
Hey Joan, Facebook’s a private company, DeathSantis is not–DeathSantis is supposed to be a responsible political leader, but instead he’s showing signs of wanting to be an autocrat.
Joan, when you sign up for Facebook you are agreeing to their terms of conduct. So while you have free speech from government retaliation you still have to abide by the company terms. Disney is being directly retaliated by the government by DeSantis’ own admission for their opinion. He directly said that if Disney has this opinion he will retaliate. So agree or disagree with the law its a fact that their rights are violated.
Hi Joan
It’s because the 1st amendment protects free speech from attack from the government and not private businesses.
Its ridiculous to think that Disney will get out of paying a billion dollar debt. I spend thousands of dollars a year at Disney, and I think its about time that Disney be made to do things like any other business in Florida.
Ditto Joan !! It’s ok for them but no one else ! Let them sue !
Won’t do them a bit of good. Enough is enough
Disney doesn’t deserve special privileges. Universal Studios, Sea World, Busch Gardens and LEGOLAND don’t get special privileges. Why should Disney?
Lawsuit brought on by the millionaire residents of Golden Oaks who live within Disney property? Call the lawsuit what it is.
@joan
First, I’ll be clear. I very, very strongly support the Plaintiffs. DeSantis is a spoiled, entitled brat and I can’t wait to see him brought down and humiliated. He’s clearly retaliating against Disney because they dared stand up to him and his inflated sense of ego and importance, declaring to the world that they won’t stand for discrimination and hate. His nose is out of joint because someone didn’t bow down to him and now he’s trying to flex to get back at them. Unfortunately for him and his hateful agenda, he is breaking laws and showing his ignorance, as well as setting himself up to go down in flames by severely damaging the State of Florida with this ridiculous move.
But to your point, Facebook does not disregard Freedom of Speech. They are a private company that has policies regarding behavior, just like any other company. They have the right to dictate how people conduct themselves when using their product, just like any other company has the right to dictate how people conduct themselves when in their location. Theme parks, stores, entertainment destinations, restaurants — they all have rules regarding things like what you can and can’t wear, how you treat other people, what you can and can’t say, where you can and can’t go. This is not an infringement of rights. This is a company creating boundaries regarding how their location or product is to be used and put forth to other people. Facebook is not the public. It is not an unfiltered, unregulated forum intended for people to fling themselves around however they wish. It is a product that allows for appropriately regulated and controlled communication and expression set within the constraints of the policies and regulations of those in charge. People who disagree with those regulations are under no obligation to use the platform, they have absolute freedom to find another outlet, but they also have no right and no place demanding those who created and run the platform alter their rules and requirements to suit them.
If you put on a shirt before you go into a store, you can put on a mask. If you don’t use profanity in church or a school, you can conduct yourself like an adult on social media. If you cover yourself when you’re at work, you can dress appropriately for a theme park. If you don’t want people telling you who you are or peeking into your bedroom to regulate what you’re doing and with whom, don’t think you have the right to do it to other people. Remember, if you look at somebody and get uncomfortable because they’re different, just think how uncomfortable you being different makes them.
Freedom doesn’t mean doing whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it, wherever you want to do it. You live in a world of rules, policies, restrictions, guidelines, expectations, and boundaries. It’s not infringing your rights. It’s allowing everyone to live comfortably and safely, and giving those who offer services and products to others the ability to determine how those will be used. Don’t like it, don’t use it. It’s really that simple.
DeSantis behaves like a junior high bully. Dissolving RCID was a complete knee jerk reaction and in no way could anyone evaluate the impacts in a matter of days. An intelligent leader would have reached out to discuss with the counties involved. Instead he wanted to show how tough he is. Unfortunately being a tough bully doesn’t correlate to being intelligent. Hopefully this entire situation blows up in his face badly. Congrats to him already as he’s managed to have the citizens of the state sue him. He’s an example of everything that a leader shouldn’t be.
Wouldn’t the Disney Corp. abandoning its debt do more harm to Disney? So if that’s the case, how do the taxpayers get left on the hook? If Disney plans to stay in business, which presumably they do, then they really can’t walk away from that debt. And let’s face it Reedy Creek is Disney.
I do not understand how the taxpayers have any legal standing, since they are not part of the contractual agreement between Disney and the State of Florida according to contract law? Any true legal schloars/ law professors have an opinion on this?
Joan, because Facebook is a corporation and not a publicly elected official sworn to uphold the laws of the land and to protect and seek the interests of the tax-payers.
No one should disregard the right to free speech. If people start saying “X disregards free speech so we all should disregard free speech” then our rights and freedoms will quickly be a thing of the past. We still live in a free and democratic society where free speech is protected and I for one wouldn’t have it any other way.
You are trying to compare a Private company’s policy to that of the Government. You do know the difference right, or is it now policy in Florida that you don’t have the right to have Free speech without consequences.
Very sad that there are actually people on the board/forum that are standing up to the State government. If you can please explain what Disney has done to reap all this garbage being dumped on them for just speaking their mind which the majority of America agrees with.
Facebook is not bound by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Facebook can block anybody it chooses for ALMOST any reason it chooses… there are a few exceptions that they can’t legally block someone for.
The GOVERNMENT is bound by the 1st Amendment to allow free speech.
The GOVERNMENT, in this case Gov.DeSantis is being accused of violating Disney’s right of free speech. The GOVERNMENT can not legally punish someone for voicing an opinion that they don’t like.
The Bill of Rights, including the 1st Amendment, are LIMITS on the power of the Government toward individuals, they have little to nothing to say about relations between individuals.
Basically Facebook can block you, the Government CAN NOT!
Good for them. No one wants to see their taxes increase in an already unaffordable area.
I hope they win! ❤️ That is awesome!
Joan, The right to free speech guaranteed by the Constitution only applies to government entities, not private companies like Facebook. A private company can make any rules it wants.
So how many residents are suing the state and how many of them are the attorneys for the case and or Disney?
Just curious
Yeah, Desantis is the first politician to retaliate against a company or individual. This has never happened before, just look to DC for the last 20+ years, it happens every day.
@Cyndy 3 residents. 3 of the 21.7 million residents.
Nice job Bob Chapek! The Disney brand is loosing it’s appeal and happy place feel!
Why should disney be subsidized? Why do they get corporate welfare? Why not Universal? Sea World? Where is the fairness?
The politicians now are dictating their own personal beliefs and changing the laws. Religion is being used to change what we read ,who we are and what is being taught in schools by entering into politics. Politicians vindictive attitudes and non willingness to work together. DeSantis rules like a dictator. He has the backing of certain people. Politicians take money under the table by voting certain ways. The worst is yet to come if this behavior of politicians continues. They take on and change the fabric of things that are not the important and leave the important issues to get worse. A smoke screen effect.