News Reedy Creek Improvement District and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District

[GimpYancIent]

What will be reworked? What will be done?


Every single day tourists use District facilities and services. That they’re not walking through the muck of a swamp is the work of the District. Charging their phone. Being seen by paramedics. Sitting in buildings that adhered to a strict model code that predates the existence of the Florida Building Code by decades.

All things that will continue without RCID. There may be a name change or a different icon to look at.

 

[lazyboy97o]

All things that will continue without RCID. There may be a name change or a different icon to look at.

Just changing the name costs money. Changing all of that to someone else costs money. Right now Disney pays for that. Why make others pay?

 

[Chip Chipperson]

What is the benefit of continued existence? Because it's been around a long time let's keep it going? There will be some adjustment, modification and realignment but the bottom line will be everything will continue to function just fine.

The benefit is that taxpayers aren't burdened with paying to maintain the infrastructure in WDW unless they own property within RCID (which is mostly Disney). The benefit to Disney is control over what gets done and when it gets done while.

 

[peter11435]

Liability for infrastructure improvements solely for WDW benefit would be on WDW not on the quasi government entity of RDI.

But that’s not how it work for Universal, or Seaworld, or….

 

[Dranth]

Long list of benefits for tourists? The visitors, travelers, tourists to the area derive what from RCID? The folks passing through could care less about RCID.

Maybe superficial in these examples but are the roads in better shape on property vs. off? Are the grounds outside the parks cleaner than surrounding areas? I would say yes and that is all RCID if I am understanding it correctly. What about traffic flow? How long would it take to get some of this road work done to reroute and reconfigure if it had to go through the local counties and you had to convince them to pay for it with residents tax dollars? Seems like that would make things worse for us when we visit.

No, Space Mountain may not shut down because of this... well, maybe it will once the county EMS is sick of getting calls from people with broken backs/necks that get off of that thing but this can have a negative impact on guests.

In the end I am just confused why so many are against a company willingly paying more in taxes to improve and maintain their property on their own instead of taking up county resources.

 

[peter11435]

Long list of benefits for tourists? The visitors, travelers, tourists to the area derive what from RCID? The folks passing through could care less about RCID.

Have you ever needed medical attention as a guest at WDW

 

[Joel]

Most of this thread has been pretty ridiculous, but what's obvious is that a real public discussion about RCID, how it works, and the tradeoffs involved would have benefited everyone far more than what ended up happening, regardless of the end result.

 

[GimpYancIent]

I know it's hard, but everyone has to accept that TWDC is now level with Universal, Seaworld, Busch Gardens even Six Flags. TWDC has worked hard to be just like everyone else.

 

[peter11435]

I know it's hard, but everyone has to accept that TWDC is now level with Universal, Seaworld, Busch Gardens even Six Flags. TWDC has worked hard to be just like everyone else.

If by level you mean they will now be paying less for municipal services and not having to deal with the burden of operating everything themselves.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I know it's hard, but everyone has to accept that TWDC is now level with Universal, Seaworld, Busch Gardens even Six Flags. TWDC has worked hard to be just like everyone else.

How? Give us specifics.

How is Disney paying 100% for a new road while Universal is only paying 50% a disadvantage to Universal?

Busch Gardens Tampa isn’t even “level” with Busch Gardens Williamsburg, so this claim of industry wide fairness is just bogus.

 

[Lilofan]

Have you ever needed medical attention as a guest at WDW

FYI -RC paramedics provide a Free service for paramedic calls/ check ups and transport to local hospital of the patient choosing. That’s not happening in all parts of the US

 

[Californian Elitist]

Would love for a business to cover some taxes so I wouldn’t have to.

 

[Clopin Trouillefou]

I think this entire back-and-forth is now moot?

The Contractual Impossibility of Unwinding Disney’s Reedy Creek

There’s been a lot of talk about whether Florida lawmakers can legally dissolve Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District, but there’s one basic reason why Florida can’t dissolve it—it promised bond purchasers that it wouldn’t, says Jacob Schumer of Shepard, Smith, Kohlmyer & Hand.

news.bloombergtax.com

 

[Lilofan]

As I recall, Disney was paying about $125 an acre for what was mostly undeveloped land. Once it was announced that Disney was moving in, prices went up to $1000 an acre.

Although it’s true that RCID no longer serves its original purpose, it very much serves a purpose today.

In the mid 1960s Walt used fake companies and made secret deals buying up land what is WDW on the cheap.

 

[GimpYancIent]

In the mid 1960s Walt used fake companies and made secret deals buying up land what is WDW on the cheap.

Yes, the "media" of the time revealed what was going on and then came the land price spike. "Emily Bavar (identified as 'Girl Reporter') fingered Disney as the buyer in 1965. Source: Orlando Sentinel Of course, people started to notice the massive land purchases and began to speculate about the identity of the mystery buyer. At one point, there was a rumor that it was Ford."

 

[flynnibus]

I think this entire back-and-forth is now moot?

The Contractual Impossibility of Unwinding Disney’s Reedy Creek

There’s been a lot of talk about whether Florida lawmakers can legally dissolve Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District, but there’s one basic reason why Florida can’t dissolve it—it promised bond purchasers that it wouldn’t, says Jacob Schumer of Shepard, Smith, Kohlmyer & Hand.

news.bloombergtax.com

Not news here - was brought up when RCID issued it's statement to the Bond market. But now that a few news pieces have started to pick up on it, maybe it will get more attention.

But like I said.. not news here

My bets are on the following...

1. RCID sue the state over the dissolution citing the Reedy Creek Act and the attack on their municipal powers - with the Bonds being the big hammer
2. The counties sue the state over the way the dissolution is structured and the consequences and division of stuff
3. No dissolution happens in the next 3-5 years as all as the case is bogged down in courts

I bet TWDC does not directly challenge the law on 1A grounds because it's a fight they don't really need *YET*. They let the RCID issue stay a state issue and let that process play out.. as RCID likely has a strong position to tear up the law as written now.

Then, TWDC only enters the fray on 1A claims if the challenges to the law faulter and TWDC opens up the potential nuclear war with the GOP and the national stage. I think it's in Disney's interest to downplay this whole thing and suggest it will all be cleared up in the existing courts.. without something that could lead to getting blood on their hands directly.

Letting RCID defeat this on existing laws is cleaner.. and avoids escalating the Disney vs GOP fight. I don't think Disney is eager to win that fight and would rather not have it in the news.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I think this entire back-and-forth is now moot?

The Contractual Impossibility of Unwinding Disney’s Reedy Creek

There’s been a lot of talk about whether Florida lawmakers can legally dissolve Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District, but there’s one basic reason why Florida can’t dissolve it—it promised bond purchasers that it wouldn’t, says Jacob Schumer of Shepard, Smith, Kohlmyer & Hand.

news.bloombergtax.com

No, because the governor has a plan! And it’s a great plan! The best plan! You’ve never seen a plan like this plan!

 

[jinx8402]

No, because the governor has a plan! And it’s a great plan! The best plan! You’ve never seen a plan like this plan!

Sounds vaguely familiar. Can't quite put my finger on it though.

 

[Clopin Trouillefou]

Not news here - was brought up when RCID issued it's statement to the Bond market. But now that a few news pieces have started to pick up on it, maybe it will get more attention.

But like I said.. not news here

wow, excellent foresight! tip-of-the-cap to you there sir

 

[mmascari]

Nah, no speculation. Fact. Businesses, government and the people of the area will not stop functioning and living because RCID is vanishing. Don't need a presser for that to be out.

All things that will continue without RCID. There may be a name change or a different icon to look at.

Maybe. You cannot be sure.

Without lots of planning an implementation activities. Just switching the fire department and emergency response from one controlling entity to another is a huge task. Do nothing, and it falls apart. Do it poorly, and it falls apart. Do it right, and nobody notices. There's tons of little (and large) things that can lead to the first two. If that happens, someone likely gets hurt when they call for emergency services and they are unable to get them.

To do them right, the effort needs to start many many months prior to the implementation date.

This doesn't mean it cannot be done right. It could totally happen that way, have all the correct planning and implementation and be totally seamless. Not free though. Definitely not by waiting a year to start.