DESANTIS VERSUS DISNEY

Lawmakers prepare to meet Tuesday in an organization session involving a series of changes in subcommittees.

Less than 11 months before the Reedy Creek Improvement District is scheduled to be abolished, there are still no announced plans to replace any of the governmental services the special taxing district currently provides to the Walt Disney World resort property.

The man who deemed the recent fight between Disney and Florida politicians “like a really ugly middle school ugly middle school break up” sat down to talk with Florida’s Fourth Estate hosts Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin about the Reedy Creek Improvement District debacle.

Gov. Ron DeSantis reiterated his promise that Florida's taxpayers will not take on Walt Disney World's debt when and if the Reedy Creek Improvement District dissolves in 2023, teasing that he may have some legislative measures in place to prevent that from happening.

While the company touted its gains to investors, it did not say anything about the dismantling of the special district that governs Walt Disney World.

Democratic state lawmakers are set to hold a news conference Monday morning to address the new Florida law which will dissolve six special districts in the state, including the Reedy Creek Improvement District which allows Walt Disney World to self-govern.

A Maitland attorney specializing in local government issues said the law stripping Disney of its special governing powers will not hold up in court.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis doubles down on Disney paying taxes.

Christina Pushaw said Disney would pay its fair share of taxes, no Floridians would be “on the hook” and a plan would be made available in the next few weeks.

The Board of Supervisors for Reedy Creek will meet for the first time since the state legislature voted to strip Disney of its self-governing power.

After driving under Walt Disney World’s entrance archways and winding past theme parks and hotels, resort visitors may find themselves outside the guarded gate of an elite residential community containing some of Central Florida’s most expensive real estate.

If dissolved, the Reedy Creek Improvement District's debt obligations, revenues and responsibilities would be transferred to Osceola and Orange counties and the small cities of Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake.

In taking on Disney, Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is testing the limits of his combative leadership style.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law that eliminates special districts created before 1968, including Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill to dissolve a private government controlled by Disney that provides municipal-like services for its 27,000 acres (nearly 11,000 hectares) in the Sunshine State.

With the state legislature passing a measure to strip Walt Disney World of its self-governing powers, concerns are increasing for what kind of an impact it will have on Central Florida.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed four bills between Leon and Miami-Dade counties.

The Florida House of Representatives has given final passage to a bill to dissolve a private government that Walt Disney World has been allowed to operate on its properties for more than five decades.

The Florida Senate already approved the special district bill on a largely party-line vote Wednesday, with one Republican joining all Democrats against the bill.

Dissolving the Reedy Creek Improvement District would be a financial burden on the county, according to Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph.

The Florida Senate voted Wednesday to eliminate Disney World’s Reedy Creek Improvement District, alongside districts populated by Black Democrats, backing Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposed redistricting plan.

Mayor Jerry Demings said leaders in Orange County are closely watching developments in Tallahassee after Republican lawmakers introduced legislation that would strip Walt Disney World of its special governing powers.

A new piece of legislation could see the Reedy Creek Improvement District, along with five other special districts, dissolved if it passes.

The bill falls in line with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to expand the redistricting special session to include the special districts bill.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday the state legislature would be taking up a bill during their special session that would look to dissolve six special districts in the state, including the Reedy Creek Improvement District which governs Walt Disney World.

News 6 political expert Jim Clark weighs in on a special session in Florida that could do away with the Reedy Creek District at Disney World.

Florida lawmakers currently debating congressional maps proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in a special session will now also consider getting rid of special districts enacted before 1968, which includes Disney’s Reedy Creek district, the governor announced Tuesday at a news conference in The Villages.

Even though only a small percentage of Walt Disney Co. workers participated in a walkout, organizers felt they had won a moral victory with the company issuing a statement denouncing the anti-LGBTQ legislation that sparked employee outrage.

Disney workers are planning walkouts during their breaks every day this week to protest CEO Bob Chapek’s slow response in publicly criticizing Florida’s so-called Don’t Say Gay legislation.