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

[Disstevefan1]

I grow tired of this RCID discussion... Hey, look, MNSSHP is BACK!!

 

[mikejs78]

Honestly I wish Iger were still CEO here. He would navigate this with finesse, despite all the criticism that anyone else has of him for other reasons.

Even with the strong case and many legal options that Disney has, I'm not confident that Chapek won't somehow mess this up

 

[Bastet]

I would like to think that the legal team have been able to put Bob on a short leash, so he cant say or do anything without their approval!

 

[chrisvee]

We have WDW trips booked for May, June, September, and December.

We’re doing what we can to support Disney!

We were there in Mar. It’s a 3 trip year rather than the usual 4 because we’re (shockingly) going elsewhere in May.

 

[flynnibus]

Something new to distract and take the media spotlight so the focus shifts. Something that will generate significant support from his supporters so they will overlook other blunders and back steps.

First rule of politics is if the heat is coming.. just point at someone else. Rule #2 Focus on what you could do.. vs what you have done.

This is how they navigate blunders and keep the mob focused on what they are selling instead of what they have done. This situation will be no different. Just keep the ball moving.

I'm more interested to see what his timeline is... do they insert something in the 2022D session yet? Will is be another unilateral play?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Honestly I wish Iger were still CEO here. He would navigate this with finesse, despite all the criticism that anyone else has of him for other reasons.

Even with the strong case and many legal options that Disney has, I'm not confident that Chapek won't somehow mess this up

…you wanna know what I think???

 

[mikejs78]

…you wanna know what I think???

Actually yes. Who would you rather have navigating this situation? Iger or Chapek? Regardless of any other issues you have with either of them.

 

[peter11435]

First rule of politics is if the heat is coming.. just point at someone else. Rule #2 Focus on what you could do.. vs what you have done.

This is how they navigate blunders and keep the mob focused on what they are selling instead of what they have done. This situation will be no different. Just keep the ball moving.

I'm more interested to see what his timeline is... do they insert something in the 2022D session yet? Will is be another unilateral play?

I think they will insert legislation on constitutional carry and fixing the RC mess during the may special session. To be honest it was always a bit fishy that he called the May special session in the first place.

 

[mmascari]

No…they are going to raise my prices.

That's your reward!

Did you NOT want higher prices?

 

[Disney Glimpses]

I have a feeling the words "we're giving Disney the benefit of the doubt" or "we're doing Disney a favor here" are coming (to pretend like they didn't make a mistake and backtrack).

 

[Disstevefan1]

Honestly I wish Iger were still CEO here. He would navigate this with finesse, despite all the criticism that anyone else has of him for other reasons.

Even with the strong case and many legal options that Disney has, I'm not confident that Chapek won't somehow mess this up

It's fun to speculate.

Chapeck initially tried to mind in own business (TWDC) and stay out of the social justice fight over HB 1557, but was pressured to use TWDC to fight it and that resulted in the targeted removal of RCID by DeSantis.

In my opinion, both sides did wrong here.

Iger would have been against HB 1557 right from the start, there would be no flip flop. We can only speculate what he would have done.

Either leader could have said something like -

"Walt Disney World and Florida are partners and sometimes partners can disagree. Walt and his brother Roy did not agree on things but still worked together to grow TWDC. Although TWDC and Florida disagree on this bill, we will still work as partners to serve the state of Florida and the millions of guests that choose to vacation at WDW."

 

[VelocityRaptor]

I think they will insert legislation on constitutional carry and fixing the RC mess during the may special session. To be honest it was always a bit fishy that he called the May special session in the first place.

I would love constitutional carry. But I highly doubt it would happen. I think Desantis talks a big game about it, saying he will sign it if it arrives at his desk. But I don’t think he’ll be making any pushes for it

 

[peter11435]

I would love constitutional carry. But I highly doubt it would happen. I think Desantis talks a big game about it, saying he will sign it if it arrives at his desk. But I don’t think he’ll be making any pushes for it

I’m not saying it will happen. I’m saying it will be used as a distraction and a way to score political points. Just as the reedy creek bill was used to distract from the district maps.

 

[VelocityRaptor]

I’m not saying it will happen. I’m saying it will be used as a distraction and a way to score political points. Just as the reedy creek bill was used to distract from the district maps.

Agreed

 

[peter11435]

Agreed

He will absolutely not do it now. They will use it as leverage for the election

 

[denyuntilcaught]

It's fun to speculate.

Chapeck initially tried to mind in own business (TWDC) and stay out of the social justice fight over HB 1557, but was pressured to use TWDC to fight it and that resulted in the targeted removal of RCID by DeSantis.

In my opinion, both sides did wrong here.

Iger would have been against HB 1557 right from the start, there would be no flip flop. We can only speculate what he would have done.

Either leader could have said something like -

"Walt Disney World and Florida are partners and sometimes partners can disagree. Walt and his brother Roy did not agree on things but still worked together to grow TWDC. Although TWDC and Florida disagree on this bill, we will still work as partners to serve the state of Florida and the millions of guests that choose to vacation at WDW."

As someone with a career in PR and crisis, your statement is eerily spot on for what exactly what should have been done/said from the start. Make Disney seem like the mature one here,

 

[Patcheslee]

So curious about something. If RCID is done away with come June 2023 vs reestablished, do all roads in Disney become public property vs Disney property. And if it becomes public property, does that mean people would be able to protest in much closer proximity to parks and resorts?

 

[lazyboy97o]

So curious about something. If RCID is done away with come June 2023 vs reestablished, do all roads in Disney become public property vs Disney property. And if it becomes public property, does that mean people would be able to protest in much closer proximity to parks and resorts?

Reedy Creek is not owned by Disney. If it’s fully a Reedy Creek road then it is already public property.

 

[flynnibus]

So curious about something. If RCID is done away with come June 2023 vs reestablished, do all roads in Disney become public property vs Disney property. And if it becomes public property, does that mean people would be able to protest in much closer proximity to parks and resorts?

That is not a question that is answered -- because the very concept of 'being reestablished' is completely up to whatever they reestablish it as and with what terms.

 

[mikejs78]

Summary for the cheapskates?

Basically, they outline four potential solutions, each with major drawbacks. :

• Dissolve district and assets/debt move to the counties; result in either tax increases or loss of services; not clear this can happen because of the bonds though, as the counties don't have the same ad valorum taxing capability as Reedy Creek (limited by FL constitution) and that would be in violation of the bond contracts.
• The state could argue that the 1967 pledge in the bond contracts is invalid - but that would have catastrophic effects on the state's bond rating
• The state could use eminent domain to seize the assets of the district and Disney and use that to pay off the bonds - but they can only do that when the district is officially dissolved (June 2023), and in the intervening year, Disney could simply divest those assets to LBV and Bay Lake. This would reduce Disney's tax bill further when the district goes away.
• Create an MSTU to replace the district - but that can't happen under state law because two municipalities are involved and they have self-governing rights under the FL constitution