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

[lazyboy97o]

This isn't generally how it's supposed to work, as landowners and a government jurisdiction are not typically a 1:1 thing. Voting rights reside with the residents of a given political subdivision, NOT the "land." Disney controls the voters by the fact that it dictates and controls who is entitled to live within that political subdivision. There is an inherent self-dealing involved, and, frankly, that appears to be an abuse of the representational democratic system that most of us operate under. This arrangement is offensive to many liberal sensitivities, setting aside the legislation debacle, and should be reassessed.

The District is a land and water management district. It is still subject to a variety of county and state regulations and laws. It is also not wholly unique.

The first thing the state of Florida did after the District was created was to sue the District. This proposal though is not about a new found discomfort with the legal arrangement of the District, as explicitly stated by the legislator.

 

[OneofThree]

This company would surely prefer to be on the right side of history.

This company (and almost all publicly held companies) prefers a favorable right side of the financial statements and little more.

 

[peter11435]

This proposal though is not about a new found discomfort with the legal arrangement of the District, as explicitly stated by the legislator.

Exactly. Disney should hold on to this tweet for reference during any future legal battle. This isn’t a case of the state challenging the constitutionality of the distract. That has already been established. This isn’t a case of the state having concerns about the districts governing. This is clearly a case of retaliation because they disagree and this legislators tweet proves that.

 

[Brian]

This company (and almost all publicly held companies) prefers a favorable right side of the financial statements and little more.

Stakeholder capitalism is nothing more than a ploy gain more customers while growing shareholder value.

 

[lazyboy97o]

It seems the District should look at going on a bond issuing spree. I’ve been looking at the enabling legislation and Section 56 includes a pledge to not “impair the rights or remedies of holders.” If the state dissolved the District wouldn’t the state taxpayers then be liable for the bonds issued by the District?

 

[mikejs78]

I think this controversy would normally be a non-factor, combine it with already existing discontent over reservations, Genie+, price increases, loss of MagicalExpress, and dozens of other factors that already have people questioning Disney vacations and it becomes a much bigger deal, as you said the straw that broke the camels back.

Which is why Disney is seeing record attendance right now.

 

[trainplane3]

Didn't Zenia control the PR for Disney? Didn't she leave? Obviously who ever is in control of PR is doing a horrid job in general. Not even in the political spectrum.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Didn't Zenia control the PR for Disney? Didn't she leave? Obviously who ever is in control of PR is doing a horrid job in general. Not even in the political spectrum.

Zenia controlled PR and Jayne Parker was the head of HR. They're both gone.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Does it shows any signs of stopping yet? I don't know but if it slows, I don't think this will really be much of a factor.

Probably true, they’ll likely get another year or two of increased attendance as a result of COVID, by then this will be a distant memory for most.

 

[trainplane3]

Zenia controlled PR and Jayne Parker was the head of HR. They're both gone.

Ah well then. Certainly felt like it because of the slip ups they've had across the board. It's interesting to watch this stuff collapse.

*Not saying I liked them, but they were always able to paint the company in a positive light regardless of the situation.

 

[mkt]

How exactly would Disney leave Florida? Are they just going to walk away from billions in assets with billions more in financing obligations?

WDW will not be sent away by any governor or taken away by Disney. The only possibility would be for Disney to sell it to somebody but then there would be no hole left behind. The right to use the IP would have to go with the sale or nobody would buy it.

I didn't say that they'd close WDW - although there is precedent with companies leaving and abandoning their assets when tax incentives go away (elimination of Section 936 of the Federal Tax Code caused manufacturers to leave Puerto Rico en masse, abandoning their factories, and coincidentally sparked an economic recession which the island is still going through, IIRC the longest recession in US history, and ultimately led to the island's bankruptcy as politicians issued debt to paper over shortcomings in tax revenue).

But they could easily move out back office roles that don't need to be done at the parks.

Marketing, HR, legal/compliance, finance, IT, etc... almost none of it needs to be done from within the parks.

And these are generally far higher paying jobs that in-park jobs, jobs that Florida needs.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I didn't say that they'd close WDW - although there is precedent with companies leaving and abandoning their assets when tax incentives go away (elimination of Section 936 of the Federal Tax Code caused manufacturers to leave Puerto Rico en masse, abandoning their factories, and coincidentally sparked an economic recession which the island is still going through, IIRC the longest recession in US history, and ultimately led to the island's bankruptcy as politicians issued debt to paper over shortcomings in tax revenue).

But they could easily move out back office roles that don't need to be done at the parks.

Marketing, HR, legal/compliance, finance, IT, etc... almost none of it needs to be done from within the parks.

And these are generally far higher paying jobs that in-park jobs, jobs that Florida needs.

Ironically the same jobs that are leaving California because of their anti-business climate. I said the same when people said they should leave CA over the shutdown, some jobs can but most (like DL) can’t. DeSantis and Newsom may be on opposite sides of the political spectrum but they are very similar in their dictatorial management styles.

 

[mkt]

I am genuinely curious what sort of impact dismantling the district could have on WDW. What are the implications? What are the benefits? But over 13 pages in and nobody seems to be talking about these questions which are on topic for the thread.

Disney loses the right to do pretty much as they please and have to ask Orange County/Osceola County for permission.

 

[mkt]

Ironically the same jobs that are leaving California because of their anti-business climate. I said the same when people said they should leave CA over the shutdown, some jobs can but most (like DL) can’t. DeSantis and Newsom may be on opposite sides of the political spectrum but they are very similar in their dictatorial management styles.

Couldn't agree more.

Neither state is especially business friendly - both are in the middle of the pack. But there are better states where these companies can easily set up shop for these back-office roles that could be done from anywhere.

Oh, and don't get me started on Californians moving to Florida. I love that thanks to them the standards have been raised in every local restaurant... but that's nothing compared to the seething hatred I have for the fact that I am now priced out of home ownership in Miami, even with the most liquidity I've had in my life and a high household income. All because people from California and NY moved to Florida and can throw all cash offers above asking.

 

[wdwmagic]

Just had to delete 198 posts that were off-topic or just flat out political and/or argumanteive. Some posts may have been caught in the crossfire that were appropriate for this thread - apologies to those.

I know this subject is almost impossible to discuss without politics, but I think we can try to be civil and stay on topic. Anyone not doing this will be banned from the thread.

 

[John park hopper]

Just had to delete 198 posts that were off-topic or just flat out political and/or argumanteive. Some posts may have been caught in the crossfire that were appropriate for this thread - apologies to those.

I know this subject is almost impossible to discuss without politics, but I think we can try to be civil and stay on topic. Anyone not doing this will be banned from the thread.

Maybe it's time to close it out how many ways can you beat a dead horse

 

[KrzyKtty]

Disney loses the right to do pretty much as they please and have to ask Orange County/Osceola County for permission.

OK, but would the emergency services as they current exist just be absorbed? Is Orange County Is prepared to try to rescue people out of a monorail? How would it impact all of the solar farms and alternative energy stations Disney has tried to build? Or what about that alternative trash collection site which is supposed to produce energy?

 

[lazyboy97o]

Disney loses the right to do pretty much as they please and have to ask Orange County/Osceola County for permission.

Even then it’s not necessarily a huge change. Universal hasn’t had to disclose the specifics of Epic Universe at planning meetings for zoning approval. Instead the whole site has been approved for amusement uses and Universal is largely free to develop it as they please.

 

[mkt]

Lots of assuming, but here goes

OK, but would the emergency services as they current exist just be absorbed?

As RCID would cease to exist as a legal entity, they'd cease and would be replaced. Possibly absorbed, but the most comparable thing I can find in Florida are police departments NOT being absorbed when a municipality ceases to exist.

Is Orange County Is prepared to try to rescue people out of a monorail?

They already provide support to WDW, so possibly.

How would it impact all of the solar farms and alternative energy stations Disney has tried to build? Or what about that alternative trash collection site which is supposed to produce energy?

Shouldn't have an effect, as energy generation in Florida can be privately owned.

 

[lazyboy97o]

OK, but would the emergency services as they current exist just be absorbed? Is Orange County Is prepared to try to rescue people out of a monorail? How would it impact all of the solar farms and alternative energy stations Disney has tried to build? Or what about that alternative trash collection site which is supposed to produce energy?

Emergency services could be handled a variety of ways. They could be handed to the counties or it could be sold to Disney and run as a private service.

Reedy Creek Energy Services is not part of the District. It is a private company, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The solar facilities are joint projects with Duke Energy (may have that one wrong but it’s another private electric company). Those assists would remain the property of their owners. Orange County does not operate their own electric utility with service provided by a variety of providers such as the Orlando Utility Commission, FPL and Duke Energy based on location.