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

[LAKid53]

Because the infrastructure that's being developed is for the operation of their business, it's not for public use. World Drive isn't fundamentally any different than the walking paths in Adventureland.

Incorrect. World Drive street signs are GREEN. In Florida that means they are PUBLIC, not private, roads. Private road street signs are blue.

 

[lazyboy97o]

But they’re different types of documents, each requiring different mechanisms for public hearings and required notices.

Are you suggesting the January/Feb ‘23 development agreement wasn’t required to comply with public notice requirements (newspaper notices, mailings to land owners) because it “locks in” an earlier plan?

Who said any of that? The original tweet was about the development agreement being based on something DeSantis’ government decided complied with state law. In order to void the agreement they need some compelling reason regarding public welfare that has suddenly come up in the past year.

 

[peter11435]

Yet again, I never said Disney paid less in taxes they simply get special red carpet treatment from their own corporate run government oversight board. I used taxes as an example that the poster might understand as most people are familiar with paying taxes but few have to ever deal with a local government when seeking permits and such.

Reread your original post I commented on and then say this again with a straight face.

 

[CentralFLlife]

For a corporation time is very valuable. Having worked in a corporation that had to deal with multiple government entities for permits on pipelines we built, I can assure you that having a special entity that fast tracks every permit you need is very valuable. I've watch large construction teams sit around for weeks at a time simply because an inspector didn't show up to sign on what had been done.

I've also experienced this... with RCID inspectors.

RCID did not fast track & rubber stamp building permits/inspetions. That couldn't be farther from the truth. I don't know how many times that needs to be said.

 

[lazyboy97o]

You are clueless. How many corporations and individual have to get a permit in any of the neighboring areas? thousands. Now compare that to the number in Reedy Creek, it is a drop in the bucket. So if you don't think being able to bypass the normal line that makes the DMV look fast, and instead just having your own private permitting group doesn't save time you are clueless. The special pass isn't not getting a permit it is getting one from an agency that exist for your own use only. Universal doesn't have its own permitting agency at their beck and call, only Disney has had that advantage.

The City of Orlando works very closely with Universal and now Orange County is doing the same. If you’re willing to pay your design staff for it, they too are allowed to schedule pre-application meetings to review designs and help ensure approval. You can also pay extra for priority review and off-hour inspections.

 

[GoofGoof]

I didn't say Disney paid any more or less in taxes, the analogy was asking if you would like it if your neighbor got a special break on taxes for life... in this instance what Disney got may not have amount to anything in lower taxes but it did provide them at the very least with a special pass on normal permits and other things that would take any other competitor much longer because they weren't going to be dealing with a oversight board that was really run by themselves.

But other corporations aren’t paying almost 100% through taxes for what the local tax authority is doing. So Universal may have to wait for Orange County or Orlando to approve stuff, but the county is also paying for half of their new road to Epic Universe. Hundreds of millions saved not having a RCID of their own.

I asked this question a number of times and nobody seems to have an answer. If RCID is a bad design because of the risk of Disney acting without oversight then surely there must be numerous examples of issues as a result over the last 50+ years. So what has Disney done to abuse their power and harm the citizens of FL? If this is the true reason to take away control there must be some support right?

 

[GoofGoof]

I've also experienced this... with RCID inspectors.

RCID did not fast track & rubber stamp building permits/inspetions. That couldn't be farther from the truth. I don't know how many times that needs to be said.

At least one more I guess

 

[peter11435]

You are clueless. How many corporations and individual have to get a permit in any of the neighboring areas? thousands. Now compare that to the number in Reedy Creek, it is a drop in the bucket. So if you don't think being able to bypass the normal line that makes the DMV look fast, and instead just having your own private permitting group doesn't save time you are clueless. The special pass isn't not getting a permit it is getting one from an agency that exist for your own use only. Universal doesn't have its own permitting agency at their beck and call, only Disney has had that advantage.

You’ve clearly never had to get a permit from Reedy Creek…

 

[MrPromey]

Except many of those roads are public, not private. So, as a taxpayer in Orange County, I appreciate TWDC paying an assessment to RCID to maintain roads my taxes would normally pay for.

Except if not for RCID, most of those roads would likely have never been public roads. Disney would likely have continued to own the property which means Disney would have been paying property tax on the land those roads sit on as well as paying directly to maintain those roads, right along with the parking garages and they would not have been able to issue government bonds to help cover the construction costs, of any of that.

I think that is what captain is talking about.

Personally, I have no issue with it, moral or otherwise but that's my personal take and I could explain why I'm okay with it but nobody cares, right?

Obviously, he and I have different personal takes on it but I can understand why someone would feel differently about this than I do.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Except it absolutely is for public use. Disney is not the only entity that benefits from that infrastructure.

Then Disney shouldn't have full control over it. I just think you have to pick one.

If it's for the business, then Disney can keep full control and fund maintenance out of their corporate opex and investments out of their corporate capex.

If it's public infrastructure, then a government entity (that isn't fully controlled by Disney) gets control and it can be funded with municipal bonds and tax revenue.

PUBLIC infrastructure wholly controlled by a PRIVATE company doesn't sit well with me.

 

[jimbojones]

That’s not answering the question. You have repeatedly claimed there is some land being held by the District that others cannot use. What is this land? Tell us. Show us on a map.

I am very curious to see a map of what is owned in whole by WDW and what is RCID, does such a map exist online? I want to know where this new non-disney theme park or prison could be built.....

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I've also experienced this... with RCID inspectors.

RCID did not fast track & rubber stamp building permits/inspetions. That couldn't be farther from the truth. I don't know how many times that needs to be said.

In your words, what did RCID do that Disney likes and is fighting to keep?

People keep saying "RCID didn't do anything special for Disney," yet Disney is awfully upset that they lost it.

 

[LAKid53]

At least one more I guess

Having worked in a state regulatory agency that issues permits...

Expedited does not mean things were rubber stamped or corners cut. It means the permit becomes top priority for review. Public meetings are scheduled sooner rather than later. TAC meetings between the permitors (us), the permitees and professionals (including lawyers) are set up ASAP.

And trust me, there are groups (make that lawyers) who will pick apart every permit decision made.

 

[LAKid53]

Except if not for RCID, most of those roads would likely have never been public roads. Disney would likely have continued to own the property which means Disney would have been paying property tax on the land they drive across as well as paying directly to maintain those roads, right along with the parking garages and they would not have been able to issue government bonds to help cover the construction costs, of any of that.

I think that is what captain is talking about.

Personally, I have no issue with it, moral or otherwise but that's my personal take and I could explain why I'm okay with it but nobody cares, right?

Obviously, he and I have different personal takes on it but I can understand why someone would feel differently about this than I do.

The Walt Disney Corporation did not issues the bonds. They were issued by and on behalf of RCID Board of Supervisors Please Google the Agreements.

 

[GoofGoof]

In your words, what did RCID do that Disney likes and is fighting to keep?

People keep saying "RCID didn't do anything special for Disney," yet Disney is awfully upset that they lost it.

Who said it didn’t do anything special for Disney? You are creating a straw man. Go back and read the thread. There was discussion for pages on what the district does and why it benefits Disney. Why is it a bad thing if the district benefits Disney? what harm does it do? How is this new Governor appointed board better for anyone who eats pudding with a spoon?

 

[CentralFLlife]

In your words, what did RCID do that Disney likes and is fighting to keep?

People keep saying "RCID didn't do anything special for Disney," yet Disney is awfully upset that they lost it.

They dont want to be held hostage by political nutjobs. You really don't think it's an issue that the board members are political appointees who are going to try and keep Disney in check from pushing a "woke" agenda?

Notice how the new district still is controlling permitting/inspections?

You seem to be an expert in the RCID/WDW relationship. Have you every actually worked with RCID?

 

[MrPromey]

The Walt Disney Corporation did not issues the bonds. They were issued by and on behalf of RCID Board of Supervisors Please Google the Agreements.

Did I say otherwise?

Why do I need Google for something I already understand?

Was I not clear in what I said?

 

[jimbojones]

I am very curious to see a map of what is owned in whole by WDW and what is RCID, does such a map exist online? I want to know where this new non-disney theme park or prison could be built.....

I think I got part way to an answer

Maps of the Reedy Creek 2010 - 2020 Plan

The Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID) is the governing jurisdiction for Walt Disney World comprising the 'towns' of Lake Buena Vista (formerly Reedy Creek in which Disney Springs, Saratoga Springs and Port Orleans live) and Bay Lake (the rest of developed WDW), and the unincorporated...

forums.wdwmagic.com

so would the areas currently marked as "conservation" and "public facilities" be the target land of this revenge policy?

 

[peter11435]

I am very curious to see a map of what is owned in whole by WDW and what is RCID, does such a map exist online? I want to know where this new non-disney theme park or prison could be built.....

Orange County property appraiser site has a helpful map feature

 

[flynnibus]

EXACTLY! I understand it perfectly well. I'm not describing it differently than you are, I'm saying I understand what it is, exactly as you're describing it, and I don't like it.

"Turning it over" to a board controlled by themselves to be used exactly and only how they want, while getting it off of their balance sheet and eligible for municipal debt is exactly what I don't like.

So it wasn’t public land like you described…. It was disney owned land.

You have described your complaints incorrectly everytime in this thread