Latest board meeting signals new chapter for Disney and Central Florida Tourism Oversight District

Apr 25, 2024 in "Reedy Creek Improvement District"

Posted: Thursday April 25, 2024 10:23am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District held its first board of supervisors meeting yesterday, the first time since the settlement agreement with Disney was reached.

In a significant shift from its beginnings in 2023 as a Ron DeSantis-directed takeover of Disney's Reedy Creek Improvement District, the meeting felt more like an actual gathering of governance and less like a political spectacle.

Instead of the now departed CFTOD Chairman Martin Garcia railing against Disney, the agenda included awarding contracts for chilled water, network security and video upgrades, waste stream disposal, recycling efforts, energy plant upgrades, sediment removal, landscaping improvements, and a twenty-year contract for the purchase of 74.5 megawatts of solar energy.

Reporting on the district's management was newly appointed CFTOD administrator Stephanie Kopelousos. Also in attendance was new board member Craig Mateer.

Announced in late March, the Walt Disney Company and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District reached a settlement agreement that will potentially see both sides drop their respective lawsuits. Speaking earlier this month, Disney CEO Bob Iger described the agreement as a "win-win" for Disney.

The key provisions of the agreement from Disney's perspective are that the district commits to reviewing and potentially revising the 2020 Comprehensive Plan, with consultations involving Disney. Furthermore, the subsequent negotiations for the new development agreement are tied to Disney's decision to either continue or halt its federal lawsuit against CFTOD and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, indicating the agreement's broad scope and potential impact on Disney's operations.

Responding to a question about investing in the parks during a recent investors call, Iger said, "The agreement we reached with the Central Florida tourism oversight district last week will actually enable us to pursue the kinds of significant investment in our Florida parks that you're talking about. We achieved a win-win result with that deal. In terms of our ability to pursue future development opportunities, but also in terms of the 1000s of direct and indirect jobs, and economic opportunity in the state that will come with our investment in new projects. So as we've discussed regarding our $60 billion capital expenditure plans, is much more coming to our parks around the world, including in Florida."

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mkt5 days ago

Something something gabagool something

MisterPenguin6 days ago

Ohh? Talkin' bout Wegman's are we? The pastrami?... To die fohr.

Figgy16 days ago

It's pronounced Joisey;)

JoeCamel6 days ago

I can hear the accent in that post

Figgy16 days ago

When in the Orlando area we usually shop at Whole Foods over Publix

dmc4936 days ago

@Figgy1 those there are fighting words, bring it on

Figgy16 days ago

Wegmans is much better than Publix for just about everything

LAKid536 days ago

You needed to go to the #1 party school. 😉 The Publix next to FSU's campus...and right across from fraternity row...was quite buzzing on Wednesday nights. I learned quickly to avoid it on that night.

Comped7 days ago

Really? I've never heard of that and I've been to multiple Publixes around UCF campuses while a student haha.

Captain Barbossa7 days ago

Lucky Florida. All the Publix’s in my area are where the local senior swinger clubs convene 🤢

MisterPenguin7 days ago

That's a Florida wedding shoot.

mkt7 days ago

Brian7 days ago

Sir, this is a Publix thread.

eddie1047 days ago

What good does DeSantis provide being in the Senate ? His personality is as lackluster as his policies and with Trump back in the White House his political future is based on his success. Nobody is gonna be checking for those type of politicians any longer if the next four years turns out be garbage.