Is Disney Paying Its Fair Share in Orlando?

[POLY LOVER]

Every so often the county or tourist bureau would put up billboards that stated thank a visitor they saved you $995.00 in taxes. I haven't seen them lately.
How accurate the number is? Who's agenda are they pumping but who knows.
I can say there is the good and the bad. We have tons of low paying service jobs that don't pay a livable wage, we have congested roads, most likely companys do not want to locate nearby because of the congestion, lots of toll roads to pay for the wear and tear on the roads, Orlando proaby suffers because the tourist dollars are focused on the parks and no one ventures outside the bubble. Construction jobs are probably plentiful right now because of the expansion.
Like I said the good and the bad.

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

There are many great jobs surrounding Disney. When Disney thrives so do the workers and businesses in the area.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Every so often the county or tourist bureau would put up billboards that stated thank a visitor they saved you $995.00 in taxes. I haven't seen them lately.
How accurate the number is? Who's agenda are they pumping but who knows.
I can say there is the good and the bad. We have tons of low paying service jobs that don't pay a livable wage, we have congested roads, most likely companys do not want to locate nearby because of the congestion, lots of toll roads to pay for the wear and tear on the roads, Orlando proaby suffers because the tourist dollars are focused on the parks and no one ventures outside the bubble. Construction jobs are probably plentiful right now because of the expansion.
Like I said the good and the bad.

One has to look at the bigger picture. There are literally thousands and thousand of people that go to WDW, Universal, Sea World and other tourist locations centered in that area every single day of the week. Just guessing here but I would guess that the use of offsite facilities is probably at least 3 times more then WDW can room on any given day. That is all going to the local economy. Yes, Disney is big, but the surrounding area and the tourists that are using it is tremendously large. You are thinking that everyone that goes to WDW is onsite. Not even close. Then add in those that go other places that are available because WDW is there make the daily income that Disney gets seem paltry.

It hard for us as individuals to see the big picture because it involves numbers that we have heard but cannot really relate too. Big Picture... Big Picture... Big Picture! That is what the state of Florida was looking at when they gave Disney all those breaks. You can bet that none of the other locations got that same deal. Florida Orlando/Kissimmee are doing just fine. Yes, they have a hassle to deal with on a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly basis, but, without WDW and Walt's dream all there would be their is Bert's General Store, two traffic lights, one gas station and a Motel 6.

 

[Damon7777]

Disney is doing more than enough and only Disney knows the true ins and outs so no point really in speculating. I’m sure the bills and taxes Disney pays to the government and local authorities are more than generous.[/QUOTE]
This passage contradicts itself.

 

[GCTales]

I can say there is the good and the bad. We have tons of low paying service jobs that don't pay a livable wage, we have congested roads, most likely companys do not want to locate nearby because of the congestion, lots of toll roads to pay for the wear and tear on the roads, Orlando proaby suffers because the tourist dollars are focused on the parks and no one ventures outside the bublle.

Over the years I have attended multiple conferences / conventions / trade shows- both inside and outside the bubble. I would say split 50/50. In both cases, there was tons of business for the local industry. When outside the bubble we constantly went to local restaurants with clients.. You think those conference exhibitor areas set themselves up magically... Tons of trades involved and millions of dollars per year.

There is plenty of revenue flowing directly through the community and jobs that would not exist without the presence of the Mouse. None of those convention hotels or conference centers would exist I'd Disney had not moved in.

Further, those low paying jobs at Disney.... as I understand it- the company, like other large firms, offers tuition reimbursement to help its employees further their education.

I think the local community gets plenty of return from Disney.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Honestly, Florida is pretty undesirable without Disney. I'd say Florida is lucky to have Disney more than the other way around. Florida certainly benefits from Disney being a top tourist destination.

 

[Damon7777]

If the state is so undesirable without Disney, then why do hundreds of thousands move there every year? Out of the 50 states Florida as of now is the 5th fastest growing in population. If you think all of those migrants descending on the Sunshine State are coming for Disney parks then you are mistaken. Most move there for non Disney related reasons.

As for Florida tourists, both foreign and domestic
, many never step foot on Disney property, spending time in the Keys, beaches, Miami, Universal or gator viewing in everglades. Some come for the Space coast too or even medical tourism.

 

[Goofyernmost]

If the state is so undesirable without Disney, then why do hundreds of thousands move there every year? Out of the 50 states Florida as of now is the 5th fastest growing in population. If you think all of those migrants descending on the Sunshine State are coming for Disney parks then you are mistaken. Most move there for non Disney related reasons.

As for Florida tourists, both foreign and domestic
, many never step foot on Disney property, spending time in the Keys, beaches, Miami, Universal or gator viewing in everglades. Some come for the Space coast too or even medical tourism.

Those that move there just for retirement are not adding tons of money to the area. They are adding a ton of expense to the area by requiring services that are not really high end, high profit (other then the medical community) Old people tend to be ill more often then young ones and spend very little time at Theme Parks. Infrastructure not supported by taxes, is a flat out expense. Even though there are many wealthy people that move to Florida, they are not the backbone or lifeblood of Florida by any means. Those people go there for the weather and that is free.

 

[Bullseye1967]

There are many great jobs surrounding Disney. When Disney thrives so do the workers and businesses in the area.

My wife and I ran a hotel In Osceola county for several years. We were just a few miles from Disney and we stayed at 80% or better occupancy year round thanks to tourists visiting Disney property or contractors that were working on Disney projects. I would say Disney does help Osceola county more than people think. The visitors are not on property 100% of the time. They spend money at many local Osceola county businesses.

 

[Damon7777]

Goofy, you are using my quote to back up your claim about elders putting strains on the state?

I find this disjunct.

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

My wife and I ran a hotel In Osceola county for several years. We were just a few miles from Disney and we stayed at 80% or better occupancy year round thanks to tourists visiting Disney property or contractors that were working on Disney projects. I would say Disney does help Osceola county more than people think. The visitors are not on property 100% of the time. They spend money at many local Osceola county businesses.

I spend 3 out of 7 days at Disney, the rest at Orange Lake Resort

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Echoing other people's thoughts here. Disney does more than enough to pay it's fair share here. They pay taxes by the hundreds of millions, donate to charity and conserve land. Entry level jobs are rungs in the ladder of life at the lower end of the latter. You won't leave HS earning 40k. You do that after years of studying and hard work improving yourself.

But what happens when they’re not? What about the cost to receive an education? I agree, a college or trade school education will be the best path for someone to have a solid middle class job and lifestyle. Florida has historically underinvested in its public K-16 system leading to a lower quality outcomes for children raised in the state. If you come from a poor family, you’re not going to be able to have the privilege of a post secondary education. Most MAGICAL members, whether they want to admit it or not, come from a degree of privilege. It was likely always assumed that you were going to go to college, even if you were to start with community college and or graduate with student loans, which roughly half of the graduates of public Floridia colleges/universities have. The time budget for a college education cannot be overlooked. Even if Bernie’s free college tuition proposal were to be implemented in all 50 states, it still takes money to be able meet your basic needs (food, housing, transport) to fully focus on your studies. So here’s where your entry level job comes in. Can it cover all of your needs so you can sustainably maintain part time enrollment, plus tuition and books/supplies? Will you earn enough to be able to build up a rainy day fund to allow you to overcome unexpected events like car repairs or injuries? Will your employer actually respect your humanity/studies by not using scheduling software to give you either an irregular schedule or pm/am shifts back to back?

The men and women who work in the tourism industry, both in Central Florida and Anaheim, live effectively in poverty because they are paid so little. Disney, keeping its wages low, sets the tone for each labor market. If Disney were to go back and pay its cast what they used to make, around $30 an hour plus benefits adjusted for inflation, it would force everyone else to raise their wages to compete. Some businesses would cease to exist and “jobs” would be lost, but workers could actually treat these positions as entry level jobs and climb up the ladder as they attain a degree or a trade skills.

Guys and gals, it’s not just about what Disney pays in taxes.

 

[larandtra]

I generally cringe when I hear a left coaster mention the term "fair Share". Anything applying to an individual or company in the state of california using the term "fair share" means more taxes and more government theft of companies and individuals income because the government in California has taxed and spent its way right back into a huge debt, inflation is climbing, incomes are not keeping pace with taxes, there is a high amount of public assistance per capita, it has a huge unfunded pension coming due and the Mercatus Center rates it as the worst economically stable state in the nation.On the flip side, Florida is rated as Number 1 and for kicks and giggles Texas is number 2. 2 states without any state income tax. On the flip side Cali is on the high end of state income taxes. There is a fear that Cali will eventually ask the fed to bail the state out and then everyone in every other state will have to pay for their bad decisions. Disney does more than its "fair share" in Florida and in California. I would be interested to see how well Aneheim did without Disney there. People never think about repercussions of what happens when you force business hand. Demand the minimum wage gets raised and what does McDonalds do? Bring in kiosk ordering and eliminate jobs. There is a balance that soem people just dont get. Im sure the state of Florida doesnt become adversarial with its major economic push and partner in WDW like it appears the city of anaheim and the people of anaheim are ignorantly doing.

 

[larandtra]

Wage scales are not dictated by one singular company. Keep in mind, when the public starts pushing the "fair" wage, those jobs arent meant to be a living wage. Dont like what they pay? Dont take the job. Find one somewhere else. Dont like what they pay when you work there? Improve your value through education or other means or find another job. Noone is a hostage to their job unless their lack of motivation to improve their value causes them to be. As stated above, ask the west coasters who demanded all these inflated unnecessary increases in minimum wage got when companies decided they could replace those employees completely. Less jobs and now those employees without skill are stuck with one less place to make anything.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

But what happens when they’re not? What about the cost to receive an education? I agree, a college or trade school education will be the best path for someone to have a solid middle class job and lifestyle. Florida has historically underinvested in its public K-16 system leading to a lower quality outcomes for children raised in the state. If you come from a poor family, you’re not going to be able to have the privilege of a post secondary education. Most MAGICAL members, whether they want to admit it or not, come from a degree of privilege. It was likely always assumed that you were going to go to college, even if you were to start with community college and or graduate with student loans, which roughly half of the graduates of public Floridia colleges/universities have. The time budget for a college education cannot be overlooked. Even if Bernie’s free college tuition proposal were to be implemented in all 50 states, it still takes money to be able meet your basic needs (food, housing, transport) to fully focus on your studies. So here’s where your entry level job comes in. Can it cover all of your needs so you can sustainably maintain part time enrollment, plus tuition and books/supplies? Will you earn enough to be able to build up a rainy day fund to allow you to overcome unexpected events like car repairs or injuries? Will your employer actually respect your humanity/studies by not using scheduling software to give you either an irregular schedule or pm/am shifts back to back?

The men and women who work in the tourism industry, both in Central Florida and Anaheim, live effectively in poverty because they are paid so little. Disney, keeping its wages low, sets the tone for each labor market. If Disney were to go back and pay its cast what they used to make, around $30 an hour plus benefits adjusted for inflation, it would force everyone else to raise their wages to compete. Some businesses would cease to exist and “jobs” would be lost, but workers could actually treat these positions as entry level jobs and climb up the ladder as they attain a degree or a trade skills.

Guys and gals, it’s not just about what Disney pays in taxes.

Competition and the free market decide wages. Not the government. If Disney pays so poorly, why does it have over 70,000 working for them in WDW alone? Also, college can be paid for with scholarships and hard work. You don't have to go to FSU or UF in order to get a good job. A community college can do the trick. Also it would be completely idiotic for Disney to pay $30 an hour for its CPs and frontline staff. If you're 60 and you're a theme park ride operator or janitor there is something wrong with that. Disney has thousands of jobs in accounting, engineering, sales etc. that pay in excess of $50,000. They would hire less workers and probably raise prices. let companies pay however much. Competition drives up wages. I honestly don't care about the "living wage." It's a term used by the left to justify a larger government being shoved down my throat.

One final note, just because Fl spends less on education does not mean it's schools are less funded: there is less overhead in FL than CA or NY for example.

 

[CLEtoWDW]

The city of Orlando should thank their lucky stars every night that Walt purchased all those swampy acres of central Florida property many decades ago. Could you imagine what Orlando would be like if they didn't receive all those revenues from people traveling to and from their muni airport? Every time I fly in and out of MCO I just smile at the observation of how many people are there to enjoy Disney/Universal.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Competition and the free market decide wages. Not the government. If Disney pays so poorly, why does it have over 70,000 working for them in WDW alone? Also, college can be paid for with scholarships and hard work. You don't have to go to FSU or UF in order to get a good job. A community college can do the trick. Also it would be completely idiotic for Disney to pay $30 an hour for its CPs and frontline staff. If you're 60 and you're a theme park ride operator or janitor there is something wrong with that. Disney has thousands of jobs in accounting, engineering, sales etc. that pay in excess of $50,000. They would hire less workers and probably raise prices. let companies pay however much. Competition drives up wages. I honestly don't care about the "living wage." It's a term used by the left to justify a larger government being shoved down my throat.

One final note, just because Fl spends less on education does not mean it's schools are less funded: there is less overhead in FL than CA or NY for example.

What if the biggest actor/s in the free market decide they can get by paying low wages because of their size? Disney has so much power in these markets that they decide what the minimum wage is for entire labor market. They only recently raised wages in Central Florida because UNI raised theirs.

I guess you didn’t read anything I wrote about trade schools or the time and money needed to pursue a college education, regardless of level, so I won’t respond.

With regard to your 60 year old janitor, you are making a moral judgement, not a rational one. If this person did receive a college or trade education he would be making upwards of $100,000 with his experience in his field of choice. Guess the free market figured out that one, even with a living wage.

70k cast members doesn’t mean that all of them are full time and can support themselves on their Disney paychecks alone.

 

[larandtra]

People have figured out to do it for YEARS. Not sure what the current generation and the couple prior are so determined that everything should be equal, free, or come without any effort or hard work. I worked my way through college, didnt spend what I couldnt afford, paid my loans off in a low wage job. I found a way to get by. Maybe you dont need the 1000$ Iphone, maybe you dont need 200 cable channels, maybe you dont need to spend 200$ a night drinking or going to movies and parties. The feel sorry for me pity party rings hollow with those of us who worked our way up and made ourselves valuable. Its not just me, its a LOT of people. You dont have to be "special" to get an education and seek out more. Thats hogwash. The problem is you want it easy or free. Thats not life. Companies have a right to pay a wage the "market" determines it should pay. If they need to increase that wage to get better employees or help those employees become more valuable, then they generally react and do it. Companies like Disney offer a TON of programs to help underpriveledged students get those opportunities. Sorry, no tears from most people who did work their way through because thats part of life.Disney has NEVER paid 30/per hour for these positions, and neither has anyone else. Basic economics. Im not sure what you are getting at other than complaining its not "fair". I hate to tell you, life is hard work in every aspect and no it is not always fair. Some overcome and work through others whine and wallow. Those are the ones still working in low end beginner jobs meant for retirees, hs and college kids, and people training to move up. As I said, noone is prisoner to their job unless they lack the motivation to create more value in themselves or have positioned themselves by being financially ignorant to be forced to work to make what they can. Its a sad situation, but, thats harsh reality.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Goofy, you are using my quote to back up your claim about elders putting strains on the state?

I find this disjunct.

I find your statement disjunct. It fit right into your monologue. Other then tourism what other reasons are there for people moving in. Retirement to a warmer climate at the stage of life that is a time when spending less is the goal, not more or people moving in to take advantage of employment opportunities that are there because of the tourist activity in the area. Many areas of Florida have a much cheaper cost of living then other places. Even real estate is much cheaper, also due to the elderly moving in and dying off. OK, funeral directors are making a lot of money. That doesn't mean that they are contributing a huge amount of money to the general economy.

However, I'm sorry you don't see it the same way I do... but that is your right. I just disagree with you on it. We will all survive it, I'm sure.

 

[larryz]

I find your statement disjunct. It fit right into your monologue. Other then tourism what other reasons are there for people moving in. Retirement to a warmer climate at the stage of life that is a time when spending less is the goal, not more or people moving in to take advantage of employment opportunities that are there because of the tourist activity in the area. Many areas of Florida have a much cheaper cost of living then other places. Even real estate is much cheaper, also due to the elderly moving in and dying off. OK, funeral directors are making a lot of money. That doesn't mean that they are contributing a huge amount of money to the general economy.

However, I'm sorry you don't see it the same way I do... but that is your right. I just disagree with you on it. We will all survive it, I'm sure.

I'm thinking there's a solid market in a "Roadside Hijack and Robbery" experience one could provide tourists... Simply get a beat-up old car, park it alongside the highway, and then you can charge tourists all the money they're carrying for the experience of stopping to help you out.