Disney World’s Fire Fighters Endorse DeSantis Reelection Despite Corporate Clash

The Reedy Creek Fire Department officially endorsed Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis as he faces his first re-election bid this fall.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the professional firefighters made their decision clear to join other unions at an endorsement event at the Hilton Orlando on Tuesday, July 12. But it comes at a tumultuous time in The Reedy Creek Improvement District’s history. The multi-month clash between Tallahassee and The Walt Disney Company headquarters in Burbank, California, which began with the signing of Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Bill, has developed to the point where lawmakers decided to terminate the special district Disney has held in Central Florida for over 50 years.

The Fire Department–which consists of 200 unionized members–is the district’s official firefighters and paramedics tasked with providing vital care to The Walt Disney World Resort and its immediate neighbors. With the Reedy Creek Improvement District set to be terminated by June 1, 2023, the first responders’ immediate future is unclear. But, it appears that they are not worried.

Read More: Gov. DeSantis: Reedy Creek Likely to Fall Under State, Not Local Control

“He has been the most pro-first responder governor that I have seen in my entire 37 years in Florida,” said the RCFD Union president, Jon Shirley. “We’re pretty confident that no matter how this thing shakes out with Reedy Creek that, we’re going to be fine.”

“Our small issue with Reedy Creek doesn’t supersede the overall good that he’s done for the state,” Shirey said. “And again, we’re confident that when this is all said and done, we’ll be fine.”

Reedy Creek firefighter union endorses Governor Ron DeSantis pic.twitter.com/nB29csDXPS

— Showcase of Wishes (@ShowcaseWishes) July 13, 2022

It is still unclear at this time how the dissolving of Disney’s special autonomy zone will be carried out, and it should be mentioned that it and the other four districts have the ability to amend themselves to be aligned with the ratified Florida State Constitution and reapply. 

We at Disney Fanatic will continue to update our readers on Disney Park-related news and stories as more developments come to light.