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

[Vegas Disney Fan]

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.

With the current climate I don’t think it would really change anything, the risk is a changing climate like Anaheim where WDW goes back and forth between pro-Disney and anti-Disney councils, then WDW gets to deal with the same building headaches that DL has had with the gateway project, the new hotel, etc.

 

[monothingie]

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.

Departments merge all the time. The most difficult part is the dealing union contracts and seniority which have to be reconciled between the two merging organizations. From what I understand, a lot of the RCID FD members would be getting a better deal with OC.

 

[JohnD]

Florida's primary unit of local government is the county. A municipal carve-out for an individual corporation reeks of cronyism (because it is, clearly).

There's a reason the RCID is euphemistically called "Florida's 68th County" because it has all the rights and privileges of Florida's 67 counties and maybe more.

 

[mkt]

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.

I doubt Disney wants the liability of running it as part of the corporation, as opposed to the dotted line separation between TWDC and RCID. They'd hand it to the counties or sell it off completely to a private operator, eliminating Disney's liability.

 

[KrzyKtty]

So is the general consensus that there would not be much actual change if RCID was removed? Wasn't the biggest reason why it was originally set up due to the original vision of Epcot, which never came to pass anyway?

Are there any real benefits to it being dismantled dismantled? Taking out all of the political mumbo jumbo of course.

 

[mkt]

So is the general consensus that there would not be much actual change if RCID was removed? Wasn't the biggest reason why it was originally set up due to the original vision of Epcot, which never came to pass anyway?

Are there any real benefits to it being dismantled dismantled? Taking out all of the political mumbo jumbo of course.

Off the top of my head, RCID couldn't issue bonds anymore, and new structures would have to be built to Florida's stricter post-Andrew building codes, not the Epcot codes

If RCID ceases to exist, I am curious which entity would be responsible for that debt.

 

[lazyboy97o]

With the current climate I don’t think it would really change anything, the risk is a changing climate like Anaheim where WDW goes back and forth between pro-Disney and anti-Disney councils, then WDW gets to deal with the same building headaches that DL has had with the gateway project, the new hotel, etc.

The Eastern Gateway fell under Anaheim’s planning review because it involved a change to the existing zoning and Resort Plan. There was no planning review for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, the now cancelled Downtown Disney hotel, the new Disneyland Hotel DVC tower or the Downtown Disney west side redevelopment. Anaheim did not rescind previously granted planning permission nor did they even attempt such a move. Orange County would have to change how they handle zoning of such facilities and would be in a fight with not just Disney but also Comcast.

The hotel that was cancelled wasn’t the result of zoning and planning issues. It was the classification of the tax deal as a subsidy making it subject to a higher minimum wage. The counties right now could set their own minimum wage and Disney would be required to pay that wage.

There's a reason the RCID is euphemistically called "Florida's 68th County" because it has all the rights and privileges of Florida's 67 counties and maybe more.

No, it does not.

 

[thomas998]

I asked this on another thread - wouldn't this mean the taxpayers in Orange County would have to foot the bill for all the services that Disney currently pays the cost for? Water, fire protection, etc. ...

Yeesh.

Not familiar with how Florida state laws and taxes work on the local level... but if it works like it does in some states it may also increase the tax revenue for whatever city ends up annexing them in. Given the amount of sales tax revenue and property taxes that could come from annexing Disney into an existing city I would suspect if they eliminate the Reedy Creek district they the bigger question is who will win the battle to annex them into an existing city/town.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Off the top of my head, RCID couldn't issue bonds anymore, and new structures would have to be built to Florida's stricter post-Andrew building codes, not the Epcot codes

If RCID ceases to exist, I am curious which entity would be responsible for that debt.

The EPCOT Building Code is not less restrictive than the Florida Building Code. The Florida Building Code applies state wide and if any part of the EPCOT Codes are less restrictive than the Florida Building Codes, the Florida Building Code requirements would still have to be met. Reedy Creek Emergency Services enforces the Florida Fire Prevention Code the same as every other fire department across the state.

 

[Thelazer]

Guests and cast love Reedy Creek services in parks and resorts. If one calls for paramedics they come check the person out , transport if necessary and patients do not get billed.

Chapek on line 1.... paging Chapek on LINE 1.. STAT!!!

 

[Purduevian]

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.

I know I was one of the off topic members, and I apologize for it. Is there a proper place on this website to discuss politics related to WDW, or Florida in general? I thought I heard that there was a political forum, but I can not seem to find it. I was enjoying the conversation and would like to continue it in the proper place if it exists.

I also totally understand if this website chooses not to have a pollical forum!

 

[lazyboy97o]

Not familiar with how Florida state laws and taxes work on the local level... but if it works like it does in some states it may also increase the tax revenue for whatever city ends up annexing them in. Given the amount of sales tax revenue and property taxes that could come from annexing Disney into an existing city I would suspect if they eliminate the Reedy Creek district they the bigger question is who will win the battle to annex them into an existing city/town.

Most of Orange and Osceola Counties are unincorporated, they are not part of any city or town. Even Celebration is not a legal municipality.

The question is whether or not dissolving the District unincorporates Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake.

 

[wdwmagic]

I know I was one of the off topic members, and I apologize for it. Is there a proper place on this website to discuss politics related to WDW, or Florida in general? I thought I heard that there was a political forum, but I can not seem to find it. I was enjoying the conversation and would like to continue it in the proper place if it exists.

I also totally understand if this website chooses not to have a pollical forum!

Thanks.

No there is no politics area on the site anymore. It isn't something I have an interest in maintaining, and it a very volatile subject that in my experience does not help foster a heathy forum community.

 

[castlecake2.0]

So is the general consensus that there would not be much actual change if RCID was removed? Wasn't the biggest reason why it was originally set up due to the original vision of Epcot, which never came to pass anyway?

Are there any real benefits to it being dismantled dismantled? Taking out all of the political mumbo jumbo of course.

Another issue I can think of is “the bubble” being eliminated. There is a lot of RCID undeveloped land surrounding WDW and Celebration. I’m not sure who that land would go to if RCID no longer existed. If it becomes part of the county then it could possibly lead to parcels being sold off, more roads constructed through property etc? Maybe? I’m not sure how that would work. I’m sure someone here would have a better idea @mkt @lazyboy97o

 

[mkt]

The EPCOT Building Code is not less restrictive than the Florida Building Code. The Florida Building Code applies state wide and if any part of the EPCOT Codes are less restrictive than the Florida Building Codes, the Florida Building Code requirements would still have to be met. Reedy Creek Emergency Services enforces the Florida Fire Prevention Code the same as every other fire department across the state.

Appreciate the clarification.

So I guess, just the bonds are the issue.

 

[Kamikaze]

Which is why Disney is seeing record attendance right now.

Revenue. There's an important distinction.

 

[thomas998]

I do wonder…what would the impact of this be on Disney? How much do they actually gain presently from the arrangement. It’s not as though they can flout laws as they see fit, as some imagine. This seems like a political statement to score votes but not something that would have that much real impact…if it even happens.

They pretty much determine the building codes so long as they comply with existing laws from the fed and state. That is probably worth a lot more than you would realize.

 

[KrzyKtty]

Another issue I can think of is “the bubble” being eliminated. There is a lot of RCID undeveloped land surrounding WDW and Celebration. I’m not sure who that land would go to if RCID no longer existed. If it becomes part of the county then it could possibly lead to parcels being sold off, more roads constructed through property etc? Maybe? I’m not sure how that would work. I’m sure someone here would have a better idea @mkt @lazyboy97o

But didn't all of that land belong to the Disney company 1st? That could be dangerous if somehow it caused Disney to lose a whole bunch of land to the state.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

Thanks.

No there is no politics area on the site anymore. It isn't something I have an interest in maintaining, and it a very volatile subject that in my experience does not help foster a heathy forum community.

You're almost certainly going to have to close this topic. The politician (or multiple ones) who is pushing this has stated flat-out that the reason is due to being against Disney's "support" for LGBTQ+ people. There's no avoiding the discussion when that's literally the stated reason behind this proposal. I can't see how it can be avoided.

Not that it matters. I see no way this ends up happening. I doubt there's a strong push from either side to ACTUALLY go through with this threat. Unless Disney WANTS to remove Reedy Creek (which I also doubt they want). Endlessly talking about something that will almost certainly not happen (while trying to avoid discussing the core of the argument around it) seems kind of pointless.

 

[thomas998]

Most of Orange and Osceola Counties are unincorporated, they are not part of any city or town. Even Celebration is not a legal municipality.

The question is whether or not dissolving the District unincorporates Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake.

So who provides the police and fire protection in a place like Celebration if it isn't a legal municipality? Do those places have to rely on a County Sheriff?