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

[GoofGoof]

You have heard the State publically say their intent is to use the Central Fl Tourism Oversight District to dictate what political content Disney makes?

I have not seen or heard that anywhere. RCID for a long time has been viewed by many as a "puppet government" of Disney. For DECADES, RCID has been viewed as a "joke" by many. Yes...c'mon...we have all joked about it since the origin of this web site....long before the Parental Rights Bill ever existed.

Many past legislators..since the 80's have proposed that RCID should not exist the way it did. Yes!...driven by many Democrats too!

Now look how it has changed..

Yes, anyone paying attention has heard it. They are not trying to hide the intent.

 

[Lilofan]

I don’t think he cares. He has told anyone who will listen he’s taking these actions to punish Disney for being woke. He’s not trying to hide it. He thinks the ends justify the means. I believe the end game is to have the courts rule this behavior is acceptable so then he can continue unrestrained.

@ParentsOf4 posted a dissent earlier from Scalia/Thomas where they disagreed with a first amendment ruling because they believe essentially in levels of free speech and that the government should determine what speech is appropriate. See the example below. So how is that related to this? If the same logic is applied, but instead of white supremicist group you sub in woke corporation you can see how dangerous this becomes when the government can decide which speech is free. I’m not saying the courts will rule this way, but if they did it would significantly change how free speech works for corporations.

If DeSantis is trying to fire up his base he’s not very exciting. He’s just as exciting as watching paint dry on a wall.

 

[mkt]

They threatened to build a state prison (which obviously is outlandish and won’t happen) I don’t think anything is off the table. Including the situation you described above.

Actually, I can see that exact situation playing out.

DeSantis Promises Florida Will Control Disney Content

Right-wing board to clamp down on “woke ideology” in cartoons.

nymag.com

 

[RamblinWreck]

Just buy that quote, he seems to be saying just a simple opinion that millions of people think about Disney's political mentality. But that is beside the point. I dont see the district telling Disney "We dont like your new Toy Story 8 movie..so we are not going to give you permits to build your new Toy Story ride at Animal Kingdom" Nah....I dont see that happening. (I mean...the current Disney "might" want to build a future Toy Story ride at AK...I just dont see the district fighting that because of movie messages)

Again...this RCID "problem" has been a known issue and a complaint by BOTH Democrats abd Republicans for DECADES. This is just the first time anybody actually decided to pull the trigger on it.

RCID was Disney's "Vatican" for decades...and this was something that everybody (except Disney) hated for a long time.

It’s never been remotely like the Vatican though. It’s been like local government that is still subject to all the same rules and regulations of anyone else in the county or state.

 

[GoofGoof]

Just buy that quote, he seems to be saying just a simple opinion that millions of people think about Disney's political mentality. But that is beside the point. I dont see the district telling Disney "We dont like your new Toy Story 8 movie..so we are not going to give you permits to build your new Toy Story ride at Animal Kingdom" Nah....I dont see that happening. (I mean...the current Disney "might" want to build a future Toy Story ride at AK...I just dont see the district fighting that because of movie messages)

Again...this RCID "problem" has been a known issue and a complaint by BOTH Democrats abd Republicans for DECADES. This is just the first time anybody actually decided to pull the trigger on it.

RCID was Disney's "Vatican" for decades...and this was something that everybody (except Disney) hated for a long time.

How about if people don’t like the content they don’t watch the movies or go to the theme parks or watch the networks and streaming services? Why would anyone support the government interfering with content?

I understand feeling the need to try to justify the obvious government overreach by claiming RCID was a problem all along and they are just fixing it, but that’s simply not true. DeSantis himself disagrees with you. He said publicly he didn’t even know what RCID was before this conflict. Of course he lies continuously so who knows if that is true. He has gone out of his way to tell Anyine listening this is being done to punish Disney for being woke. He even wrote it in a book.

 

[Cliff]

They threatened to build a state prison (which obviously is outlandish and won’t happen) I don’t think anything is off the table. Including the situation you described above.

Actually, I can see that exact situation playing out.

Ok....if Disney DOES try to build a Toy Story ride at Animal Kingdom?...(today, they are dumb enough to) as an AK fan and Joe Rode fan?...then YES...I do hope the district denies THAT permit.

But seriously...they will get the same oversight that they get in every other city they have parks in.

This is not "doomsday" for WDW. Life will go on and they will continue doing what they always have done..which is make tons of money. You and I will keep going to WDW as normal.

 

[GoofGoof]

Ok....if Disney DOES try to build a Toy Story ride at Animal Kingdom?...(today, they are dumb enough to) as an AK fan and Joe Rode fan?...then YES...I do hope the district denies THAT permit.

But seriously...they will get the same oversight that they get in every other city they have parks in.

This is not "doomsday" for WDW. Life will go on and they will continue doing what they always have done..which is make tons of money. You and I will keep going to WDW as normal.

Nobody is saying it’s doomsday. Disney has a really solid case and if they win on first amendment it’s back to business as usual with RCID classic. If they don’t win on 1st amendment they have an even stronger case on contract law and the development agreement so the new board stays but their ability to interfere in limited but the development agreement. Even if they lose both, DeSantis will have a few years left before he fades into obscurity (anyone seen Jeb Bush lately?). Disney is playing the long game. They will be fine. WDW will be around long after everyone forgets who Ron DeSantis even was.

You are wrong on the oversight claim. This board is not looking to perform proper oversight. They are looking to punish. They publicly stated in their meeting they would be working to attempt to make Disney pay more local taxes in Orange and Osceola counties by using district resources to fight them in court. That’s not oversight. That’s not the purpose of the special district. The governor has stated publicly he will be looking to develop district land for other purposes. That’s not oversight. Anaheim has never threatened to seize Disney property through eminent domain and build a prison or a competing amusement park. It’s not remotely the same situation.

 

[flyakite]

How many people would get this?

 

[RamblinWreck]

Ok....if Disney DOES try to build a Toy Story ride at Animal Kingdom?...(today, they are dumb enough to) as an AK fan and Joe Rode fan?...then YES...I do hope the district denies THAT permit.

But seriously...they will get the same oversight that they get in every other city they have parks in.

This is not "doomsday" for WDW. Life will go on and they will continue doing what they always have done..which is make tons of money. You and I will keep going to WDW as normal.

I don’t think you are very well informed on this.

They will very specifically not get the same oversight as anyone else.

 

[RamblinWreck]

Nobody is saying it’s doomsday. Disney has a really solid case and if they win on first amendment it’s back to business as usual with RCID classic. If they don’t win on 1st amendment they have an even stronger case on contract law and the development agreement so the new board stays but their ability to interfere in limited but the development agreement. Even if they lose both, DeSantis will have a few years left before he fades into obscurity (anyone seen Jeb Bush lately?). Disney is playing the long game. They will be fine. WDW will be around long after everyone forgets who Ron DeSantis even was.

You are wrong on the oversight claim. This board is not looking to perform proper oversight. They are looking to punish. They publicly stated in their meeting they would be working to attempt to make Disney pay more local taxes in Orange and Osceola counties by using district resources to fight them in court. That’s not oversight. That’s not the purpose of the special district. The governor has stated publicly he will be looking to develop district land for other purposes. That’s not oversight. Anaheim has never threatened to seize Disney property through eminent domain and build a prison or a competing amusement park. It’s not remotely the same situation.

The tax thing is an interesting one.

RCID has an interest in siding with the counties on that one, do they not? In the sense that they can also tax Disney more and do more with that money.

I see far less of an issue with that compared to some other things. But I could be mistaken.

 

[mkt]

The tax thing is an interesting one.

RCID has an interest in siding with the counties on that one, do they not? In the sense that they can also tax Disney more and do more with that money.

I see far less of an issue with that compared to some other things. But I could be mistaken.

Disney definitely gets double taxed right now. I've posted screenshots through the threads showing a FEW of Disney's several hundred annual tax bills.

 

[Cliff]

Ok....if Disney DOES try to build a Toy Story ride at Animal Kingdom?...(today, they are dumb enough to) as an AK fan and Joe Rode fan?...then YES...I do hope the district denies THAT permit.

But seriously...they will get the same oversight that they get in every other city they have parks in.

This is not "doomsday" for WDW. Life will go on and they will continue doing what they always have done..which is make tons of money. You and I will keep going to WDW as normal.

I have almost no problem with the way DeSantis has run Florida. I think he has generally done a solid job.

Now...that being said? He has been VERY stupid with the way he handled this RCID and Disney problem. Yes....he used VERY stupid tactics. He never...ever...should have spoken the word "Woke" in discussing this RCID issue. That word is a COMPLETELY SEPERATE issue that Disney has. Bringing that word into this suddenly clouded this thing and gunked it up unnecessarily. DeSantis...with one word...threw a monkey wrench into the whole process.

I would have been fine if this was done with ZERO "Woke" statements from the State. It should have been:

"We are instituting proper public oversight over WDW the way it should have been done decades ago...and nothing more"

But nope...DeSantis HAD to bring up the Parental Rights bill and the Disney grooming thing. Anyhoo...I like DeSantis but hate the fact that he turned this movement into a "Woke", political fight.

It would have been better for ALL parties if that "Woke" word stayed out of all this.

 

[GoofGoof]

I have almost no problem with the way DeSantis has run Florida. I think he has generally done a solid job.

Now...that being said? He has been VERY stupid with the way he handled this RCID and Disney problem. Yes....he used VERY stupid tactics. He never...ever...should have spoken the word "Woke" in discussing this RCID issue. That word is a COMPLETELY SEPERATE issue that Disney has. Bringing that word into this suddenly clouded this thing and gunked it up unnecessarily. DeSantis...with one word...threw a monkey wrench into the whole process.

I would have been fine if this was done with ZERO "Woke" statements from the State. It should have been:

"We are instituting proper public oversight over WDW the way it should have been done decades ago...and nothing more"

But nope...DeSantis HAD to bring up the Parental Rights bill and the Disney grooming thing. Anyhoo...I like DeSantis but hate the fact that he turned this movement into a "Woke", political fight.

It would have been better for ALL parties if that "Woke" word stayed out of all this.

And to finish that thought….the only reason any of this happened is because Chapek spoke out. DeSantis was in office for 3 years and never once mentioned RCID or an issue with it. He even said initially he had never heard of it before this conflict. If this was being done to install proper oversight then why a board of political appointees? Why not allow county control? The counties and their citizens have the most impact from Disney developing their property.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

No, what would’ve been better would’ve been to
A) NEVER SPOKEN publicly about dissolving RCID because of Disney’s stance and
B) People on his staff telling him that he was in violation of 1A…
As to B, maybe staff did and he overrode them…I tend to think he’s got a group of “yes” men and women who were looking to follow his coattails to DC…

 

[Dranth]

No, what would’ve been better would’ve been to
A) NEVER SPOKEN publicly about dissolving RCID because of Disney’s stance and
B) People on his staff telling him that he was in violation of 1A…
As to B, maybe staff did and he overrode them…I tend to think he’s got a group of “yes” men and women who were looking to follow his coattails to DC…

Yep.

All DeSantis had to do was put out some generic political statement with lots of buzz words. Something along the lines of he was disappointed that Disney wanted to fight a bill "protecting" the children but they were welcome to try. In the end they would just waste their time and money because he has the will of the people on his side. Maybe throw in the word woke somewhere.

Done. Nothing more needed.

That would have played well to his base and not left him open to the current abuse he is taking from both the right and the left.

 

[Florida Man]

Yep.

All DeSantis had to do was put out some generic political statement with lots of buzz words. Something along the lines of he was disappointed that Disney wanted to fight a bill "protecting" the children but they were welcome to try. In the end they would just waste their time and money because he has the will of the people on his side. Maybe throw in the word woke somewhere.

Done. Nothing more needed.

That would have played well to his base and not left him open to the current abuse he is taking from both the right and the left.

Exactly. Or literally have done nothing. He got his law passed. He got his win. It was over.

So what if Disney spoke out about it? That’s how it works in America. The govt literally can’t go retaliate against them because, again, this is the USA. In other countries it may be permissible for govt to do such things, but not here, and I’m confident the courts will clear this up.

 

[MandaM]

I have almost no problem with the way DeSantis has run Florida. I think he has generally done a solid job.

Now...that being said? He has been VERY stupid with the way he handled this RCID and Disney problem. Yes....he used VERY stupid tactics. He never...ever...should have spoken the word "Woke" in discussing this RCID issue. That word is a COMPLETELY SEPERATE issue that Disney has. Bringing that word into this suddenly clouded this thing and gunked it up unnecessarily. DeSantis...with one word...threw a monkey wrench into the whole process.

I would have been fine if this was done with ZERO "Woke" statements from the State. It should have been:

"We are instituting proper public oversight over WDW the way it should have been done decades ago...and nothing more"

But nope...DeSantis HAD to bring up the Parental Rights bill and the Disney grooming thing. Anyhoo...I like DeSantis but hate the fact that he turned this movement into a "Woke", political fight.

It would have been better for ALL parties if that "Woke" word stayed out of all this.

That’s because he didn’t actually have a problem with how RCID/Disney operated. He didn’t even know about RCID before all this started.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Many past legislators..since the 80's have proposed that RCID should not exist the way it did. Yes!...driven by many Democrats too!

Then surely you can provide us some links to these many legislative actions. And why should we ignore’s the legislature’s own report on the subject?

 

[RamblinWreck]

Disney definitely gets double taxed right now. I've posted screenshots through the threads showing a FEW of Disney's several hundred annual tax bills.

But if the counties value Disney’s property higher, can RCID not also tax them more?

 

[mikejs78]

You have heard the State publically say their intent is to use the Central Fl Tourism Oversight District to dictate what political content Disney makes?

DeSantis has said it a number of times. Bridget Ziegler, one of the board members, has said she wants to use her power on the board to force Disney to make non-woke content. She is president of "Moms for liberty"..She has absolutely zero qualifications to be on the board, her whole mission in life is to fight the "woke mob". If DeSantis was interested in true oversight, why appoint her and not appoint anyone qualified like the state legislature recommended in its legislation?

RCID for a long time has been viewed by many as a "puppet government" of Disney. For DECADES, RCID has been viewed as a "joke" by many. Yes...c'mon...we have all joked about it since the origin of this web site....long before the Parental Rights Bill ever existed.

Many past legislators..since the 80's have proposed that RCID should not exist the way it did. Yes!...driven by many Democrats too!

There have been a handful of legislators who have said things over the years, but they have been a very small minority. In fact, the legislature did look into it about 20 years ago, and their report determined that it would harm the state substantially if they did dissolve the district.

Again...this RCID "problem" has been a known issue and a complaint by BOTH Democrats abd Republicans for DECADES. This is just the first time anybody actually decided to pull the trigger on it.

Wrong, that is just not true. There have been a few to speak up, sure, but it's never gotten any traction or anywhere near consensus support.

RCID has an interest in siding with the counties on that one, do they not? In the sense that they can also tax Disney more and do more with that money.

No, because their charter is to serve the landowners and maintain a balanced budget.

Yes....he used VERY stupid tactics. He never...ever...should have spoken the word "Woke" in discussing this RCID issue. That word is a COMPLETELY SEPERATE issue that Disney has. Bringing that word into this suddenly clouded this thing and gunked it up unnecessarily. DeSantis...with one word...threw a monkey wrench into the whole process.

But that was the whole point. There was no other point to this than to punish Disney for their speech. And frankly, that should disturb any American who cares about our country and the constitution, regardless of political affiliation. One can argue that Disney shouldn't have control of the special district. I disagree, but it's a reasonable argument. But one should also wholeheartedly reject it happening as a means of suppressing speech. The ends don't justify the means.