NEW: DeSantis makes shocking statements about "woke" Disney
The Reedy Creek Improvement District is no more. Read DeSantis' shocking statements from the press conference here.
Takeover
The past several months has been turbulent between the state of Florida and The Walt Disney Company. Florida passed the Parental Rights in Education Law in 2022. The Walt Disney Company originally remained quiet surrounding this bill despite pleas from employees and fans for them to take an official stance. Tension built until CEO Bob Chapek denounced the bill, but many believed it was too little, too late.
The company has even gone so far to say that they would actively work to get the bill repealed. This caused DeSantis to retaliate in his own public speakings.
The tension between the company and the state continued worsen as state Republicans repealed the Reedy Creek Improvement Act of 1967. Essentially, the law states that Disney is its own governing body in the two cities and land within Orange and Osceola counties. The law passed just a few weeks ago.
You can read Jeff Vahle's, the President of Disney World, statement HERE.
Conference
The governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, spoke at a conference this morning, February 27. He made many statements at the Reedy Creek Fire Department before officially singing the bill into law.
He started off with statements about how this takeover is in response to Disney opposing the Parental Rights in Education bill. He emphasized there's "a new sheriff in town" and "the corporate kingdom will come to an end." The values Disney promotes are not the ones the state wants to promote, according to DeSantis.
Instead, the state wants to promote "the safety of students and rights of parents" in addition to Disney being treated the same as other theme parks in the state of Florida.
The Reedy Creek Improvement District will be renamed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, but Disney can keep the RCID name for two more years. The district itself will NOT be resolved on June 1, 2023 as previously planned. Instead, it will continue under the new name and rules.
Disney will be responsible for paying hundreds of millions in outstanding debt.
DeSantis also appointed members to run this governing board. "They've got a lot of work to do. You've got to ensure the debt is paid." The first board meeting is scheduled for next week, and one of the big goals is to ensure first responders receive more pay.
Next, a representative of the Reedy Creek First Responder union spoke out about the disregard for the 200+ first responders who support the district. You can read more about the struggles first responders experience HERE.
Then, a woman who claims to no longer trust Disney spoke about her experience "divorcing" the theme park giant. She shares that Disney pushing a "woke ideology" led her to no longer wanting to support Disney.
DeSantis then spoke out about the mandates Disney implemented throughout 2020 and 2021 which led to the state passing many protections for employees. "Who puts a mask on a 3 year old kid as they are riding rides? Who does that?! I'm happy we could stand up for some of the madness."
Following DeSantis, a Cast Member and union leader spoke out about how thankful he was for DeSantis stepping up and protecting employees. "I tried to understand Disney was in a complicated situation...many Cast Members were coerced and forced into vaccines which led to injuries and deaths...at the brink the governor stepped in and stopped the mandates."
Disney is the leading entertainer for children around the world...but Disney has caved to the activists and embraced it [woke ideology].
Union representative and Cast Member
Signed into law
"I'm going to put my John Hancock on this piece of legislation. Just look at your watch and you'll know when this corporate kingdom came to an end." He then sat down, opened the book, and signed the legislation. He then held it up for the audience as everyone cheered and clapped.
Just look at your watch and you'll know when this corporate kingdom came to an end.
Ron DeSantis
DeSantis was then presented with an axe that was part of the RCID special operations department for many year. Finally, DeSantis answered questions from the audience. He reassured everyone that this would be hugely beneficial for taxpayers. "What's good for SeaWorld is good for Disney, and that's the way it's gotta be."
I want to see Disney be what Walt envisioned. But, when you lose your way you have to have people to tell you the truth.
Ron DeSantis
What do you think of Florida's takeover of Disney World? Do you agree or disagree with his comments? Let us know in the comments below and share this post with a friend.
I wish Walt Disney were here to comment.
I am relatively certain that he would be mortified at what Disney now supports.
DeSantis is returning Disney to the foundational principles that Walt Disney built it upon.
What sense in stopping a child wearing a mask, only to gag them from talking about their identity in the classroom!
Coming in here, it takes a lot to write this down. But after reading I feel I HAVE to express myself. First of all, Desantis is WRONG for picking a fight with one of the largest companies in the world. And being honest Disney is also wrong for picking a fight with Desantis. However I do not agree with any of the laws he passed and the fact of the don’t say gay bill being passed, I’m disappointed with this state and all that it’s agreeing towards. Disney is trying to portray more representation AS THEY SHOULD. And remember before you judge others, you have to judge yourself. I’m a 21 year old gay man who is scared to come out simply because no one in this state makes me feel safe. Desantis is simply trying to stay relevant enough to run for government and reach enough people to vote for him. With Disney, Walt’s dreams and hopes still referent today, but not in the way you would have seen it if we were back in the 40’s or the 50’s so please remember that with the times changing, so do other things as well. Walt grew up in a predominantly conservative time and now we’re in oh wait, 2023, a 100 years later and things have changed. The world has changed. We have to remember that we’re not the only ones. As of cast members, you have to remember that around 50% of cast member are part of the community. And I remember that many can’t even properly be out so that they don’t offend guests. If you had a bad experience with a cast member, simply talk to guest services and let them know, that way the issue can be properly handled and resolved. The future is unknown and many things are changing. But we have to be more tolerant and ADAPT, otherwise old ways WILL go extinct.
Desantis is just a power made decorator like Putin his leader and Napoleon they just want to screw up the works that has work for 50 years and in the end will cost all the tax payers in Florida hundreds of millions of dollars that Disney would have paid to maintain the property, now that he had given Disney a present by taking over reedy creek and the cost to run it watch the states taxes triple to what California and New York are paying and a mass exist of people to leave the state because property values will fall and be worth only a fraction of what the people paid for it , so you can see it in his presidential race for the white house that he is loosing more ground to trump than anyone else and his supporters are starting to distance themselves from Desantis
Florida citizens will suffer with Disney's departure, lost jobs and private businesses will fail
This guy doesn't care about Floridians
Disney was doing great until DeSantis started his BS. I lived in Florida for just over 20 years and had annual resident passes for about 18 years. I have never had a problem with any of the the parks. I loved all of it and would go usually 2 times a month. I live in SC now. I am glad I do, DeSantis is messing up Disney and the whole state of Florida.
I have news for you. You are FAR from the silent majority.
Hey Todd, I agree, with you. This is not Cuba , and his background in Cuba isn't good. He is a weining baby! He seems like ore of a pre school teacher then a governor. I say Disney Leaves and moves everyone back to California , and expands . Leaving deSantis with his pants down. No gay person would be interested in that! Lol
Governor Ron D. Santos doesn't want us to be awake because we may smell the smoke of the books burning in the school library. He took away the freedom employers had to protect their customers and employees from disease.
Disney need to go back to what Walt wanted I reasonably price place for families to go. The government is wrong about not letting kid talk to counselor able Gay or any topic as the might be more conformable with a teacher or counselor.
Florida was a Jim Crow backwater before Disney located here
Desantis is a Joker in disguise. He too shall fall and it won't take long as people may think. He's disgusting telling people how they should talk, feel or think. Everyone is welcome is the message here not oh your white, your black, your gay or you over there I don't want your business.
Exactly. Sick man.
It’s sad how many Americans support DeSantis destroying the first amendment. The government punishing companies merely for disagreeing with them is something you see in places like China or North Korea, but I never dreamed we’d see something so utterly anti-American, anti-freedom in our country. Be careful what you say, or dictator DeSantis will come after you!
Please don’t go to Universal. We don’t need family friendly or ECVs. Just leave us beer swilling smoking hell raisers be…!
Play stupid games - win stupid prizes.
oday's new Disney is impossibly hypocritical. There have been rules since the parks' opening against political messages. It is an escape from that. And they still "dress code" people for wearing clothes with political statements.
Let me be clear; this has nothing to do with how someone stands on the issue on one side or another; it has to be with being a stockholder.
Bob Chapstick decided to have the company, not him personally... the COMPANY, take a political stand on an issue that would CLEARLY disenfranchise their core demographic, parents. NONE of the other theme parks or companies did that. Not one. Only Disney. And ironically, they had the most to lose from taking that side instead of remaining silent.
The past four box office bombs from Disney have shown that people are tired of not-so-subtle political messages in their entertainment. They are systematically pushing away the vast majority of where they make most of their money from. Parents with kids who want to teach their children the values they believe in how they want to do it.
DeSantis is on the money. We love Disney World but enough is enough. Great to hear the silent majority speak up in this comments section. If you go by DISboards, you would think Disney World is filled each day with 100% liberal, Biden-supporting citizens that call all conservatives racist homophobes.
I agree with the governor. Over a decade ago I was planning for an upcoming vacation. I joined several social media groups. It was appalling to be treated like an outcast because I have conservative values. I spoke up. I was attacked by people who did not know me.
It still stands.
My daughter has traditional values. She speaks up for things she believes. She gets verbally attacked. She is to the point she doesn’t want to be using social media.
Is it ok for people that gang up on others. If we all love Disney, do you think Walt would love this behavior?
We do not verbally abuse anyone. Why should anyone do that to us?
We have moved to a state that’s has one of our happy places. We had a technical challenge and asked for help in the park. The cast member was not kind. Refused to help. We went to a different area and the challenge was resolved. I hope the parks will go back and treat everyone with kindness. Not just a few. I hope we as a country can agree to disagree. But do so with respect and kindness.
Political craziness is already here. Let’s try to not be afraid of voicing our values, listen to others, and go from there.
The old adage, if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say nothing at all.
I canceled my Disney+ subscription when it became apparent that Disney was now hellbent on pushing a woke ideology. That is not going to happen in my house. We will skip Disney for the foreseeable future and do Universal instead. 15-20 years ago Disney was a company one could 100% trust to be family friendly and they went out of their way to be extra wholesome. It is so sad how much they have changed.
I think the company has lost its way. Walt's dreams are gone. The corporation has created nightmares. It was never a Kingdom under Walt - because he never acted as a King. Chapek on the other hand took over as King trying to control not only the entertainment industry but the political one as well.
Its sad to see an agreement that Walt created is gone. I only hope this is not the beginning to the end of all of Walt's dreams. Unfortunately, it looks like the Disney Corp Woke agenda, just may be the destruction of this once wonderful family entertainment company.
Good for DeSantis! Disney has strayed far from Walt's vision. Somebody needed to wake them up. Maybe this will.
This is a money grab by the state of Florida. DeSantis is just looking to make a name for himself so he can launch a presidential run. Keeping his name in the media and trying to make himself relevant.
Disney needs to stay away from politics and just be an entertainment industry.
The government was just looking to cash in! That’s all..