Walt Disney World President Responds to Florida Passing Bill to Take Control of Reedy Creek Special District

Walt Disney World President Responds to Florida Passing Bill to Take Control of Reedy Creek Special District

Florida’s House of Representatives and State Senate both just passed a bill this week allowing the state to take control of Walt Disney World‘s special district.

The Disney-owned resort had their own district, the Reedy Creek Improvement District, whose purpose was to “support and administer certain aspects of the economic development and tourism within District boundaries.”

This included transportation, fire protection, maintaining public roadways and more, and was established in 1967 prior to the resort’s opening.

Following the Walt Disney Company’s opposition of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, Governor Ron DeSantis and other Florida republican leaders called for the special district to be dissolved and return the control back to the state.

Previously, politicians voted in favor of dissolving the district, and now the new bill is putting into effect the state appointing board members to control the special district.

Now, Walt Disney World president Jeff Vahle is reacting to the Senate and House voting in favor of the bill.

Keep reading for his statement…

“For more than 50 years, the Reedy Creek Improvement District has operated at the highest standards, and we appreciate all that the District has done to help our destination grow and become one of the largest economic contributors and employers in the state,” Jeff shared. “We are focused on the future and are ready to work within this new framework, and we will continue to innovate, inspire and bring joy to the millions of guests who come to Florida to visit Walt Disney World each year.”

State Senator Jason Pizzo, who is a Democrat says that, “No one in this room had a problem with Disney before the governor did… They were singled out not because of wrongdoing. Just because someone’s feelings got hurt.”

The Senator who sponsored the bill, Travis Hutson, says that the state-appointed board members “are not going to go in there and set policies. They are going to go in there and act like a city council or county commission government does.”

Another Senator, Ron Johnson, adds, “It was Disney’s decision to go from an apolitical, safe, 25,000 acres and try to be involved in public policy. All we are doing is confirming … We’re saying, ‘You have changed the terms of our agreement, therefore we will put some authority around what you do.”

Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to sign the bill into law, granting the state’s takeover of the district, which is being said to not change much, other than the state appointing board members and having government control.

Disney recently closed a major fan-favorite ride at the Florida’s main park, Magic Kingdom, for a huge makeover.

Walt Disney World is also gearing up to open up a brand new coaster ride!

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Photos: Getty
Posted to: Disney Parks, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World