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NEWS: Florida Lawmakers Advance Bill To Reverse DeSantis’ Reedy Creek Takeover

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Could we see a reversal of the decision that led to the dissolution of the former Reedy Creek Improvement District at Disney World?

Reedy Creek Improvement District

In between all of the bouncing back and forth between the former RCID entity becoming the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District after Governor Ron Desantis’ state takeover, there have been a lot of controversial opinions formed on its successes and failures. Amid the recent news that employees are now expected to pay out millions of dollars for a once-free perk while employed there, lawmakers are still looking for possibilities to restore the newly reassigned district to its previous version. Could they be successful? [Read more…]

District Chief Responds to Accusations that DeSantis’ Reedy Creek Is “Incompetent”

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Since Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appointed the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board (CFTOD), we’ve seen multiple changes in the district that governs Disney World.

©Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board Livestream

Reports have come from within the district that it is no longer functional after a mass exodus of employees left their positions. But now, one DeSantis appointee is saying that’s not the case — here’s what we know.

[Read more…]

“Unqualified and Incompetent” — DeSantis’ Reedy Creek District Reportedly No Longer Functional

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Ever since Florida Governor Ron DeSantis changed the Reedy Creek Improvement District to the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD), we’ve been following along with the updates.

Reedy Creek Improvement District

Ever since the board members were named for CFTOD, we’ve seen multiple changes for the district that governs Disney World. But one of the most recently publicized decisions involved a member of the Florida Ethics Commission, who was awarded a large contract by the board. In the aftermath of that decision, CFTOD may be facing some problems.

[Read more…]

“A Low Blow” – Reedy Creek Board Criticized for Removal of Disney Annual Pass Benefits

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The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) held a board of supervisors meeting on August 23rd. During the meeting, members of the district met to express their comments and concerns regarding a long-held Reedy Creek District employee benefit that is set to be taken away under the new board.

Reedy Creek Improvement District

For context, Reedy Creek employees previously received free access to the Disney World parks as an added benefit for working in the district. The collective cost of these passes and peks was worth about $2.5 million, per the Central Florida Torusim Oversign District. In an effort to cut costs and create a 2024 budget for the district, the CFTOD met to discuss its reasoning for eliminating this benefit. Here’s what they had to say.

[Read more…]

NEWS: Bill Impacting Disney’s Reedy Creek Agreements PASSES in Florida Senate

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The ongoing case between The Walt Disney Company and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was brought to national attention when Disney recently filed a lawsuit against Governor DeSantis (and members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District). The battle started when Disney released a statement against Florida’s Parental Rights in Education law (what critics call the “Don’t Say Gay” bill), and Governor Ron DeSantis responded by attacking Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District.

©Governor Ron DeSantis Website

For context, the Reedy Creek Improvement District (now referred to as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District) is a special district in Osceola and Orange Counties created in 1967 by the Florida State Legislature. This special district was created to manage all municipal services for the land within and around the Walt Disney World Resort. The district was responsible for paying to provide the municipal services necessary to maintain the Walt Disney World Resort, including fire protection, water management, maintaining the roads, and power. Now, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District has voted to take away some of Disney’s independent power. 

[Read more…]

Disney Springs Restaurants Worried They’ll Bear the Brunt of Disney-DeSantis Battle

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Both The Walt Disney Company and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have been the subject of many headlines since Disney released a statement against the Parental Rights in Education law (what critics call the “Don’t Say Gay” bill). Over the past few months, the Reedy Creek Improvement District (now called the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District) has undergone some restructuring, with DeSantis imposing a new board to oversee taxes and other regulations within The Walt Disney World zipcode. 

Walt Disney World

Thus far, many have focused their attention on the potential impacts that the newly appointed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board may have on the Disney parks. During a recent Board of Supervisors Meeting, several business owners sought to bring attention to another group impacted by proposed changes.  

[Read more…]

Disney Subtly Responds to Reedy Creek Criticisms from Gov. Ron DeSantis

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There’s an ongoing battle between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and The Walt Disney Company. What started as a reaction to Disney’s opposition to the Florida Parental Rights in Education law (commonly called the “Don’t Say Gay” law by critics) turned into a larger fight to control the land that’s home to Disney World.

Animal Kingdom

Recently, DeSantis outlined his plan of attack against Disney, which included a bill to nullify agreements between Disney and the Reedy Creek Improvement District (now renamed the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District). While we’ve heard a few comments from Disney CEO Bob Iger, Disney hasn’t directly responded to many criticisms regarding its connection to the Reedy Creek Improvement District — until now.

[Read more…]

NEWS: Disney Responds to Looming Reedy Creek District Changes

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A bill to CHANGE Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID) has nearly been passed by the Florida legislature.

Reedy Creek

The current RCID essentially allowed Disney World to function as its own government for over 50 years. But following Disney’s disagreement with Ron DeSantis over Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Bill (commonly called the “Don’t Say Gay” bill), the District was set to be dissolved in June of 2023. A new bill was introduced recently that would keep RCID in place but rename the district and significantly change Disney’s level of control. Now, the president of Walt Disney World has something to say about it. [Read more…]

Will Things “Implode” for Disney World’s Reedy Creek District? The Latest Updates

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Something that is critical to the way Disney World currently functions is plagued with uncertainty right now.

Welcome to Disney World

For years, Disney World has had a large amount of control over the land on which it operates in Florida thanks to the Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID). Essentially, the RCID has allowed Disney to (in many ways) function as its own county government. Through the RCID, Disney has imposed and collected taxes on its land, issued bonds, and made all kinds of other decisions without some of the typical oversight that hinders other developers. But all of that is about to change.

[Read more…]

UPDATE on the Dissolution of Disney World’s Reedy Creek District

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The drama continues between Disney World and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Here’s a quick recap in case you missed this story: When Gov. DeSantis signed the Parental Rights in Education Bill — commonly called the “Don’t Say Gay” bill — into law, The Walt Disney Company denounced the legislation. Seemingly in retaliation to Disney’s comments, Gov. DeSantis introduced new legislation to repeal the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which is a governing body that essentially allows Disney World to function as its own government.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ©Deadline

This bill was signed into law, and it states that the district will be dissolved in June 2023. Since the bill passed, some Florida residents have filed lawsuits against Gov. DeSantis in protest. Now, we have an update about the current status of those lawsuits. [Read more…]

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