Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill that would dissolve the taxing district that essentially enables Disney to self-govern Walt Disney World territory, but it doesn't necessarily mean that will actually happen.
The Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID), created in 1967, provides for Disney World's public services, from fire protection to wastewater services. Disney funds its operations by levying taxes and fees.
Robert Niles, editor of Theme Park Insider wrote on Thursday that in order to dissolve entities like the RCID, residents or landowners must have a majority vote in favor of the dissolution.
"Unless Florida courts just decide to ignore Florida law, that means today's vote cannot dissolve the RCID without the approval of Disney's handpicked residents going along with it," Niles wrote. "And you have a better chance of getting into the pilot's seat on Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run from the single-rider line than that has of happening."
If the RCID is abolished, Niles said, there would be several questions to answer. For one, what would the cost be to taxpayers in the two counties, Osceola and Orange, that the district straddles? For another, how would those counties take over the services the RCID provides?
He also posited that it could have all been "political theater." It is an election year for DeSantis, who is also planning to run for president.
Dennis Speigel, president and founder of International Theme Park Services, believes the move is "political punishment" for Disney.
"I think [the RCID] has been a win-win situation for both Disney and Florida for six decades," Speigel said. "I've never heard any discord over how things have operated in the past. I believe it is political punishment."
Whatever the outcome, Speigel predicted legal action will take place. If the RCID is dissolved, it would mean more red tape for Disney and greater expense for Orange and Osceola counties, he said.
"To me, a lifelong resident of the theme park industry, this is one that I say, 'Guys, get your houses in order. Kiss and make up as quickly as you can,'" he said. "Because without Disney in Florida, it'd still be a lot of orange groves and alligator farms."
Len Testa, president of Disney planning site TouringPlans.com and the TouringPlans Travel Agency, does not believe the RCID will actually be dissolved.
The bill is not scheduled to take effect until 2023. Before then, Testa posited, Disney and Florida are likely to come to an agreement behind the scenes.
"There's a reason why they made the law effective about a year from now, and that is to give everybody a chance to cool off," he said.
After speaking to a number of lawyers, Testa said he believes if Disney ended up fighting the law in court, the company would either win outright or the litigation would last for years.
If the RCID is dissolved, Testa said it would likely mean Disney would have slightly longer waits to receive permits and get approval for projects. But the county assuming responsibility for infrastructure upkeep on Disney property would be a bigger issue.
"From a tourist perspective, if you start seeing potholes or roads in disrepair, it starts to affect your perception of the overall quality of the Walt Disney World Resort -- and that would not be good," Testa said.