food IS a theme park
If you’ve been in tune with Disney World news in the past few months, then you probably know about the Reedy Creek Improvement District saga.
©WFTV 9
For many years, Disney World has had its own government, known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID), but in 2022 after a feud with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the governor made a move to dissolve the district. Since then, we’ve been watching to see what comes next for Disney, and now we’ve got an update.
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.
If you’ve been keeping up with Disney World news over the past several months, then you’ve likely heard at least a little of the drama with the Reedy Creek Improvement District.
©WFTV 9
The Reedy Creek Improvement District was first established in 1968, allowing Disney World to operate as its own government, giving the property things like its own fire department, special taxing laws, and more power over the land it controls. After Disney spoke out against Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Law (what critics called the “Don’t Say Gay” bill), a bill was introduced and quickly signed into law that will dissolve the Reedy Creek Improvement District in June 2023 unless a resolution is reached before then. So if Reedy Creek is abolished, what happens next?
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…]
Disney’s future in Florida has been difficult to predict. Following Disney’s public critique of Florida’s Parental Rights Bill (otherwise known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill), Florida Legislators pushed back with the proposal to dissolve Disney World’s Reedy Creek Improvement District.
Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom
The dissolution of Reedy Creek will remove expansive and operational freedoms for Disney, and risks placing the burden of municipal costs on local taxpayers. So, once Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill to dissolve Reedy Creek, many were left wondering what this would mean for the future of Disney World and its surrounding counties. Here’s what we know.
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
