‘CORPORATE KINGDOM’: DeSantis-backed plan to take control of Disney’s land announced

A plan was announced Friday to introduce a bill into the Florida Legislature that would replace Walt Disney World’s special self-governing power with a state-run board.

The notice was posted on the website of Osceola County, which houses part of Disney World along with Orange County. Gov. Ron DeSantis is pushing the effort, according to sources in his office, and the intended legislation will mandate that members of the board will be appointed by the governor, according to sources in the governor’s office.

“The corporate kingdom has come to an end,” DeSantis’ communications director, Taryn Fenske, told Fox News. “Under the proposed legislation, Disney will no longer control its own government, will live under the same laws as everyone else, will be responsible for their outstanding debts, and will pay their fair share of taxes.”

“Imposing a state-controlled board will also ensure that Orange County cannot use this issue as a pretext to raise taxes on Orange County residents,” she added.

The planned legislation will also ensure that the company will pay upwards of $700 million dollars in unsecured debt accumulated by Disney’s special jurisdiction — known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District — and not Orange County taxpayers, according to the sources.

Last year, DeSantis signed a measure into law dissolving Walt Disney World’s special governing power in the state after the company publicly opposed a new parental rights law in the state. At the bill signing ceremony, the Florida Republican said Disney lied about the “Parental Rights in Education” law’s contents and that he viewed the company’s vow to fight it as unacceptable.

Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis after taking the oath of office waves to those in attendance at his second term inauguration in Tallahassee, Florida, U.S. January 3, 2023.
(REUTERS/Octavio Jones)

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“The governor is doing exactly what he said he would,” DeSanis’ former chief of staff, Adrian Lukis, told Fox News. “Disney can no longer have its own government and own taxing authority, and Disney — not taxpayers — will have to be responsible for any financial consequences.”

“While this will be painful for Disney, I expect businesses throughout the state will be proud of their governor for making it clear that he doesn’t care who you are, or how politically connected you may be — no one gets special treatment in Florida,” Lukis continued.

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The Financial Times in December reported that lawmakers were preparing to reverse course on the move to eliminate Disney World’s special status. A DeSantis spokesperson denied the claim.

“Governor DeSantis does not make ‘U-turns,’” a spokesperson told Fox News in a statement. “The governor was right to champion removing the extraordinary benefit given to one company through the Reedy Creek Improvement District.”

 In this handout photo provided by Disney Parks, English-Irish boy band The Wanted performs "Santa Claus is Coming To Town."
(Mark Ashman/Disney Parks via Getty Images)

“We will have an even playing field for businesses in Florida, and the state certainly owes no special favors to one company,” the spokesperson continued. “Disney’s debts will not fall on the taxpayers of Florida. A plan is in the works and will be released soon.”

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The Reedy Creek Improvement Act was signed into law in May 1967 by Gov. Claude Kirk following Disney lobbying efforts. The entertainment giant proposed building a recreation-oriented development on 25,000 acres of property in a remote area of Central Florida’s Orange and Osceola counties, which consisted of 38.5 square miles of largely uninhabited pasture and swampland.

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Orange and Osceola Counties did not have the services or resources needed to bring the project to life, so the state legislature worked with Disney to establish the Reedy Creek Improvement District, a special taxing district that allows the company to act with the same authority and responsibility as a county government.