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

[CaptainMickey]

I just know that all this BS has pushed us to NOT spend thousands of dollars in Florida any longer.

Awesome! Maybe if attendance drops enough they will start selling Florida annual passes again and drop the park reservation system!

 

[peter11435]

I think from DeSantis' point of view, Disney was a wholesome family-oriented company that has recently been infiltrated by decision makers that don't hold those values. Not inserting my opinion on the validity of this view, but it seems like the effort from DeSantis is more to steer Disney back to what it used to be (in terms of culture/values).

That’s my opinion as well. I don’t believe he actually wants to drive Disney out of Florida, and certainly not the dollars Disney brings in. But he definitely wants to use his power to control Disney’s content and stance on social issues. In the press conference the other day, he talked about getting them back on track. Clearly he was referring to them having views and content he agreed with. This is all far outside the jurisdiction of government.

 

[mkt]

I think from DeSantis' point of view, Disney was a wholesome family-oriented company that has recently been infiltrated by decision makers that don't hold those values. Not inserting my opinion on the validity of this view, but it seems like the effort from DeSantis is more to steer Disney back to what it used to be (in terms of culture/values).

Society changes. DeSantis needs to learn to deal with it.

 

[danlb_2000]

I think from DeSantis' point of view, Disney was a wholesome family-oriented company that has recently been infiltrated by decision makers that don't hold those values. Not inserting my opinion on the validity of this view, but it seems like the effort from DeSantis is more to steer Disney back to what it used to be (in terms of culture/values).

That is not something the government should be involved in, consumers can control that with their wallets. If enough people object to what Disney (or any other company) is putting out they will stop paying for it and Disney will change.

 

[danlb_2000]

I think politics is usually like a pendulum, it swings one way then swings back. If this continues there will be a natural push back as people resist being told what they can’t do by the government. Human nature dictates that if you tell people they can’t or shouldn’t do something it only increases their desire to do it. If I’m being totally honest with you I actually kinda want to go to a drag show now just to see what all this hype is about . LIke many things in life we learned the below valuable lesson from Star Wars:

View attachment 701696

Magic Kingdom has a "drag show" a lot of nights since Tinker Bell is often played by a man.

 

[cranbiz]

Magic Kingdom has a "drag show" a lot of nights since Tinkerbelle is often played by a man.

You mean Tinkerbill?

 

[Dranth]

Magic Kingdom has a "drag show" a lot of nights since Tinkerbelle is often played by a man.

Well, now Ron is going to have to burn the place down. It was fun while it lasted.

 

[GoofGoof]

Awesome! Maybe if attendance drops enough they will start selling Florida annual passes again and drop the park reservation system!

If Disney is an “enemy of the state“ now I see no reason to increase selling FL annual passes . Maybe they add additional parking fees to try to recover the extra costs the new district creates

 

[MR.Dis]

What is the long game? The current board really wanted to hurt Disney they would not allow any new bonds to be issued. At the same time increasing taxes to get the existing bonds to be paid off. Once that is done, Florida could do what they wanted to in the first place and abolish the old Reedy Creek District. Now if you have a warped sense of humor like I do, instead of being under the control of the Despicable Republican controlled state legislation, they would be under the control of the Democratic controlled Orange County government. Yikes, maybe that is why they are not fighting this change. What is the lesser of 2 evils.

The above is a HUMOROUS take on things, not a political statement

 

[mkt]

Magic Kingdom has a "drag show" a lot of nights since Tinkerbelle is often played by a man.

She's not. I know several of the performers. Not a Y-chromosome in the bunch.

Maleficent in Fantasmic OTOH, I've stood next to them at a urinal before.

 

[lazyboy97o]

@lentesta any chance you can make the Board of Supervisors meeting next week? New business item 8.2 simply reads Special Counsel. Do I dare to dream?

https://www.rcid.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/03-08-23-BOS-Agenda-v2-FINAL.pdf

 

[lazyboy97o]

She's not. I know several of the performers. Not a Y-chromosome in the bunch.

Maleficent in Fantasmic OTOH, I've stood next to them at a urinal before.

Watching Mickey rehearse a show without her costume on is definitely an interesting experience.

 

[mkt]

@lentesta any chance you can make the Board of Supervisors meeting next week? New business item 8.2 simply reads Special Counsel. Do I dare to dream?

https://www.rcid.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/03-08-23-BOS-Agenda-v2-FINAL.pdf

I really REALLY want to attend, but I have work meetings at the same time.

 

[CaptainMickey]

If Disney is an “enemy of the state“ now I see no reason to increase selling FL annual passes . Maybe they add additional parking fees to try to recover the extra costs the new district creates

They already did that to us every year for decades when they liked us

 

[sedati]

That’s my opinion as well. I don’t believe he actually wants to drive Disney out of Florida, and certainly not the dollars Disney brings in. But he definitely wants to use his power to control Disney’s content and stance on social issues. In the press conference the other day, he talked about getting them back on track. Clearly he was referring to them having views and content he agreed with. This is all far outside the jurisdiction of government.

Unfortunately you could just as easily swap “Disney” with “Schools”.

 

[LAKid53]

Not sure it really matters but technically about a quarter of RCID taxes are paid out of DVC maintenance fees so technically any DVC owner at a WDW resort is an indirect taxpayer. Should I file a lawsuit? I need @ParentsOf4 or @lazyboy97o as my council pro bono. I’m not paying for a lawyer and I know only enough about this stuff to be dangerous

I think you'll find there's a enough of us to file a class action lawsuit. Wonder what Morgan & Morgan are doing.

Is Charlie Crist back in practice? A former state legislator, education commissioner, AG and governor might be handy.

 

[LAKid53]

I don't know. The state already told anyone who would listen to them this was punishment for Disney speaking out and now Ron is out there writing op-eds and telling people he is going to use the new control over the district to limit Disney's ability to create content as they see fit. Seems that just makes their case easier if they chose to file.

Good luck to that. The Central Florida Tourism Authority District doesn't own or operate WDW.

 

[danlb_2000]

What is the long game? The current board really wanted to hurt Disney they would not allow any new bonds to be issued. At the same time increasing taxes to get the existing bonds to be paid off. Once that is done, Florida could do what they wanted to in the first place and abolish the old Reedy Creek District. Now if you have a warped sense of humor like I do, instead of being under the control of the Despicable Republican controlled state legislation, they would be under the control of the Democratic controlled Orange County government. Yikes, maybe that is why they are not fighting this change. What is the lesser of 2 evils.

The above is a HUMOROUS take on things, not a political statement

The long game is for Desantis to get elected president.

 

[MrPromey]

...

Ultimately, is what DeSantis has done nothing more than a political stunt that will have little to no effect on Disney?

It's definitely a political stunt.

DeSantis is smarter than he's acting.

As lazyboy97o has pointed out, though, even if nothing really comes of this specific thing it sets precedent and makes it all that much easier for the future erosion of corporate and citizen rights in this state.

Regardless of if you agree with DeStantis' statements about "woke" Disney or not and regardless of if this actually hurts Disney or not, this should be viewed as troubling for everyone.

Personal politics shouldn't even be in play when considering it.

Disney is going to protect their own interests and if they think this change is manageable, I can understand why they aren't fighting it. They aren't in the business of fighting for society.

That said, the rest of us certainly should take heed.

 

[MandaM]

Incorrect. Those damaged by the actions of the government can sue. And that would include the owners of the corporation, i.e., shareholders.

There aren’t shareholders of RCID. The action wasn’t taken against Disney, it was against RCID, so shareholders being able to sue is iffy.