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

[Brian]

That's not going to be an easy thing for them to do.... The problem is whatever they do that would essentially invalidate the contract would likely have repressions throughout the state.

Agreed. But we all know he's hellbent on coming out on top, and will try it if necessary.

 

[lentesta]

House Bill 9 suggests it’s a bill, not a statute. Does this language appear in any existing statute under Florida law?

FLSenate.gov says the FL Senate version was identical and was signed by the governor.

 

[lazyboy97o]

The problem is that you are looking at this one piece of legislation as if it is the only thing that controls the matter. If Florida is like most states it will have other legislation that can come into play which could impact the validity of what the board at Reedy did. I was involved in another state where a local government decided to ignore normal open meeting laws in the state and tried to hide behind some rules that the local government had drafted. The entire mess slogged through the courts for more than 2 years before a judge undid what the city council had done. I don't think anything is going to happen very quickly in this instance because both side seem to be hellbent on digging in and not giving up on anything. But given the Governor has already mentioned he's ready to build a prison near Disney I think it might be time for Disney to back off before things get really bad for them. I can see it now, Florida builds a special prison for sex offenders on one side, a halfway house on the other... maybe it is time for me to sell my Disney stock and buy share of Universal.

What exactly should Disney give up? The ability to add theme park facilities to theme parks? And what does that fix? Why shouldn’t the state stop?

 

[Stripes]

Which would leave us with the governor's next avenue of chapter 163, section 3241 of the Florida statutes as a legislative means of dissolving the contract.

I don’t see that statute as a major concern. It’s just another lawsuit for Disney and one in which I believe they would have the upper hand.

 

[kong1802]

The problem is that you are looking at this one piece of legislation as if it is the only thing that controls the matter. If Florida is like most states it will have other legislation that can come into play which could impact the validity of what the board at Reedy did. I was involved in another state where a local government decided to ignore normal open meeting laws in the state and tried to hide behind some rules that the local government had drafted. The entire mess slogged through the courts for more than 2 years before a judge undid what the city council had done. I don't think anything is going to happen very quickly in this instance because both side seem to be hellbent on digging in and not giving up on anything. But given the Governor has already mentioned he's ready to build a prison near Disney I think it might be time for Disney to back off before things get really bad for them. I can see it now, Florida builds a special prison for sex offenders on one side, a halfway house on the other... maybe it is time for me to sell my Disney stock and buy share of Universal.

Don't let his fear mongering force you into any financial decisions...

The scenario you lay out above is exactly why I think Desantis loses in court. We just can't set this precedence.

 

[Serpico Jones]

I live in Miami and visit Disney World multiple times a year and I had never even heard of Reedy Creek until last year.

 

[mmascari]

That solar power field is the biggest hidden Mickey that I can think of.

Not that one, that's on Disney land. The big one north of Western Way, along 429. That one appears to be on district owned land and within the district boundary.

 

[Brian]

I don’t see that statute as a major concern. It’s just another lawsuit for Disney and one in which I believe they would have the upper hand.

It's awfully specific, though. What's your rationale behind why Disney would have the upper hand?

 

[mikejs78]

I’m fairly certain that what @lentesta shared does not apply to a development agreement

FLSenate.gov says the FL Senate version was identical and was signed by the governor.

The same language was in the original Reedy Creek Act, which was the governing act of the District, and by the language in the act, superceded existing FL law on the matter.

 

[GoofGoof]

Not that one, that's on Disney land. The big one north of Western Way, along 429. That one appears to be on district owned land and within the district boundary.

I thought that project was a joint venture with a 3rd party who maintains the facility. So they’d have to override that contract too….but why stop now.

 

[WDWFanRay]

And the entire Rep party, I’m amazed they aren’t trying to shut this down.

This 1960’s era RCID is a completely unfair governmental advantage for Disney, which in the end is just a corporation. It flew under the radar for years, but it’s Disney’s fault for making it headlines. What did they expect? There really isn’t a dem or rep who’s going to put their neck out too far, to protect an unfair corporate advantage.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

That solar power field is the biggest hidden Mickey that I can think of.

Is it bigger than the one that is the center of Hollywood Studios .... well, it is less distinct lately (so maybe no longer counts) but when first built was my favorite hidden Mickey

 

[lazyboy97o]

This 1960’s era RCID is a completely unfair governmental advantage for Disney, which in the end is just a corporation. It flew under the radar for years, but it’s Disney’s fault for making it headlines. What did they expect? There really isn’t a dem or rep who’s going to put their neck out too far, to protect an unfair corporate advantage.

How was having a building code before one was required by the state an unfair advantage?

 

[mikejs78]

This 1960’s era RCID is a completely unfair governmental advantage for Disney, which in the end is just a corporation. It flew under the radar for years, but it’s Disney’s fault for making it headlines. What did they expect? There really isn’t a dem or rep who’s going to put their neck out too far, to protect an unfair corporate advantage.

And what unfair corporate advantage does Reedy Creek give Disney? Please enlighten us.

 

[kong1802]

And what unfair corporate advantage does Reedy Creek give Disney? Please enlighten us.

You already know....

They haven't paid any taxes ever. They are the only special district in the entire universe. They have never inspected anything ever. They get to write all of their own laws. They can do anything they want whenever they want and its JUsT NOt FaIR

 

[mmascari]

I thought that project was a joint venture with a 3rd party who maintains the facility. So they’d have to override that contract too….but why stop now.

Are they following rules now? Is that suddenly a restriction?

Assuming they still own the land (which it looks like), the could buy out any partner contracts for the facility. Unless (and this is very possible) the partner is actually Disney and they refuse to renegotiate the contract or let them buy their way out.

I mean, it would be incredibly wasteful and expensive to dismantle the solar field and turn it into housing or a prison. But, when you're trying to show it the "woke" man, is any expense to much?


PS: I knew a mall that closed and they were bulldozing the entire mall. However, Lord and Taylor owned their anchor store and didn't want to close or sell. They bulldozed the rest of the mall around them and it was a very sad stand along poor performing Lord and Taylor for a long time. Holding up all other development. Lack of a buy out clause and a stubborn contract partner can create strange outcomes.

 

[tissandtully]

I thought that project was a joint venture with a 3rd party who maintains the facility. So they’d have to override that contract too….but why stop now.

Pretty sure Duke Energy runs it

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Keep it up and you might have positive points by 2043.

So just in time for the opening of the Beyond Big Thunder area!

 

[lentesta]

The same language was in the original Reedy Creek Act, which was the governing act of the District, and by the language in the act, superceded existing FL law on the matter.

This section of the original RCID Act? Note the timeline and venue for disputes.

 

[Lilofan]

You already know....

They haven't paid any taxes ever. They are the only special district in the entire universe. They have never inspected anything ever. They get to write all of their own laws. They can do anything they want whenever they want and its JUsT NOt FaIR

What I don't get is why from 1967 until DeSantis came into power did none of the other FL governors had an issue about Reedy Creek?