DeSantis points to Universal's Epic Universe as catalyst for Disney's future expansion in Florida

Mar 27, 2024 in "Reedy Creek Improvement District"

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Posted: Wednesday March 27, 2024 1:48pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

In answering questions from reporters this afternoon, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis briefly commented on today's settlement agreement between Disney and The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.

DeSantis repeated previous talking points that asserting state control over Reedy Creek and nullifying certain covenants are in Florida's best interests and that legal challenges against the state's actions have not succeeded.

DeSantis was notably softer in his language today and shifted the blame to Disney in Burbank, and away from Orlando. When asked how Disney would work with the new CFTOD, he said, "I think it would be good. This is moving beyond moving forward, I think that's what the company wants to do. And, you know, a lot of what happened with parents rights and education, some of that stuff was really driven by Burbank. It was not driven by Orlando, and I think we've always understood that."

DeSantis suggested today that Disney in Burbank was to blame for the dispute, and that "It was not driven by Orlando"

Touching upon future development, DeSantis suggested that other entities like Universal, which is developing Epic Universe, could significantly impact the region and that "Disney can be a part of that."

Universal Epic Universe concept art

Continuing to speak about Epic Universe, DeSantis said, "I think it's just going to be a huge game changer. It's bigger than their other two parks combined. I mean, like, imagine that footprint; that's pretty huge. And so, you know, I got to think that Disney would want to answer that to be able to kind of keep up with the competition.

The Governor even went as far as to suggest that Disney may build another park, saying, "I got to think Disney would have an interest and maybe, maybe offering another one. The district will be ready to negotiate something to be able to be good for the state of Florida be good for jobs and be good for all those things."

Full details of the settlement agreement between Disney and CFTOD can be seen here.

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mkt4 hours ago

I already said aligned, don’t let me pull out any more MBA buzzwords

JoeCamel23 hours ago

Waaa? No flywheels?

mkt1 day ago

I'd take it as an indication of infrastructure improvements aligned to potential new construction. Similar to the road construction and electrical infrastructure put in place across town before Epic Universe was announced.

AJFireman1 day ago

It was sent to the Palm Springs Air Museum for an interior restoration. There were many articles after D23 when that happened. Here is the article posted to the Company website and yes its open to the public. Also the PS Air Museum just made a post about it 6 days ago on their social media accounts. https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-announces-restoration-and-recreation-of-the-interior-of-walt-disneys-plane-to-its-1960s-design/ Here are some pics of the interior stripped. Couldnt find anything about how far along they are with the restoration. https://palmspringsairmuseum.org/restorations/

JKick951 day ago

Right. That makes sense. I was just curious to whether or not some comments should be read into as a positive sign of good things to come. For example yesterday RCES commented “property expansions are coming” and therefore their organization is concerned and partnering with outside agencies. The board and/or district administrator (I forgot specifically what was said) kind of said something along the same lines.

mkt1 day ago

They likely know at a high level what they are as well as projections of the impacts to the district in order to allow them to prepare. But I doubt that they’re sharing WDI concept art, simulations, moodboards, renderings, etc with the board that not long ago was actively working against Disney.

Monorail_Red_771 day ago

When Walt's Plane was moved from WDW over to CA for the last D23 event. I wondered what would happen to it after the exterior refurb, etc. Well a few days ago I came across a vlogger doing a video on a random Air Museum and surprisingly Walt's Plane is now on loan to the Palm Springs Air Museum. on the Palm Springs Air Museum site it is listed simply as Grumman G-159 Gulfstream. But, the video shows the plane on exhibit outside and then shows some of the same interior items from D23 also on display.

Rosso111 day ago

I would imagine they need to be very much in the loop with Disney’s plans. Most of the infrastructure for major projects begins first with Reedy Creek. For example if the rumors are true much of the reason for all of the work on Floridian Way over the last few years is because Disney plans to develop more land north of the Grand Floridian. Reddy Creek needs to know these things in order to allocate time and funds for these projects.

JKick952 days ago

How much about Disneys plans do they know? Should we take their comments as a positive of things to come?

Stripes2 days ago

There was a lot of focus in the meeting on Disney’s plans to significantly increase investment and that these increased investments are going to require significant infrastructure projects to meet the needs of these Disney investments. The district administrator stressed that the district needs to prepare. RCES (a Disney subsidiary) also mentioned that they have been making changes to staffing structure and bulking up to prepare for Disney’s “upcoming property expansions.”

Batman'sParents2 days ago

There is a budget workshop on August 24, 2024.

Batman'sParents2 days ago

Today is the first time the Board has gone over the proposed 2025 Millage Rates. There is a lot of talk regarding investment in the district by taxpayers like Disney, Disney Springs operators, and hotel operators and the conversations they are having with them. Given the ongoing and future investments needed in the district, in terms of setting the operating millage rate, there appears to be some support for option 1 and option 2: Option 1: Set the Proposed Millage Rate to 14.40 mills. (Debt Service 4.17 mills/Operating 10.23 mills) This raises the Debt Service as needed and raises the Operating millage to fund a 5% increase in expenditures over the Fiscal Year 2023 millage rate. Option 2: Set Proposed Millage Rate to 13.90 mills. (Debt Service 4.17 mills/Operating 9.73 mills) This raises the Debt Service rate as needed and allocates the remaining millage to Operating. This returns the millage rate to the same rate as Fiscal Year 2023. The members of the Board were stressing this is not the final set rate and it can be lower. There appears to be more of a consensus that they want a lower rate, but want all available options. There was a slight hesitation between the members of the Board in choosing what options to set, notably, Board Members Barakat and Aungst were in more in favour of option 1, and board members Peri, Ziegler, and Mateer were more in favour of option 2. After taking a vote to adopt option 1 failed by a vote of two to three, they adopted option 2. BOS Packet: https://www.oversightdistrict.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/BOS-Meeting-7-24-24-Draft-Agenda-Packet-PUBLIC.pdf The proposed rates and options are on the second to last page.

StripesJun 18, 2024

What? The new development agreement is based on the existing 2020 Comprehensive plan. There’s just a blurb in there that the district and Disney will amend the agreement in order to give Disney even more development rights once the new comprehensive plan is effective.

mktJun 18, 2024

They are not. And the politization of day to day is affecting morale across the other civil servants. I personally know of two ex-RCID/current-CFTOD employees that are taking an early retirement and starting the same job with a different private or public sector enterprise in the area.