I am announcing today that we are expanding the call of what they are going to be considering this week. And so yes, they will be considering their congressional map. But they also will be considering termination of all special districts that were enacted in Florida prior to 1968. And that includes the Reedy Creek Improvement District.
— Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida
The cost for The Walt Disney Company in its opposition to Florida law forbidding sexual orientation and gender theory instruction in classrooms K-3 grade levels is rising dramatically. What would have once been considered an untouchable, one-of-a-kind deal in Florida for Disney World is now on the table for revocation. The Reedy Creek Improvement District, Disney’s means by which it self-governs The Walt Disney World Resort in a way no other theme park in the world can do, is potentially being dismissed by the state of Florida. This follows Disney’s condemnation of Florida conservative legislation and Disney’s expressed corporate policy to seek legal battle against the law.
Should Disney lose its self-governance, a series of impacts would occur. Some would be positive for Disney but most would be financially very damaging. On the plus side, Disney would not have to maintain some of its transportation infrastructure. However, as a negative, taxation of the park would be restructured to act in the same manner as other theme parks experience. Zoning and inspections would also be under the purview of Florida and local governing bodies. Disney would need to seek significant new permits when attempting to do things like deforest the land for massive solar farms. Florida would also take over all the emergency services, meaning Disney would no longer de facto run fire departments and policing. It’s hard to say if that is a positive or negative.
It’s hard to imagine how Disney could maintain a fiduciary responsibility to shareholders and not engage the Florida government to try to avoid this dramatic economic impact to the company. Disney World is easily the largest and most lucrative theme park resort Disney owns or operates — it dwarfs Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney, Shanghai Disney, Hong Kong Disneyland, and all the cruise properties Disney operates in terms of revenue / profit.
Should Disney or its leadership respond to this development, we will carry it at That Park Place. As of publication, no statement has been made.
For all the latest news that should be fun, keep checking out That Park Place! As always, drop a comment down below if you’re so inclined. We read them!
