A lot is going on in the political world of Disney this week.
Reedy Creek
This is the week of the federal lawsuit hearing between Disney and Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis. We may finally be nearing the end of the feud.
Also this week, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) board (which was completely appointed by DeSantis) was scheduled to have its final board meeting of the year. But it seems, amidst all that is going on, that has now changed.
A CFTOD Board of Supervisors Meeting that was scheduled for December 13th, 2023 has now been CANCELLED.
On the district’s website, they state “All public hearings and other agenda items previously scheduled for the December 13th, 2023 Board of Supervisors meeting are continued to the regular CFTOD Board of Supervisors meeting set for Wednesday, January 24th, 2024.”
©Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board Livestream
This cancellation comes around the same time that DeSantis’s lawyers have requested a dismissal of the lawsuit filed against them by Disney.
The request states that Disney lacks any grounds for their claim of retaliation against their freedom of speech. They say the governor does not have the power to enforce any laws that changed the government structure or shift control of the government from Disney supporters to the appointees.
Obtained via ClickOrlando Livestream
Not only is there a lot going on at the federal level for the CFTOD board (who are also named in the lawsuit), but they are also in their own battle with Disney at the state level for control over the district. They are also facing serious doubt about Supervisor Bridget Ziegler’s future on the board as she is currently in the midst of abuse allegations against her husband, Christian Ziegler.
©Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board
Not only is the board dealing with several lawsuits, but recent reports indicate that employees have been leaving the district at a rampant pace, potentially pointing to dysfunction within the board. Nearly 10% of the district’s employees have left, stating things like the board is “unqualified and incompetent” and that the district is “no longer functional” in their exit surveys.
©Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board
And just in December, the board learned of the $2 million of back taxes owed on the complimentary Disney World park passes that had recently been given out to employees of the district.
It is a busy and uncertain time for the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board, so it’s no surprise this meeting has been canceled and the topics postponed until January. We’ll be watching for more updates on the Disney v. DeSantis lawsuit.
For more Disney news, keep following DFB.
Disney Warns It “Won’t Be the Last To Be Punished” If Gov. DeSantis Wins Federal Lawsuit
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
Have you been keeping up with the Disney v. DeSantis feud? Let us know in the comments!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
It’s another DeSantis instigated clown show, as we all knew it would be.
RCID functioned smoothly for more than 50 years. The DeSantis goon squad can’t even make it a year without it being a mess filled with controversy and inept members. The state should have stayed away from it rather than trying to make a statement.
DeSantis is in a situation where “his reach had exceeded his grasp!” The personal vendetta against Disney sets a dangerous precedent for everyone owning a business. If left unchecked, every business owner could more easily find themselves in that same situation. Term limits keep him from another term as governor, but his ambitions are on a much higher goal.