Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Business

DeSantis Threatens Toll Roads & Hotel Taxes at Disney World

Signs referring to the now-defunct Reedy Creek Improvement District can still be seen around Disney World. ⓒ AskFlagler

LAKE BUENA VISTA – Governor Ron DeSantis on Friday announced a series of measures he was considering in his ongoing feud with Disney. Most notably, the governor is considering installing toll roads in the park and taxing its network of family hotels.

The threats are a direct response to Disney’s move to nullify the powers of a DeSantis-appointed oversight board, whom the legislature and DeSantis installed due to Disney opposing the GOP-backed Parental Rights in Education bill last year.

ADVERTISEMENT

What has been known for decades as the Reedy Creek Improvement District was dissolved, and replaced with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board.

That feud escalated when Disney, in the last throes of its control over the tourism district in which it self-governed itself, passed a policy which relegated the DeSantis board to having control over roads and infrastructure…and not much else. Disney CEO Bob Iger also attacked DeSantis for the first time, calling him ‘anti-business’ and ‘anti-Florida’.

DeSantis immediately requested the Inspector General of Florida investigate, but now he appears ready to take matters into his own hands.

“We’re not just going to void the development agreement they tried to do,” DeSantis said. “We’re going to look at things, like taxes on the hotels, we’re going to look at things like tolls on the roads, we’re going to look at things like developing some of the property that the district owns.”


Read More: Colleen Conklin Responds to Chamber of Commerce Following Superintendent ‘No Confidence’ Statement


The rapid-fire nature of DeSantis’s response makes sense within a greater framework: the Governor is widely expected to eventually announce his candidacy for President in the 2024 election. In what looks to be a hotly contested Republican Primary, he’ll have to face multiple other GOP Governors and former President Donald Trump. For well over a year now the linchpin of DeSantis’s outreach beyond the borders of Florida has been his record fighting ‘woke ideology’, shorthand for progressive social values.

Should Disney come out on top or at least keep DeSantis at bay indefinitely, it’s possible that campaign strength may also act as a vulnerability. As of April, DeSantis leads in some states but still trails Trump in most national polls.

Written By

Chris Gollon is a Flagler County resident since 2004, as well as a staple of the local independent music scene and avid observer of Central Florida politics, arts, and recreation.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

ADVERTISEMENT
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

You May Also Like

State Legislature

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill banning minors under 14 from joining social media sites in the state starting on January 1st,...

Education

A groundbreaking new settlement between the Florida Department of Education and civil rights attorneys establishes key clarifications to the Parental Rights in Education Act,...

State Legislature

The controversial piece of legislation banning minors under 16 from using social media has been vetoed by Governor Ron DeSantis after passing both chambers...

State Politics

The Florida state legislature has overwhelmingly passed a bill which bans teens and children under 16 from using social media. The policy is now...

Flagler County

BUNNELL – The upcoming construction project of the new Flagler County Public Library branch has landed a major new cash assist – the state...