Central Florida Tourism Oversight District
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Feb- 2025 -15 FebruaryDisney Parks
DeSantis Reshapes Disney World Governance Structure Amid Expansion Plans
Changes to Governance Structure Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has recently taken significant steps to reshape the governance structure overseeing Disney World through key appointments to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD). Three new members have been added to the board—Alexis Yarbrough, John Gilbert, and Scott Workman—aimed at creating a dynamic conducive to guiding the region&
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13 FebruaryDisney Parks
DeSantis Disney District Employee Alleges Sexual and Racial Discrimination
Allegations of Hostile Work Environment An employee of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that she has experienced a hostile work environment characterized by racial and sexual discrimination. The plaintiff, Thinh Rappa, a Vietnamese-American woman, claims that the atmosphere in her workplace has become intolerable since the DeSantis-appointed board
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Nov- 2024 -17 NovemberNews
Orange County Mayor Threatens Legal Action Against Former Disney World Administrator
Taxpayer Fund Misuse Allegations Glen Gilzean, the former administrator for the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD), has become embroiled in controversy regarding the alleged misuse of taxpayer funds. Gilzean is accused of using $4 million for student scholarships and career training intended to facilitate improvements in election security and mitigate long wait times at polling loc
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May- 2024 -1 MayDisney Parks
Court Decision Delays Disney World’s Expansion Plans
The Walt Disney Company has some big plans for its Florida theme parks. Disney has already started working on expansion plans for the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom and ride updates at EPCOT. But before a shovel is put in the ground at the Walt Disney World Resort, Disney has to get approval from local and state governments, and that process just got more complicated. Earlier this
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Mar- 2024 -29 MarchNews
With Their Feud Seemingly Over, DeSantis Encourages Disney World to Build a Fifth Gate
In a surprise twist this week, the Walt Disney Company announced that it had reached a deal to end its legal fight with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and pause its lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. This ends the years-long battle between Gov DeSantis and the state’s largest employer over the loss of the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Related: Experts ‘C
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27 MarchBusiness
Beginning of the End: Disney and DeSantis’s Board Exhausted by Battle, Break Ground on Solution
In a ground-breaking surprise, the Walt Disney Company and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board have reached an agreement. The ongoing feud between the Walt Disney Company and the board members hand-picked by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been a long-drawn-out struggle that made headlines and held Disney fans’ attention for far too long. However, recent developments sugge
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11 MarchBusiness
She Helped Save Disney From a Supreme Court Case, Now She’s In Charge of DeSantis’ Disney District
In 2021, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature crafted a wide-ranging law that would allow the state to punish social media companies for removing posts or refusing to publish posts from certain media companies or political figures, even if those posts violated the company’s rules on hate speech, violent incitements, or disinformation. DeSantis used Twitter and Facebook
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4 MarchNews
A New State of Uncertainty At DeSantis’ Disney District Board As Gilzean Leaves For Election Position
This afternoon, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced he had found a new position for Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Administrator Glen Gilzean. Gilzean will take over as the Orange County Supervisor of Elections after former supervisor Bill Cowles retired at the end of January. Related: The Deeper People Dig, the Worse It Looks For DeSantis’ Disney Board Administrator Gilzean
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Feb- 2024 -3 FebruaryNews
It’s Been A Year of DeSantis’ Disney District, With No End in Sight
This month marks one year since Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stripped Walt Disney World of the Reedy Creek Improvement District and replaced it with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. And while this month will mark one year, there does not appear to be an end in sight to the feud between Governor Ron DeSantis and the Walt Disney Company. Related: DeSantis Cronnies Are Scoring Huge Pa
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Jan- 2024 -31 JanuaryBusiness
In a Major Blow, Federal Judge Dismisses Disney’s Case Against DeSantis
This afternoon, Federal Judge Allen Winsor dismissed the Walt Disney Company’s First Amendment lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, saying that the Governor and the Florida Legislature were within their rights to strip Disney World of the Reedy Creek Improvement District and replace it with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. Winsor also said that allowing Governor DeSa
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