Disney faces losing control of its kingdom with Florida bill
Disneys government in Florida has been the envy of any private business, with its unprecedented powers in deciding what to build and how to build it at the Walt Disney World Resort, issuing bonds and holding the ability to build its own nuclear plant if it wanted. Those days are numbered as a new bill released this week puts the entertainment giants district firmly in the control of Floridas governor and legislative leaders in what some see as punishment for Disneys opposition to the so-called “Dont Say Gay” law championed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Legislature.
“Disney wont like it because theyre not in control,” said Richard Foglesong, professor emeritus at Rollins College, who wrote a definitive account of Disneys Reedy Creek Improvement District in his book, “Married to the Mouse: Walt Disney World and Orlando”.
With that loss of control comes an uncertainty about how Disneys revamped government and Walt Disney World, which it governs, will work together whether the left hand always will be in sync with the right hand as it has been with the company overseeing both entities. The uniqueness of Disneys government, where building inspectors examine black box structures holding thrill rides instead of office buildings, also complicates matters. The district essentially runs a midsize city. On any given day, as many as 3,50,000 people are on Disney Worlds 27,000 acres (11,000 hectares) as theme park visitors, overnight hotel guests or employees. The 55-year-old district has to manage the traffic, dispose of the waste and control the plentiful mosquitoes.
“What kind of control is preferable? Control by a private business or corporation, or control by appointed officials, appointed by governor of the state?” Foglesong said. “Will they have the expertise to be able to make the new district work as efficiently as the old district works?” The bill prohibits anybody who has worked or had a contract with a theme park or entertainment complex in the past three years, or their relatives, from serving on the revamped districts board of supervisors, a prohibition that some experts say eliminates people with expertise in the field.
The bills sponsor, Florida Rep. Fred Hawkins, a Republican from St. Cloud, defended the exclusion Tuesday.
“This was a provision I requested,” Hawkins said. “We want to try to avoid any conflicts of interest of the new board members.” Under the bills proposals, Floridas governor appoints the five-member board of supervisors to the renamed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District instead of Disney. Limits would be placed on the districts autonomy by making it subject to oversight and regulation by state agencies, and it would be unable to adopt any codes that conflict with state regulations.
The district also would no longer have the ability, if it wanted, to own and operate an airport, stadium, convention centre or nuclear power plant.
DeSantis started gunning for Disneys private government last year when the entertainment giant publicly opposed what critics call the “Dont Say Gay” law, which bars instruction on sexual orientation, gender identity and other lessons deemed not age-appropriate in kindergarten through third grade.
Republican critics of the Disney district also argued it has given the company an unfair advantage over rivals in issuing bonds and financing expansion.
The Legislature passed a bill last year to dissolve the Disney government by June 2023.
Lawmakers are meeting this week for a special session to complete the state takeover of the district and approve other key conservative priorities of the governor on immigration and voter fraud. A Senate committee approved separate bills Tuesday to expand the governors migrant relocation program and allow the statewide prosecutor to bring election crime charges.
Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani, a Democrat from Orlando, called the Disney bill on Monday a “power grab” by DeSantis, a potential 2024 presidential candidate who has emerged as a fierce opponent of what he describes as “woke” policies on race, gender and public health. Such positions endear him to the GOPs conservative base but threaten to alienate independents and moderate voters in both parties who are influential in presidential politics.
The changes proposed in the legislation were welcomed by at least one group of Reedy Creek employees firefighters who have clashed in the past with district leaders.
Tim Stromsnes, a spokesperson for Reedy Creek Professional Firefighters Local 2117, said all the current board cares about is “bonds and low-interest loans for building Disney infrastructure, and zero about treating its employees fairly.” “We think they are going to be more receptive to first responders,” Stomsnes said Tuesday of the proposed new board. “Theyre calling the governor a fascist for doing this… but he is actually fixing a fascist, Disney-owned government.” To the relief of taxpayers in neighbouring Orange and Osceola counties, the district wont be dissolved, a prospect that had raised fears that the counties would have to absorb the districts responsibilities and raise property taxes significantly.
The Reedy Creek Improvement District has more than USD 1 billion in bond debt.
In a statement, Orange County said officials were monitoring the bill.
The new bill appears to address some key questions raised by last years legislation, primarily preserving the districts ability to raise revenue and service outstanding debt, said Michael Rinaldi, head of local government ratings for Fitch Ratings.
Foglesong expects a legal challenge should the bill pass. Disney didnt respond to an inquiry asking about any potential lawsuits.
“Disney works under a number of different models and jurisdictions around the world, and regardless of the outcome, we remain committed to providing the highest quality experience for the millions of guests who visit each year,” Jeff Vahle, president of Walt Disney World Resort, said in a statement.
Disney could make an argument that their rights as a private business are being undermined, Foglesong said.
“It will have political appeal, the arguments they make, in a Republican state for a potential presidential candidate,” Foglesong said. “It will be like, legally, How can you do this to us? and politically, How can you do this to a corporation that has done so much for the state of Florida?”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Federal staff and is auto-published from a syndicated feed.)
