Florida Lawmakers Unveil Plan for State Control of Disney World Special District Report Door

Oh boy. Florida versus Disney is getting real weird.

State lawmakers have unveiled a plan to basically take over Disney Worlds special district – the Reedy Creek Improvement District that has given the company quasi-governmental powers over its property since 1967. Governor DeSantis has been feuding with Disney since the company opposed Floridas Parental Rights in Education bill and this is the endgame apparently.

The plan would dissolve Reedy Creek and replace it with a new district controlled by state-appointed board members rather than Disney-controlled ones. This means Florida would have oversight over everything from building codes to emergency services on Disney property.

Listen. I dont have a dog in this political fight. But from a pure business standpoint this is absolutely insane.

Disney has operated Reedy Creek for over 50 years. They built roads. Water treatment plants. Fire departments. An entire functioning government basically. And they paid for all of it themselves without burdening local taxpayers.

If the state takes over who pays for that stuff? The answer is either Florida taxpayers or Disney still pays but now has to deal with state bureaucrats approving every decision. Neither option is great.

Florida has marketed itself as a business friendly state. Low taxes. Minimal regulation. But now theyre threatening one of the states largest employers because of a political disagreement?

Disney employs over 75,000 people in Florida. They generate billions in economic activity. Other companies are watching this very closely.

The message being sent is that if you cross the governor politically the state will use its power to make your life difficult. Whether you agree with Disneys political positions or not thats a concerning precedent for business.

DeSantis says its about accountability. Critics say its about retaliation. The courts will probably end up deciding what happens.