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DeSantis/Florida Said Disney’s Special District Was Corrupt, so Why Is Its Biggest Rival Getting One?

When Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took on the Walt Disney Company, he said it was to level the playing field. Governor DeSantis wanted to ensure that Disney was paying its fair share of taxes and not cheating Florida taxpayers. He said it definitely wasn’t retaliation for former Disney CEO Bob Chapek speaking out against Floirda’s Parental Rights in Education law, known by its critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

Disney Quiet the Noise
Credit: Disney/Gage Skidmore, Flickr/Canva

Related: But What About His Emails? Disney Serves Notice That It Wants DeSantis Documents

So, the governor, with the Florida Legislature’s help, stripped Disney World of the Reedy Creek Improvement District and replaced it with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. The new Board, filled with DeSantis appointees, would ensure that Walt Disney World would pay its fair share in taxes and not have complete control over the district.

And that would be that. After 50 years of running its special district, Walt Disney World would have to play by the same rules as everyone else in Florida. But even that wasn’t exactly true.

universal studios orlando florida
Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida / Credit: Universal

Related: Florida Lawyer Calls DeSantis’ Defense “Pixie Dust and Fairy Tales”

According to a report from the University of Central Florida, more than 1,700 independent and dependent special districts exist in Florida. And now, there’s going to be one more. While Disney World was stripped of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, Disney’s biggest rival in the state just got more autonomy.

This week, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to create the Shingle Creek Transit and Utility Community Development District. That mouthful of a name District is 719 acres, including Universal Orlando Resort, Universal’s new Epic Universe theme park, and 13 acres for a new Sun Rail train station.

In a statement, John Sprouls, chief administrative officer of Universal Destinations & Experiences, said:

Today marks a step forward and we thank the mayor and county commissioners for approving our petition to establish a community development district that can help realize the vision for expanded SunRail connectivity from the airport to the convention center. With just a single stop and a new convention center station, we can get 125,000-plus residents to their jobs and millions of visitors to our area’s world-class attractions.

According to a report in The Street, all the taxes and funds raised in Universal Studio’s new District will go toward funding improvement projects within the district. Universal Studios Orlando is one of two landowners within the district; the other is the Hilton Orlando.

Universal Islands of Adventure
Credit: Universal

The entire Board of the Shingle Creek Transit and Utility Community Development District is filled with Universal Orlando employees. This is similar to the arrangement that Disney World formerly had with the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which was filled with Disney employees.

This latest move by the state and Florida Gov Ron DeSantis gives the Walt Disney Co. more ammunition for its lawsuit against them. In Federal Court, Disney claims that the governor violated its First Amendment Rights and government retaliation for stripping Disney of the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Giving a new district to Universal Studios Orlando, Disney’s biggest competitor, only strengthens the case that this was government retaliation.

We will continue to update this story at Disney Fanatic.

Rick Lye

Rick is an avid Disney fan. He first went to Disney World in 1986 with his parents and has been hooked ever since. Rick is married to another Disney fan and is in the process of turning his two children into fans as well. When he is not creating new Disney adventures, he loves to watch the New York Yankees and hang out with his dog, Buster. In the fall, you will catch him cheering for his beloved NY Giants.

One Comment

  1. DeSantis has the biggest mistake of his career ruining the relationship between Disney and the State of Florida a major contributor to this state’s economy. Due to his misguided attempt at the presidency. Playing to the racist bigotry of the minority and thinking that hiding the true history of this country will help him succeed. He’s a failure and rethink his racist rhetoric. We are all Americans. Inspite of the racist and hate filled groups He’s reaching out too
    He is Anti American and the worst governor in Florida’s history. And an embarrassment to to office. Only cares about a certain group of people no one of color. Didn’t care if people live or died during the pandemic. He had the worst record in the country of deaths from the pandemic. Yet he got VACCINATED. His surgeon General needs to be be brought up on charges for violation of the Hippocratic oath along with him. A disgrace to Americans.

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