Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle releases a statement on the apparent demise of Reedy Creek Improvement District

Feb 10, 2023 in "The Walt Disney Company"

Posted: Friday February 10, 2023 3:39pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Following this week's votes in the Florida State House and Senate, the bill to make fundamental changes to the Reedy Creek Improvement District appears to now be a certainty. 

 

Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle has just released a statement that appears to concede defeat and accept that the proposed changes will come into effect.

"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. 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."

-Jeff Vahle, President, Walt Disney World.

The bill that has passed moves to replace the governing body's board with five members appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. In addition, the Reedy Creek Improvement District would be renamed "Central Florida Tourism Oversight District."

The final step for the bill is for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to sign it into law, which at this point would appear to be a certainty.

The creation of the Reedy Creek Improvement District in 1967 allowed Disney the luxury of establishing its own independent government that handles many aspects of the Walt Disney World property, including emergency services, infrastructure, and construction permitting.

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Chi841 hour ago

But what you’re proposing isn’t a reasonable interpretation. It’s reading way too much into “Yeah, yeah. No, I would” when asked if he would talk to Iger. The interviewer didn’t ask about or even mention the lawsuit or negotiations in his question.

WoundedDreamer1 hour ago

Yeah, but doesn't that run counter to the "he refuses to talk to Iger" narrative? And what would they talk about? It had to be over a settlement agreement. He was already willing to talk and move forward back in August of 2023. I guess it's a difference in interpretation.

Dcgc281 hour ago

Honestly it’s going to be business as usual moving forward. Florida needs Disney and Disney needs Florida. It was inevitable that it would pass in some sort. The real winners here are the state of Florida and Disney because they’re going to go back to printing money with each other. Oh and I guess the people who lean politically with Desantis. But they only win vicariously. They’re still getting robbed by the state and companies involved in the situation.

Chi841 hour ago

No. Politicians, especially ones who are lawyers, are very good at limiting their answers to only the question asked. He was asked if he had spoken with Iger and said no. He was asked if he would talk to him and he said “Yeah, yeah. No, I would” There’s reasonable no way that answer can be stretched out to become an offer to engage in settlement negotiations regarding the lawsuit. Maybe he meant he would talk to Iger to tell him there’s no way he would ever settle the lawsuit so Disney should just give up.

WoundedDreamer1 hour ago

What would Iger and DeSantis talk about other than a settlement and moving on? It does sound like an awkward phone call, though. 🤔 🤣

WoundedDreamer2 hours ago

You're not wrong about this. I do think of the RCID as having a been a vestigial organ of sorts. At the time it was important to Walt Disney World's success, but as things have evolved it became less important. That doesn't necessarily justify its removal, but I'm optimistic about Disney's ability to navigate things moving forward.

mikejs782 hours ago

No, he didn't.

Chi842 hours ago

But the words you quoted don’t support what you’re saying about him agreeing to negotiate if approached.

WoundedDreamer2 hours ago

He agreed to negotiate if approached, he suggested everyone get back to business, and he said Disney should stop fighting. It's not like he suddenly had a personality switch. This has been his stated view since August 2023. He said he was unwilling to concede on giving Disney RCID back, which they have not. It's all there. The framework he was willing to negotiate. I do wonder if Disney decided to keep the lawsuits going despite knowing they'd likely settle, because it was bad for DeSantis. It'd be clever... That could explain their behavior over the last year.

Tony the Tigger2 hours ago

Which one of those two built the town from the swamp up? Neither exists without Disney going first. But let’s give more football teams free stadiums. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Chi842 hours ago

But can you substantiate your statement about him offering to “come to the table” or negotiate a settlement? There’s nothing in that statement that says anything close to what you claim.

WoundedDreamer2 hours ago

From an August 2023 Interview: Sullivan: And I whether he had spoken with Disney CEO Bob Iger Gov. DeSantis: I have not, but – Sullivan: Would you? Gov. DeSantis: Yeah, yeah. No, I would. (Explains the Disney-Florida fight) …. So I would just say just as a parent, look, my wife and I, we got married at Walt Disney World, okay, so it’s not like we’re opposed. I mean, we’ve appreciated working with them over the years. But I would just say go back to what you did well. I think it’s going to be the right business decision and all that. But where we are today, you know, we’ve basically moved on. They’re suing the state of Florida, they’re gonna lose that lawsuit. So, what I would say is drop the lawsuit, you know, you have the state that even CNBC ranks as number one of all 50 states for economy, we lead the nation in new business formations, unemployment is incredibly low, great fiscal posture, people are bringing capital into Florida. This is a great place to do business. Your competitors all do very well here, Universal, Sea World, they have not had the same special privileges as you have. So, all we want to do is treat everybody the same and let’s move forward. I’m totally fine with that. But I’m not fine with giving extraordinary privileges, you know, to one special company at the exclusion of everybody else.

JoeCamel2 hours ago

I think Bob said they had tried to negotiate before that?

mmascari2 hours ago

I believe he said Disney should move on, not come to the table. Not settlement talk, just declaration of victory and the other side should give up. The words move on and settlement are nothing alike.