Report: DeSantis To Announce Plans to Void Reedy Creek Contract, Introduce Monorail & Ride Inspections in Disney World Fight

    UPDATE: Ron DeSantis held a press conference today where he outlined many of the points reported below. Here’s our report from the press conference, followed by our original version of this article.

    A State Prison at Disney World? DeSantis Announces Plans to Undo Reedy Creek Contract & Expand State Targeting of Disney World
    In a press conference this afternoon, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced his next steps in the fight with Walt Disney World
    blogmickey.com

    A report from the nypost claims that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is ready to announce his next move in an ongoing fight against Disney. DeSantis will reportedly unveil plans later today to void a contract between the Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board (formerly the Reedy Creek Improvement District) and Walt Disney World. The development contract, which was agreed upon before DeSantis’ hand-picked Board Members could take over, basically signs off certain development rights to Walt Disney World for decades to come.

    The now-popular “King Charles Clause” was introduced with the prior Board that allows, among other things, Disney World to develop and utilize land owned by Reedy Creek Improvement District such as the Disney Springs parking garages. The move angered DeSantis and his new rubber-stamp Board, but Disney was quick to point out that its actions were legal:

    All agreements signed between Disney and the District were appropriate, and were discussed and approved in open, noticed public forums in compliance with Florida’s Government in the Sunshine law.
    Disney statement

    The new measures introduced by DeSantis will reportedly be run through the State Legislature, which is majority Republican and happy to do the bidding of the Governor. In addition to action to void the development agreement contract, the report says that the State could introduce new inspections for public transportation such as the monorail system and even attractions within the theme parks. There has been a longstanding Florida statute that exempts Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, and other “permanent facilities” from state inspections provided that they employ at least 1,000 workers and “maintain full-time, in-house safety inspectors”. It’s possible that DeSantis could target that exemption to get state inspectors into Walt Disney World to determine if rides are safe to operate.

    Today’s announcement comes at a time when the Florida Governor is taking a beating in the press and even from former President Donald Trump, who said that DeSantis was “outplayed, outsmarted, and embarrassed by Mickey Mouse and Disney”.

    DeSantis has largely been fighting a one-sided war with Disney of late. While Disney CEO Bob Iger did say that DeSantis had retaliated against the company, he said that he would be glad to sit down with DeSantis to figure this all out. Iger said that Disney plans on spending $17 billion at Walt Disney World over the next decade, but has said that DeSantis’ actions are “anti-business” and “anti-Florida”.

    As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!

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    46 COMMENTS

    1. I remember that the responsibility of the ride inspections was left with the operators to limit the state’s liability. The ride owners thus had a vested interest in eliminating errors, as much as humanly possible. Imagine how much Florida taxpayers are going to have to pay extra, to cover the cost of insuring all those places!

        • This.baby needs a diaper change. Him and his allies need go to Cuba since they can rule like dictators. Instead of fighting with disney try fixing the photon and the other problems with the state! I pray GOD doesn’t this fool or The other crazy fool Trump. Bless this state and country!

    2. The party of small government making government Big again. Looking to waste money to resolve a problem that doesn’t exist. This is the sign of a petty man that doesn’t like to lose and wants to punish people that stand up to him (All while abusing his powers).

    3. Ron Desantits, he has everything against Disney World
      And also Disney world is always going to get bigger and better they would always improve. Ron Desantits
      He opens his mouth with money and does not know crap what he’s talking about. I am a big fan of Disney World and Disney World will have better and bigger things coming ahead in the next year and 10 years and beyond that and Disney World would always be the best place for all vacationers all over the world

    4. DeSantis has lost his mind, I mean seriously, is he okay?? I’m a lifelong Republican and Central FL resident but there is something seriously wrong with him. I do not believe he is fit for office, mentally. We have many real problems here in Florida, insurance rates (both automotive and homeowners), serious environmental problems with the Red Tide along the gulf coast, traffic and a lack of adequate transportation infrastructure, etc. All this governor and the legislature seems to care about however is banning books and fighting the state’s largest private employer and major contributor to the Florida economy. If I were Disney, I’d wind down operations here and move to a more business friendly state like Texas or Georgia. I sure hope this idiot doesn’t run for, and receive the GOP nomination, if he does, I’ll be voting democrat for the first time in my 65 years in this planet.

    5. Don’t think you’re doing the rest of the USA a favor by promoting your Governor to President, just to move him out. The Florida residents now has exactly what they deserve. The guy that was out foxed by the MOUSE!

      • This is all pudding fingers war with Disney. He doesn’t care about Florida constituents. He’s no where to be seen about the flooding in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, the gas shortage, or holding insurance companies for defrauding thousands of those who went through Ian. No one cares about this war. They want to see a governor doing his damn job. It’s not that hard. But he’s too worried about being embarrassed and becoming president than doing his job. He’s anti-Florida!

      • It’s one sided because Disney isn’t really doing anything, so far they have been on the defense and offering to v parley, but that’s only because they have no real desire to go to war with Flordia.

    6. If the state of Florida feels the need to personally inspect every ride and sign off on them, doesn’t that shift liability to the taxpayers in Florida to settle in case of an accident instead of Disney Corporations?

      • As Long as Disney pays their fair share of taxes instead of the sweetheart deal they have then no problem.

    7. DeSantis needs to ‘Let it go, let it go”. I am starting to question my support for him as he continues to be an over bearing and intrusive governor. Thank god he is not coming after me for my first amendment right. Perhaps Budweiser whom also managed to get in a fight where they don’t belong. The market will take care of them. J

    8. This is actually brilliant move on DeSantis’s part, in light of recent stories of breakdowns and decay regarding the Epcot monorail–and lest we forget, various breakdowns regarding rides.

      A few years ago, Disney could have correctly pointed to their own standards being HIGHER than what state safety codes etc would hold. However, that is clearly no longer the case, and thus DeSantis is able to look like a hero.

      (There’s also the recent issue regarding firefighter pay…which DeSantis’s appointed board immediately announced they intend to fix. Again, Ron DeSantis thus looks like the hero.)

    9. What King Desantis can’t get what he wants? Disney thwarted the will of the People? Ha! There was no vote by the people. He appointed people that only answers to him, there is no accountability to the people of Central florida. Tax rooms and roads? That also has to approved by voters. All I see is a little boy that got outsmarted by a mouse and throws a tantrum when he doesn’t get what he wants.

    10. Do you really think DeSantis should be running for President, he seems to take things VERY personal when someone doesn’t agree with his way of thinking. If he is willing to hurt tourists in his fight with Disney ( which will cost the state) what do you think he will do to anyone else? Seems to be following another famous persons way of thinking . Remember Hitler, following his play book from 1939 think what I tell you to think read what I tell you to read believe what I tell you to believe sound familiar? Would never vote for him as a governor again,ego to big he must have somethings in his closet he doesn’t what anyone to discover( like Homophobe, doesn’t like Black people or any foreign people,hiding something)

      • This petty man needs to start acting like a real governor and focus on the problems Florida is facing. How does building a state prison next to Disney help the economy? Oh wait it doesn’t… Also what’s up with using the power of government to get your way? I thought the Republican party was all about small government. Oh wait I was wrong again, he’s a fascist… please someone help this man find the door.

    11. DeSantis has really lost his mind . He is like a kid that don’t know how to lose he really needs to get over it .

    12. Disney is welcome to move to North and South Carolina, Great state and people, a lot of potential workers and employees.

    13. This narcissus needs to be impeached. He is a useless person at governing Whatever happened to one that is hired by the public to do his job not harassing Disney

      What a loser!

      • 100% agreement! DeSantis is a very narcissistic and small-minded man. He does not have the maturity to be governor, much less President. He is an embarrassment to Florida and should be removed from office immediately!

    14. All of this just because Disney disagreed with Generalissmo DeSantis’ Don’t Say Gay bill. What’s thin-skinned authoritarian.

    15. Governor DeSantis… I had mad respect for you during Covid but now it seems like you’re taking a dictator stance. I will not you for governor again or anything really …..rethink your strategy. It’s not a good look on you now!

    16. Eric M Blake, please provide proof of al those ride breakdowns and the decay of which you speak. I’m a FL resident and frequent customer at WDW and I’ve never seen such evidence. Enlighten us all, please.

    17. His name is Ron Batista DeSantis. Batista the guy who used to rule over Cuba with his dictatorship regime before being “whipped” by Fidel Castro

    18. Please please please don’t let this hybrid between a school yard bully and an infant throwing a temper tantrum get involved in any form of politics outside of Florida. I can only imagine how he’d react if he’s in the white house and someone doesn’t agree with him.

    19. Ronnie needs to solve the insurance policies problems in the state and leave Disney alone. People cannot pay the high price for coverage in his state

    20. Disney should just call his bluff, wind down their operations and build a beautiful park where business is valued for its revenue and job creation. The thin skinned authoritarian needs some medicine. Colorado has extended an invite. Am sure other states would welcome their billions.

    21. He needs to concentrate on the needs of his residents. The crime is increasing as he is puffing his chest at a mouse with a problem that doesn’t exist. All this is is a revenge scheme to try to show off. Hope he’s not our next president, how petty he is.

    22. Didn’t that condo collapse due to inaction or poor inspections? I don’t think I’ll trust the states reports on a theme park when entire housing towers collapse on their watch.

    23. This is a personal vendetta against Disney. I think the state of Florida has more pressing issues and better use of taxpayer dollars!

    24. Florida needs to ask if they can live without Disney. Is the desire to beat down Disney so overpowering that the state will risk their relationship and revenue?
      Grow up.

    25. Even for one of the states, taking on Disney’s lawyers is like trying to get into pissing contest with a fire hose.

      • It’s pure spite. He specifically said the inspections would be in Disney. Not Sea World. Not Universal. Not Busch Gardens. Disney won’t go broke if they closed down the park for a few months but all the businesses which rely on Disney tourism would suffer. Maybe this should happen and see if DeSatan finally learns his lesson.

    26. I appreciated Governor’s COVID response during the worst of the pandemic and praised his actions to my family in the North .But what seems to be his attack on Disney over there voiced dissent to his policies,seems authoritarian at best. And his abortion views has doomed his Presidency.

    27. This is who the GOP establishment is hoping to save them from the Trump madness? All the personal magnetism of George McGovern, if George McGovern was really mean. Clearly, Florida is where charisma goes to die.

    28. My assumption is Desantis wanted Disney to bribe him, they refused and that’s when he made this bogus political front against the Theme park. Every step he’s tried to make against them screams major corruption so it’s highly likely this is the case. I really don’t buy the shit about him being upset over the stance they took against the Don’t say Gay bill.

      Why else would he torch the earth in Florida to get back at them? All those billions that will be lost, the unemployment, the liabilities, and the litigation! There’s something that smells foul here, and I’m sure as time progresses, we’ll find out.

    29. The longer he fights these culture wars, the more he is looking stupid. He is fighting the wrong battle. If he wants to fight Disney on something substantial, he needs to take them to court on how they circumvent copyright laws.

    30. As a 50 year resident of Florida and a 50 year business man in the construction industry, I have seen most of the wonderful changes and progress of what Disney Corporation has brought to Florida in the last 50 years. So why would a “wet behind the ears” kid like the Governor want to kill the biggest and best thing that ever came to Florida?. Well, his actions alone reflect the truth in his stupid thinking process, by revealing that he is a want- to- be dictator and a true white-boy-bigot who really wants the pure race to be dominant. By the way I’m white, and resent his acting like a jerk.

    Comments are closed.

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