View source for Central Florida Tourism Oversight District

{{short description|Tax district in Florida, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
 | name                     = Central Florida Tourism Oversight District
 | settlement_type          = [[Special district (United States)|Improvement district]]<!--State-level special district-->
 | image_skyline            = 
 | image_alt                = 
 | image_caption            = 
 | image_seal               = 
 | image_blank_emblem       = Central Florida Tourism Oversight District logo.png
 | blank_emblem_type        = Logo used since 2023
 | blank_emblem_size        = 250px
 | seal_alt                 = 
 | image_shield             = 
 | shield_alt               = 
 | etymology                = 
 | other_name               = Reedy Creek Improvement District
 | nickname                 = 
 | motto                    = 
 | image_map                = RCID boundaries 2020-01-10.pdf
 | map_alt                  = 
 | map_caption              = Map showing the cities of Bay Lake (red) and Lake Buena Vista (green), and unincorporated land (purple)
 | subdivision_type         = Country
 | subdivision_name         = United States
 | subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
 | subdivision_name1        = Florida
 | subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Florida|County]]
 | subdivision_name2        = [[Orange County, Florida|Orange]], [[Osceola County, Florida|Osceola]]
 | subdivision_type3        = 
 | subdivision_name3        = 
 | established_title        = Established
 | established_date         = May 12, 1967
 | unit_pref                = US<!-- or UK -->
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
<!-- Politics ----------------->
 | government_footnotes     = 
 | government_type          = [[Council–manager government|Council–administrator]]
 | leader_title             = Chair of the Board
 | leader_name              = Alexis Yarbrough
 | leader_title1            = Vice Chair of the Board
 | leader_name1             = 
 | leader_title2            = Board of Supervisors
 | leader_name2             = {{ubl|[[Bridget Ziegler]]|Brian Aungst, Jr.|John Gilbert|Scott Workman}}
 | leader_title3            = District Administrator
 | leader_name3             = Stephanie Kopelousos
 | leader_title4            = 
 | leader_name4             = <!-- for references: use<ref>tags -->
 | area_footnotes           = 
 | area_magnitude           = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink -->
 | area_note                = 
 | area_water_percent       = <!-- square miles -->
 | area_total_sq_mi         = 39.06
 | area_land_sq_mi          = 
 | area_water_sq_mi         = <!-- acres -->
 | area_total_acre          = 
 | area_land_acre           = 
 | area_water_acre          = 
 | dimensions_footnotes     = 
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 | elevation_ft             = 
 | timezone                 = [[Eastern Time|EST]]
 | utc_offset               = −05:00
 | timezone_DST             = EDT
 | utc_offset_DST           = −04:00
 | postal_code_type         = 
 | postal_code              = 
 | area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code(s)]]
 | area_code                = 407, 689
 | website                  = {{URL|https://www.oversightdistrict.org/}}
 | footnotes                = 
}}

The '''Central Florida Tourism Oversight District''' ('''CFTOD'''), formerly the '''Reedy Creek Improvement District''' ('''RCID'''), is the governing jurisdiction and [[Special district (United States)|special taxing district]] for the land of [[Walt Disney World Resort]]. It includes {{convert|39.06|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}} within [[Orange County, Florida|Orange]] and [[Osceola County, Florida|Osceola]] counties in Florida, encompassing the cities of [[Bay Lake, Florida|Bay Lake]] and [[Lake Buena Vista, Florida|Lake Buena Vista]] as well as [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] land. It acts with most of the same authority and responsibility as a [[county government]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=About|url=https://www.rcid.org/about/|access-date=April 1, 2022|website=Reedy Creek Improvement District}}</ref><ref name="LAT 2023-03-01">{{Cite news|last1=Petri | first1=Alexandra E. |title=What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-03-01/what-did-disney-actually-lose-from-its-florida-battle-with-desantis |date=March 1, 2023  |access-date=March 2, 2023 |newspaper= [[Los Angeles Times]]|language=en-US}}</ref>

The current district was created on February 27, 2023, after the [[Florida Legislature]] passed House Bill 9B to supersede the [[Reedy Creek Improvement Act]], passed in 1967 at the behest of [[Walt Disney]] and [[The Walt Disney Company|his namesake media company]] during the planning stages of Walt Disney World. A major selling point in lobbying the Florida government to establish the original RCID was Walt Disney's proposal of the "[[EPCOT (concept)|Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow]]" (EPCOT), a real [[planned community]] intended to serve as a testbed for new city-living innovations. The company eventually abandoned Walt Disney's concepts for the experimental city, primarily building a resort similar to its other parks.

The Reedy Creek Improvement District managed by the Disney Company had the authority of a governmental body,<ref name="corpwatch" /> but was not subject to the constraints of a governmental body. That changed under the 2023 act, which gave the [[governor of Florida]] the authority to name its board members, replacing the original five-member Board of Supervisors controlled by the Walt Disney Company, the majority landowner of the District.

In April 2022, the [[Florida Legislature]] passed a law to disestablish the RCID and other special districts formed before November 5, 1968,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022C/4C/BillText/Filed/ |website=Florida Senate |title=SB 4-C |access-date=May 1, 2022 |date=April 2022}}</ref> an act that some lawmakers said was retaliation for Disney's opposition to the [[Parental Rights in Education Act]], dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill by its critics.<ref name="independentApril2022">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/disney-florida-taxes-reedy-creek-b2061988.html |title=How Florida residents could end up paying for the GOP's war with Disney over 'Don't Say Gay' |date=April 20, 2022 |last=Woodward |first=Alex |work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref><ref name="cbsmiamiApril2022">{{cite news |url=https://miami.cbslocal.com/2022/04/21/florida-senate-votes-walt-disney-world-reedy-creek-improvement-district/ |title=Florida Senate Votes To End Walt Disney World's Reedy Creek Improvement District |date=April 21, 2022 |work=CBS Miami |author=<!--not stated-->}}</ref> The law would have taken effect in June 2023, but it was unclear what would happen to the $1&nbsp;billion in bond liabilities held by the RCID.<ref name="LC-20220426"/><ref name="BT-20220426"/><ref name="MH-20220427"/> On February 9 and 10, 2023, the state legislature voted to revert most of the changes, replace the RCID board's five Disney-selected members with five members appointed by the Governor with confirmation by the [[Florida State Senate]], and remove parts of the district's authority, such as the power to construct a nuclear power plant, airport, and stadium.{{r|LAT 2023-03-01}} The district's name was changed the day the bill was signed into law<ref name=":0" /> by Governor [[Ron DeSantis]] on February 27, 2023.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Barnes |first=Brooks |date=February 10, 2023 |title=DeSantis Declares Victory as Disney Is Stripped of Some 56-Year-Old Perks |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/10/business/disney-world-florida-tax-board.html |access-date=February 13, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Florida lawmakers greenlight DeSantis takeover of Disney's special tax district |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/02/10/florida-desantis-disney-takeover-migrants/ |access-date=February 13, 2023 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> On April 26, 2023, Disney filed [[Disney v. DeSantis|a lawsuit]] against DeSantis.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/disney-florida-lawsuit-1235402731/|title=Disney Sues Ron DeSantis Over Florida Special District|first=Winston|last=Cho|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=April 26, 2023|accessdate=April 26, 2023}}</ref> Federal Judge [[Allen Winsor]] ruled in favor of DeSantis on January 31, 2024,<ref name="variety01312024">{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2024/biz/news/disney-ron-desantis-first-amendment-1235847696/|title=Disney Loses First Amendment Fight With Ron DeSantis in Federal Court|first=Gene|last=Maddus|publisher=Variety|date=January 31, 2024|accessdate=January 31, 2024}}</ref> and Disney appealed to the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit|11th Circuit Court of Appeals]].<ref name="variety01312024"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/disney-lawsuit-against-desantis-dismissed-why-explainer-rcna136622|title=Disney files appeal after federal judge dismissed its lawsuit against DeSantis|first=Rob|last=Wile|publisher=NBC News|date=February 1, 2024|accessdate=February 13, 2024}}</ref> On March 27, 2024, Disney settled its state court lawsuits with CFTOD and, per the agreement, put the appeal of their federal lawsuit on hold while the company negotiates a new development agreement with CFTOD.<ref name = "wsjMar27">{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/business/media/disney-reaches-settlement-with-florida-tax-district-backed-by-ron-desantis-6dd03acf|title=Disney Succumbs to Ron DeSantis in Fight Over Florida Tax District|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|date=March 27, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Schneider |first=Mike |date=March 27, 2024 |title=Settlement reached in lawsuit between Disney and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' allies |language=en-US |work=AP News |url=https://apnews.com/article/disney-florida-ron-desantis-settlement-91040178ad4708939e621dd57bc5e494 |access-date=March 28, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 27, 2024 |title=DeSantis Board Reaches Historic Agreement With Disney World, Lawsuit Tossed Out |language=en-US |url=https://insidethemagic.net/2024/03/ron-desantis-disney-cftod-lawsuits-state-level-agreement-update-emd1/ |access-date=March 28, 2024}}</ref> The settlement came a day after DeSantis replaced two Disney critics on the CFTOD with two Disney supporters<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 4, 2024 |title=Did Disney or DeSantis win their big fight? Yes. |language=en-US |url=https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2024/04/04/did-disney-or-desantis-win-their-big-fight-yes/ |publisher=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|access-date=April 8, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 27, 2024 |title=Settlement reached in lawsuit between Disney and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' allies |language=en-US |url=https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/wireStory/settlement-reached-lawsuit-florida-gov-ron-desantis-disney-108547707 |publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|access-date=April 8, 2024}}</ref> and two weeks after the Parental Rights in Education Act, as originally written, was substantially narrowed by a court settlement that both sides portrayed as a victory for their own cause.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 12, 2024 |title=Court overturns large part of Florida's so-called 'don't say gay' law |language=en-US |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/03/12/1238113992/court-overturns-large-part-of-floridas-so-called-dont-say-gay-law#:~:text=Starting%20today%2C%20students%20and%20teachers,Parental%20Rights%20in%20Education%20Law. |publisher=[[NPR]]|access-date=April 8, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 12, 2024 |title=Florida settles lawsuit over LGBT education bill |language=en-US |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68541059.amp |publisher=[[BBC]] | access-date=April 8, 2024}}</ref>

==History==
===Creation===
====Initial steps====
[[File:Reedy Creek Improvement District logo.png|thumb|Logo as the Reedy Creek Improvement District]]
After the success of [[Disneyland]] in California, [[Walt Disney]] began planning a second park on the East Coast. He disliked the businesses that had sprung up around Disneyland, and wanted control of a much larger area of land for the new project.<ref name=married>{{cite book|title=Married to the Mouse|last=Fogleson|first=Richard E.|year=2003|publisher=Yale University Press|location=New Haven, CT|isbn=978-0-300-09828-0}}</ref> He flew over the [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]]-area site, and many other potential sites, in November 1963.<ref name="Quest">{{cite book|title=Walt Disney and the Quest for Community|last=Mannheim|first=Steve|year=2002|publisher=[[Ashgate Publishing|Ashgate Publishing Limited]]|location=Aldershot, Hampshire, England|isbn=0-7546-1974-5|pages=68–70|ref=Mann02}}</ref> Seeing the well-developed network of roads, including the planned [[Interstate 4]] and [[Florida's Turnpike]], with [[McCoy Air Force Base]] (later [[Orlando International Airport]]) to the east, he selected a centrally located site near [[Bay Lake (Florida)|Bay Lake]]. He used multiple [[shell companies]] to buy up land, at very low prices, that eventually would be included within the district. These company names are listed on the upper story windows of what is now the ''[[Main Street USA]]'' section of [[Walt Disney World]], including Compass East Corporation; Latin-American Development and Management Corporation; Ayefour Corporation (named for nearby [[Interstate 4|I-4]]); Tomahawk Properties, Incorporated; Reedy Creek Ranch, Incorporated; and Bay Lake Properties, Incorporated.<ref name="Quest"/>

On March 11, 1966, these landowners, all fully owned subsidiaries of what is now [[the Walt Disney Company]], petitioned the Circuit Court of the [[Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida|Ninth Judicial Circuit]], which served [[Orange County, Florida]], for the creation of the Reedy Creek Drainage District under Chapter 298 of the [[Florida Statutes]]. After a period during which some minor landowners within the boundaries opted out, the Drainage District was incorporated on May 13, 1966, as a public corporation. Among the powers of a Drainage District were the power to condemn and acquire property outside its boundaries "for the public use". It used this power at least once to obtain land for Canal C-1 (Bonnet Creek) through land that is now being developed as the [[Bonnet Creek Resort]], a non-Disney resort.<ref name="History">{{cite web|website=Reedy Creek Improvement District |title=History |url=http://rcid.org/About/History.aspx |access-date=September 12, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918145601/http://www.rcid.org/About/History.aspx |archive-date=September 18, 2015 }}</ref>

====Improvement district and cities====
Walt Disney knew that his plans for the land would be easier to carry out with more independence. Among his ideas for his Florida project was his proposed [[Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (concept)|EPCOT]], the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, which was to be a futuristic [[planned city]] (and which was also known as Progress City).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fickley-Baker |first1=Jennifer |title=A Closer Look at the Progress City Model at Magic Kingdom Park |url=https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/08/a-closer-look-at-the-progress-city-model-at-magic-kingdom-park/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110922003114/http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/08/a-closer-look-at-the-progress-city-model-at-magic-kingdom-park/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 22, 2011 |website=Disney Parks Blog |date=August 11, 2011 |access-date=December 27, 2018}}</ref> He envisioned a real working city with both commercial and residential areas, but one that also continued to showcase and test new ideas and concepts for urban living.<ref name="History"/> Therefore, the Disney company petitioned the [[Florida State Legislature]] for the creation of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which would have almost total autonomy within its borders. Residents of [[Orange County, Florida|Orange]] and [[Osceola County, Florida|Osceola]] counties did not need to pay any taxes unless they were residents of the district. Services like land use regulation and planning, building codes, surface water control, drainage, waste treatment, utilities, roads, bridges, fire protection, emergency medical services, and environmental services were overseen by the district.<ref name="History"/> The only areas where the district had to submit to the county and state would be property taxes and elevator inspections.<ref name="married"/> The planned EPCOT city was also emphasized in this lobbying effort.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 8, 2023 |title=A feud over Florida's 'don't say gay' law advances with proposed legislation impacting Disney |url=https://news.wfsu.org/state-news/2023-01-08/a-feud-over-floridas-dont-say-gay-law-advances-with-proposed-legislation-impacting-disney |access-date=January 8, 2023 |website=WFSU News |language=en |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

On May 12, 1967, Governor [[Claude R. Kirk Jr.]] signed the [[Reedy Creek Improvement Act]], adding the following Florida statutes to implement Disney's plans:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://edocs.dlis.state.fl.us/fldocs/leg/actsflorida/1967/LOF1967V1Pt2Ch0614-1068.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://edocs.dlis.state.fl.us/fldocs/leg/actsflorida/1967/LOF1967V1Pt2Ch0614-1068.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |title=Laws of Florida, Chapter 67-764, House Bill No. 486 |pages=266–368 |date=May 12, 1967 |access-date=December 27, 2018}}</ref>

:* Chapter 67-764 created the Reedy Creek Improvement District;
:* Chapter 67-1104 established the [[Bay Lake, Florida|City of Bay Lake]]; and
:* Chapter 67-1965 established the [[Reedy Creek, Florida|City of Reedy Creek]] (later renamed as the [[Lake Buena Vista, Florida|City of Lake Buena Vista]] around 1970.)

According to a press conference held in [[Winter Park, Florida]], on February 2, 1967, by Disney vice president [[Donn Tatum]], the Improvement District and cities were created to serve "the needs of those residing there", because the company needed its own government to "clarify the District's authority to [provide services] within the District's limits", and because of the public nature of the planned development. The original city boundaries did not cover the whole Improvement District; they may have been intended as the areas where communities would be built for residential use.<ref name=married/><ref name="History"/> To maintain full control of the district, it was important for Disney to limit the voting rights of the inhabitants, rights which were only meant to include landowners owning more than one-half acre. Since Disney owned most of the land, the residents would simply be renting their homes. But after the 1968 ''[[Avery v. Midland County]]'' case, Disney feared that they would have to eventually give everyone living inside the district voting rights, and so the population was restricted to the two municipalities Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/217313718.pdf|title=How Disney's Reedy Creek Improvement District "Re-Imagined" the Traditional Division of Local Regulatory Powers - CORE}}</ref>

===Further development===
After Walt Disney died in 1966, the Disney company board decided that it did not want to be in the business of running a city, and abandoned many of his ideas for Progress City. The planned residential areas that Walt originally advocated for were never built.<ref name="History"/> [[Richard Foglesong]] would later argue in his 2003 book, ''Married to the Mouse: Walt Disney World and Orlando'', that the Disney company abused its powers by remaining in complete control of the District.<ref name=married/>

In 1968, the [[Reedy Creek Improvement Act]] was held by the [[Supreme Court of Florida]] not to violate any provision of the [[Constitution of Florida|state constitution]].<ref>{{cite court |litigants= State v. Reedy Creek Improvement District|vol= 216|reporter= So.2d.|opinion= 202|pinpoint= |court= Fla.|date= 1968|url=http://law.justia.com/cases/florida/supreme-court/1968/37569-0.html}}</ref> As the law, in part, declares that the District is exempt from all state land use regulation laws "now or hereafter enacted," the [[Attorney General of Florida|attorney general of Florida]] issued in 1977 an opinion stating that this includes state requirements for developments of regional impact (DRIs).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.myfloridalegal.com/ago.nsf/Opinions/6938EF8723B3F34E8525659800681CEA|title= Advisory Legal Opinion – AGO 77-44: Developments of Regional Impact – Applicability of Ch. 380 to Disney World|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date= May 16, 1977|publisher= Florida Office of the Attorney General}}</ref>

In January 1990, the RCID was granted a $57-million allocation of tax-free state bonds over an agency with plans for a low-income housing development and all additional government applicants in a six-county region, as the state distributed the bond proceeds on a first-come order. Disney was criticized for the move, with a Republican gubernatorial candidate filing a lawsuit to stop the RCID from using the funds. Also, one state legislator moved to limit the RCID's ability to apply for the program.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Richter|first1=Paul|title=Disney's Tough Tactics |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-07-08-fi-486-story.html |access-date=March 18, 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 8, 1990|page=2}}</ref>

In 1993, the land that eventually became the Disney-controlled town of [[Celebration, Florida]]—which was built with many of [[Walt Disney]]'s original ideas that had since evolved into a form of [[New Urbanism]]—was deannexed from [[Bay Lake, Florida|Bay Lake]] and the district.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rcid.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/2020_Comprehensive_Plan.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.rcid.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/2020_Comprehensive_Plan.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |title=Existing Land Use |work=Reedy Creek Improvement District Comprehensive Plan 2020 |page=2B-11 |date=October 7, 2010 |access-date=November 7, 2020}}</ref> This was done to keep its residents from having power over Disney by providing for separate administration of the areas. Celebration lies on unincorporated land within [[Osceola County, Florida|Osceola County]], with a thin strip of still-incorporated land separating it from the rest of the county. This strip of land contains canals and other land used by the district.<ref name="History"/>

===Abolition===
On March 30, 2022, state representative [[Spencer Roach]] tweeted that Florida legislators had met twice within the past week to discuss the possibility of repealing the Reedy Creek Improvement Act and stripping Disney of its "special privileges" in the state.<ref>{{Cite tweet |author=Spencer Roach |user=SpencerRoachFL |number=1509119958369902595 |date=March 30, 2022 |title=((Yesterday was the 2nd meeting in a week w/fellow legislators to discuss a repeal of the 1967 Reedy Creek Improvement Act, which allows Disney to act as its own government. If Disney wants to embrace woke ideology, it seems fitting that they should be regulated by Orange County.))}}</ref> Roach and Florida governor [[Ron DeSantis]] later criticized Disney for the "special perks" the company enjoyed through use of the RCID. Roach said there had been previous attempts to eliminate the district.<ref name="NBC">{{cite web|access-date=April 21, 2022|title=Magic no more? DeSantis questions Disney's special operating city in Florida|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/reedy-creek-disney-world-special-district-history-desantis-rcna22551|website=NBC News|date=April 2, 2022 }}</ref> A bill analysis and fiscal impact statement for the bill was created on April 19, 2022, by Senator [[Jennifer Bradley]]. However, this analysis was unable to determine the impact the bill would have on either the residents served by the special district, or the local governments that would absorb the district's debts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bradley |first=Jennifer |date=April 19, 2022 |title=The Florida Senate Bill Analysis and Fiscal Impact Statement; SB 4-C |url=https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022C/4C/Analyses/2022s00004C.ca.PDF |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022C/4C/Analyses/2022s00004C.ca.PDF |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=April 28, 2022 |website=Florida Senate}}</ref>

On April 20, 2022, the [[Florida Senate]] passed Senate Bill 4C (SB 4C) with a 23–16 vote that would abolish the special taxing district. If it became law, the bill would dissolve any independent special district in Florida established prior to November 5, 1968, including the RCID; the dissolution would take effect June 1, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Senate Bill 4C (2022C) |url=https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022C/4 |access-date=April 20, 2022 |website=Florida Senate}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=April 20, 2022 |title=Florida Senate passes bill to dissolve Disney's 'independent special district' in special session |url=https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2022/04/19/florida-special-session-desantis-disney-reedy-creek}}</ref>

Representative [[Randy Fine]] sponsored a bill in the [[Florida House of Representatives]]  to dissolve all six [[Special district (United States)|independent special district]]s in Florida established prior to November 5, 1968 (the date of the ratification of the [[Constitution of Florida]]),  including the Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID).<ref>Scott Powers (April 19, 2022). [https://floridapolitics.com/archives/517578-randy-fine-reedy-creek-dissolution-bill-is-what-happens-when-you-kick-the-bees-nest/ "Randy Fine: Reedy Creek dissolution bill is what happens when you ‘kick the bees’ nest’,"] ''Florida Politics''.</ref> On April 21, 2022, the bill was passed by the [[Florida House of Representatives|Florida House]] by a 70–38 vote.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whitten |first=Sarah |date=April 21, 2022 |title=Florida Republicans vote to dissolve Disney's special district, eliminating privileges and setting up a legal battle |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/21/florida-set-to-dissolve-disneys-reedy-creek-special-district.html |access-date=April 21, 2022 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> DeSantis signed the bill into law the following day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DeSantis signs bill eliminating Walt Disney World's Reedy Creek district; Fitch warns of bond downgrade |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/os-ne-disney-reedy-creek-bill-signed-20220422-3ijuuhs5wra6vcbmy4qhpqp6gy-story.html |access-date=April 22, 2022 |website=Orlando Sentinel |date=April 22, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Some members of the [[Florida Legislature]] as well as political commentators said the bill was likely [[Disney and Florida House Bill 1557#Retaliation|retaliation]] for Disney announcing its opposition to the [[Florida House Bill 1557|Parental Rights in Education Act]], dubbed by critics as the "Don't Say Gay bill". Representative [[Dotie Joseph]] dubbed SB 4C "un-American" adding that it was "[p]unishing a company for daring to speak against a governor's radical-right political agenda".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Barnes |first=Brooks |date=April 21, 2022 |title=Disney to Lose Special Tax Status in Florida Amid 'Don't Say Gay' Clash |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/21/business/disney-florida-special-tax-status.html |website=New York Times}}</ref><ref name="independentApril2022"/><ref name="cbsmiamiApril2022" />

The bill which abolished the district did not have any provisions for the logistics or debt. Under its enabling act, the state vowed to bondholders that it wouldn't impair the ability of Reedy Creek to service its debt. By dissolving the district, the debt would have been subsumed by Orange and Osceola Counties.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Jacob Schumer |title=The Contractual Impossibility of Unwinding Disney's Reedy Creek |url=https://news.bloombergtax.com/tax-insights-and-commentary/the-contractual-impossibility-of-unwinding-disneys-reedy-creek |access-date=May 25, 2023 |website=Bloombergtax|date=April 26, 2022 }}</ref> On May 16, 2022, Florida governor DeSantis said that he is looking into making the government take control of the special district but promised that local and state tax payers would not be paying for Reedy Creek's outstanding debt.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Steve Contorno |title=DeSantis eyes state takeover of Disney's special district |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/16/politics/florida-disney-special-district-ron-desantis/index.html |access-date=May 18, 2022 |website=CNN|date=May 16, 2022 }}</ref>

In 2023, DeSantis announced he would rename the district to Central Florida Tourism Oversight District instead of dissolving it, and replace five-board members which had been selected by Disney, with a new board with five members hand-picked by the governor.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Douglas Soule and John |title=DeSantis' push to punish Disney advances, along with other controversial bills |url=https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/politics/2023/02/09/ron-desantis-florida-bill-disney-special-tax-district-advances/69884350007/ |access-date=February 13, 2023 |website=Naples Daily News |language=en-US}}</ref> This was approved by the Florida state legislature on February 9 and 10, 2023.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last1=Campo-Flores |first1=Arian |last2=Whelan |first2=Robbie |date=February 10, 2023 |title=Disney Special Tax-District Bill Is Approved by Florida Senate |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/disney-special-tax-district-bill-is-approved-by-florida-senate-f245e851 |access-date=February 13, 2023 |work=Wall Street Journal |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Contorno |first=Steve |date=February 10, 2023 |title=DeSantis push for more control of Disney special district gets approval from Florida legislature {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/10/politics/disney-ron-desantis-reedy-creek-florida/index.html |access-date=February 13, 2023 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> The bill was signed by Governor DeSantis on February 27.<ref name=":4" />

==== Potential repercussions ====
The bill was passed after two days of discussions and without a fiscal impact analysis. This led to debates about the bill's effects on taxes and [[Bond (finance)|bond debt]].<ref name="Swisher Gillespie Sentinel 2022">{{cite news|title=Disney World's Reedy Creek: What happens after the special district is abolished?|first1=Skyler|last1=Swisher|first2=Ryan|last2=Gillespie|newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|date=April 22, 2022|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/os-ne-abolishing-reedy-creek-20220422-hvzxgcdxq5e43mzgwbmrrbwfmy-story.html|access-date=April 24, 2022|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422120908/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/os-ne-abolishing-reedy-creek-20220422-hvzxgcdxq5e43mzgwbmrrbwfmy-story.html|archive-date=April 22, 2022}}</ref> [[Randy Fine]], the Republican House sponsor of the bill, claimed a different type of district could be formed that would not move additional costs to taxpayers.<ref name="Swisher Gillespie Sentinel 2022"/>

Disney already pays property taxes to Orange and Osceola counties. The bill would not increase these counties' revenues but would force both counties to increase services within the former jurisdiction of the RCID. A tax collector for Orange County claimed the RCID's abolition would increase costs for taxpayers. Florida Senate Democratic member [[Gary Farmer (Florida politician)|Gary Farmer]] also highlighted concerns that the dissolution would transfer over $1 billion in bond liabilities to all Florida taxpayers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frias |first=Lauren |date=April 21, 2022 |title=Florida Gov. DeSantis may repeal Disney's special tax status. But tax officials and legislators say the move could leave local taxpayers to cover more than $1&nbsp;billion in bond debt. |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-losing-self-government-status-could-create-billion-bond-debt-2022-4 |access-date=April 22, 2022 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Potential legal challenges ====
Analysts expected legal challenges to the dissolution. One argument was that because the law targeted Disney in retaliation for a political position, it violated the company's free speech rights under the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/ron-desantis-florida-disney-reedy-creek-responses-1701041|title=Ron DeSantis May Be Set Up for Courtroom Loss Against Disney|first=Adam|last=Staten|date=April 26, 2022|website=Newsweek}}</ref>

Another argument is that the dissolution violates the contract the state of Florida made with bondholders not to alter or limit the powers of the district until all bonds were paid off, making the dissolution unconstitutional under the [[Contract Clause]].<ref name="LC-20220426">{{cite web |title=Florida's Contractual Obligations to Bond Holders Block Repeal of Disney's Special Taxing District, Says Reedy Creek in New Statement |url=https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/floridas-contractual-obligations-to-bond-holders-block-repeal-of-disneys-special-taxing-district-says-reedy-creek-in-new-statement/ |website=Law & Crime |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427150446/https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/floridas-contractual-obligations-to-bond-holders-block-repeal-of-disneys-special-taxing-district-says-reedy-creek-in-new-statement/ |archive-date=April 27, 2022 |date=April 26, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BT-20220426">{{cite web |title=The Contractual Impossibility of Unwinding Disney's Reedy Creek |url=https://news.bloombergtax.com/tax-insights-and-commentary/the-contractual-impossibility-of-unwinding-disneys-reedy-creek |website=Bloomberg Tax |date=April 26, 2022}}</ref><ref name="MH-20220427">{{cite web |title=Disney's special district tells investors state can't dissolve it without paying debt |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article260783972.html |publisher=Miami Herald |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427152921/https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article260783972.html |archive-date=April 27, 2022 |date=April 27, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>  Under Florida law, when a special district government, like the Reedy Creek Improvement District, is dissolved, the dissolution transfers "title to all property owned by the preexisting special district government to the local general-purpose government, which shall also assume all indebtedness of the preexisting special district."<ref>{{cite web |title=Chapter 189 Section 076 - 2015 Florida Statutes - The Florida Senate |url=https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2015/189.076 |website=www.flsenate.gov}}</ref> In 1866, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that "once a local government issues a bond based on an authorized taxing power, the state is contract-bound and cannot eliminate the taxing power supporting the bond".<ref name="LC-20220426"/>

Local taxpayers did file suit in federal court, but this was dismissed in May 2022 for lack of standing for the First Amendment issue, and lack of demonstrated injury to the taxpayers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/disney-ron-desantis-dont-say-gay-law-special-district-1235016301/|title=Florida Residents Denied In Lawsuit Over Ron DeSantis' Disney World Decision|first=Ted|last=Johnson|date=May 11, 2022}}</ref> It was refiled in state court the same month.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bilbao |first1=Richard |title=Attorney refiles dismissed federal lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis about Disney's Reedy Creek in Orlando |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2022/05/27/florida-desantis-disney-reedy-creek-lawsuit.html |work=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref>

==== Reorganization ====
On December 2, 2022, the ''[[Financial Times]]'' reported that a deal between Representative [[Randy Fine]], the Disney company and other members of the [[Florida Legislature|Florida state legislature]] was underway to keep the main Reedy Creek Improvement District agreement, since the District abolition law had yet to take effect. Such compromise was reportedly being drafted especially because former Disney CEO [[Bob Chapek]], who openly opposed the [[Florida Parental Rights in Education Act|Parental Rights in Education law]], was fired, and the abolition of the District would represent a tax increase in cities and counties across Florida, which could endanger Governor DeSantis' nomination for the Republican Party in the [[2024 United States presidential election|2024 presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 2, 2022 |title=Florida prepares U-turn on Disney's 'Don't Say Gay' punishment |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/64162abf-e0bd-4a6f-968a-cb4872e5c4f5 |access-date=January 4, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20221204080654/https://www.ft.com/content/64162abf-e0bd-4a6f-968a-cb4872e5c4f5 |archive-date=December 4, 2022 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Concerns over possible debt transfer to counties, and taxpayers in Orange and Osceola Counties having to start paying for some Disney World services such as police, fire protection and road maintenance, led the legislature to mostly revert the changes. On February 9 and 10, 2023, the Florida State House and Senate, respectively, passed bills in a special session allowing the special tax district to remain, as well as leaving the ability for Disney to issue tax-exempt bonds and approve development plans without scrutiny from certain local regulators in place. Disney would no longer be able to appoint the five members of the tax district's board, which would instead be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the [[Florida State Senate]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=HB 9 (2023), p. 90. |url=https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023B/9B/BillText/er/PDF |access-date=February 4, 2024 |website=Florida Senate}}</ref> and some parts of the district's authority would be removed, such as the power to potentially construct a nuclear power plant, airport, and stadium.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gov. DeSantis signs law, state takes control of Disney's Reedy Creek District |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/gov-desantis-signs-law-state-takes-control-of-disneys-reedy-creek-district/ |access-date=March 2, 2023 |website=www.cbsnews.com |date=February 27, 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref> Governor DeSantis signed the bill on February 27.

==Geography==

Reedy Creek is a natural waterway whose flow, drainage, and destination have been altered over the years by human development. It begins west of the Bay Lake city limits and the Magic Kingdom, and then meanders south through Disney property, passing between [[Disney's Animal Kingdom]] and [[Blizzard Beach]]. It crosses [[Interstate 4]] and exits Disney property west of Celebration and runs mostly through undeveloped territory east of [[Haines City, Florida|Haines City]]. It empties into Lake Russell, and continues flowing southward into Cypress Lake, which is connected to the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes.<ref>{{cite web|website=South Florida Water Management District |url=https://www.sfwmd.gov/recreation-site/upper-reedy-creek-intercession-city-reedy-creek-and-lake-russell-1 |title=Upper Reedy Creek: Intercession City, Reedy Creek and Lake Russell |access-date=July 12, 2018}}</ref>

== Governance ==
[[File:Reedy_Creek_Office.jpg|thumb|Reedy Creek Improvement District Office in Lake Buena Vista]]
The district is governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors. Each supervisor is appointed by the governor of Florida and confirmed by the Florida Senate. Supervisors serve for terms of four years, and may serve for up to three consecutive terms. Any individual currently or within the past three years employed by a theme park or entertainment company is prohibited from serving as a supervisor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HB 9 (2023) |url=https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023B/9B/BillText/er/PDF |access-date=March 1, 2023 |website=Florida Senate}}</ref> The members appointed to the board following changes to the district in 2023, subject to Senate confirmation, are as follows:<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 28, 2023 |title=Disney lost control of its Florida kingdom for opposing the "Don't Say Gay" bill |url=https://qz.com/disney-florida-district-ron-desantis-lgbtq-rights-bill-1850167063 |access-date=March 2, 2023 |website=Quartz |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Durkee |first=Alison |title=Here Are The 5 DeSantis Allies—Including Conservative Donors, Christian Activists—He Picked To Run Disney's District |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/02/28/here-are-the-5-desantis-allies-including-conservative-donors-christian-activists-he-picked-to-run-disney-world-special-district/ |access-date=March 2, 2023 |work=Forbes |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dixon |first=Matt |title=DeSantis appoints political backers to new Disney oversight board |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/27/desantis-appoints-political-backers-to-new-disney-oversight-board-00084564 |access-date=March 2, 2023 |website=POLITICO |date=February 27, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

* Alexis Yarbrough
* [[Bridget Ziegler]]
* Brian Aungst Jr.
* John Gilbert
* Scott Workman
Concerns arose after the nominations, as all five proposed members are allies of [[Ron DeSantis]], have donated to his political campaigns, or are active in other right-wing circles. Ziegler founded [[Moms for Liberty]], a conservative group promoting "anti-[[woke]]" school policies and board members, and was a primary proponent of the Parental Rights in Education Act.{{r|LAT 2023-03-01}} Her husband was elected to lead the [[Republican Party of Florida]] shortly before the governance changes to the district went into effect. Martin Garcia, the proposed new chairperson of the board, donated $50,000 to DeSantis' [[political action committee]], and according to [[Forbes]], "was also named in court testimony as having been consulted when DeSantis' administration was preparing to suspend local prosecutor Andrew Warren for espousing pro-abortion rights views". Ron Peri runs The Gathering USA, a conservative Christian ministry for men in Florida, and previously claimed "estrogen in the water from birth control pills" has contributed to a rise in homosexuality, and has called homosexuality "shameful", "deviant", and that [[Homosexuality in ancient Rome|it]] was a cause of decline for the [[Roman Empire]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Kaczynski |first1=Andrew |last2=Steck |first2=Em |last3=Contorno |first3=Steve |date=March 3, 2023 |title=DeSantis appointee to new Disney oversight board suggested tap water could turn people gay |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/03/politics/kfile-ron-desantis-disney-ron-peri-anti-lgbtq/index.html |access-date=March 5, 2023 |work=CNN |language=en}}</ref> Michael Sasso runs the Orlando chapter of the conservative [[Federalist Society]], and Brian Aungst Jr. is a conservative [[Pinellas County, Florida|Pinellas County]] attorney previously appointed to the [[Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida|6th Circuit]] judicial nominating commission.

Over the course of two public meetings, with the second on the day before the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District was to take control, [[the Walt Disney Company]] and the Reedy Creek Improvement District signed a development agreement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Contorno |first=Steve |date=April 8, 2023 |title=How Disney maneuvered to save its Florida kingdom, leaving DeSantis threatening retaliation {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/08/politics/ron-desantis-disney-florida-district-retaliation/index.html |access-date=April 14, 2023 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> This enacted [[restrictive covenants]] to limit the Improvement District's governing power over Disney properties, which include [[Walt Disney World]].<ref name = Swisher/><ref name=lee/> According to Peri, "This essentially makes Disney the government. This board loses, for practical purposes, the majority of its ability to do anything beyond maintain the roads and maintain basic infrastructure."<ref name=lee>{{Cite news | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/03/30/desantis-disney-world-board-loophole/ | title = Ron DeSantis' plan to take control of Disney's land backfired spectacularly because of a loophole in the agreement that may reduce his appointees to powerless functionaries | first = Lloyd | last = Lee | date = March 29, 2023 | publisher = Business Insider | accessdate = March 30, 2023 }}</ref> The agreement stated that, if a perpetual term is deemed invalid, a [[royal lives clause]] would be used in its place:<ref>{{cite web | last=Matza | first=Max | title=Disney sidesteps DeSantis board with royal clause | website=BBC News | date=March 30, 2023 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65120369 | access-date=March 30, 2023}}</ref> namely, the agreement "shall continue until twenty-one (21) years after the death of the last survivor of the [[Charles III#Issue|descendants]] of [[King Charles III]], king of England [sic], living as of the date of this agreement."<ref name = Swisher>{{cite news |last1=Swisher |first1=Skyler |title=DeSantis' Reedy Creek board says Disney stripped its power |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-ne-disney-new-reedy-creek-board-powerless-20230329-qalagcs4wjfe3iwkpzjsz2v4qm-story.html |access-date=March 29, 2023 |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=March 29, 2023}}</ref>

=== Former governance structure ===
Before the passage of House Bill 9 in 2023 (HB 9 2023), the Board of Supervisors was elected by the landowners of the District, who receive one vote per acre of land. As the majority landowner in Reedy Creek, The Walt Disney Company essentially handpicked the members of the Board.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 5, 2022 |title=Reedy Creek supervisors meet amid uncertain future for Disney-run district |work=Orlando Sentinel |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/orange-county/os-ne-reedy-creek-meeting-20220427-u23ndqywwvginpbhdpmpnnri4e-story.html |access-date=December 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705160724/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/orange-county/os-ne-reedy-creek-meeting-20220427-u23ndqywwvginpbhdpmpnnri4e-story.html |archive-date=July 5, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=DISNEY'S ALWAYS A WINNER IN REEDY CREEK ELECTIONS |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1989-06-01-8906011371-story.html |access-date=December 19, 2022 |work=Orlando Sentinel}}</ref> Under this model, each member owned an undeveloped {{convert|5|acre|adj=mid|spell=in}} lot of land within the District—the only land in the District not technically controlled by Disney or used for public road purposes.

The District headquarters are in a building in Lake Buena Vista, east of Disney Springs.<ref name="Disney Park History 2008">{{cite web | title=Reedy Creek Improvement District | website=Disney Park History | date=June 26, 2008 |url=http://www.disneyparkhistory.com/reedy-creek-improvement-district.html | access-date=September 12, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930185941/http://www.disneyparkhistory.com/reedy-creek-improvement-district.html | archive-date=September 30, 2015 | url-status=dead }}</ref> The District runs the following services, primarily serving Disney:

* [[Police|Law enforcement]] – Officers from [[Orange County, Florida|Orange County]], [[Osceola County, Florida|Osceola County]], and the [[Florida Highway Patrol]] are contracted to police the district. Arrests are made and citations are issued by the Florida Highway Patrol or the Orange County and Osceola County sheriffs deputies. In addition, the Walt Disney Company employs about 800 security staff in their [[Disney Safety and Security]] division, which maintains a fleet of private security Chevrolet Equinoxes equipped with flashing amber and green lights, flares, traffic cones, and chalk commonly used by police officers. {{paragraph}}<!--  -->Disney security personnel are involved with traffic control and may only issue personnel violation notices to Disney and RCID employees, not the general public.<ref name=married /> Security vans previously had red lightbars, but after public scrutiny following the death of Robb Sipkema,<ref name="corpwatch">{{Cite news|last=Fritz|first=Mark|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-11-03-mn-60757-story.html|title=Disney's Wild World of Lawyers: The Scrappiest Place on Earth?|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|agency=Associated Press|date=November 3, 1996|access-date=April 27, 2022}}</ref> were changed to amber to fall in line with Florida State Statutes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bell|first=Maya|url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1997-05-04/news/9705030368_1_walt-disney-disney-security-disney-world|title=Mickey's Identity Crisis – Courts Deciding If Disney World Is A Government, Business Or Both|newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|page=G1|date=May 4, 1997 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190310011821/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1997-05-04/news/9705030368_1_walt-disney-disney-security-disney-world |archive-date=March 10, 2019}}</ref>
* Environmental protection: Many pieces of land have been donated to the [[Florida Department of Environmental Regulation]] and the [[South Florida Water Management District]] as conservation easements, and the District collects data and ensures that large portions remain in their natural [[wetland]] state.<ref name="Disney Park History 2008"/>
* [[Building code]]s and land-use planning: The "EPCOT Building Codes" were implemented to provide the sort of flexibility that the innovative community of EPCOT would require. Still, most of the standards and design parameters are those of the Florida Building Code, which is based on the International Building Code (IBC). Although the codes are ostensibly updated on a three-year cycle, the most recent and currently used version of the EPCOT Building Codes is the 2024 version, enacted in 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oversightdistrict.org/building-department/epcot-building-codes/ |title=EPCOT Building Codes |publisher=Central Florida Tourism Oversight District |access-date=October 26, 2025}}</ref> Today's RCID buildings are built to withstand {{convert|110|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} winds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rcid.org/Dept_Building_Safety.cfm |title=Reedy Creek Improvement District – Lake Buena Vista, Florida |publisher=Rcid.org |access-date=August 20, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807211802/http://www.rcid.org/Dept_Building_Safety.cfm |archive-date=August 7, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="Disney Park History 2008"/>
* Utilities: Wastewater treatment and collection, water reclamation, electric generation and distribution, solid waste disposal, potable water, natural gas distribution, and hot and chilled water distribution are managed through [[Reedy Creek Energy Services]], which has been merged with the [[Walt Disney World Company]]<ref name="Disney Park History 2008"/>
* Roads: Many of the main roads in the District are public roads maintained by the District, while minor roads and roads dead-ending at attractions are private roads maintained by Disney; in addition, state-maintained [[Interstate 4]] and [[U.S. Highway 192]] pass through the District, as does part of the right-of-way of County Road 535 (formerly [[Florida State Road 535|State Road 535]]).<ref name="Disney Park History 2008"/>

Disney provides transportation for guests and employees in the form of buses, ferries, and [[Walt Disney World Monorail System|monorails]], under the name [[Disney Transport]]. In addition, several [[Lynx (Orlando)|Lynx]] public bus routes enter the District, with half-hour service between the [[Transportation and Ticket Center]] (and backstage areas at the [[Magic Kingdom]]) and Downtown [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]] and [[Kissimmee, Florida|Kissimmee]], and once-a-day service to more points, intended mainly for cleaning staff. Half-hourly service is provided, via Lynx, to Orlando International Airport (MCO).<ref name="Disney Park History 2008"/>

==Fire department==
[[File:Reedy Creek Improvement District Fire Department Emergency Services.jpg|thumb|Fire Station 4 in Lake Buena Vista]]

The Reedy Creek Fire Department (RCFD) was created in 1968 to provide fire suppression for RCID. Later, RCFD provides fire suppression, emergency medical services, 911 communications, fire inspections, technical rescue services, and hazardous materials mitigation. EMS makes up approximately 85 percent of the call volume, with RCFD providing both Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://reedycreek.unionactive.com/index.cfm?zone=/unionactive/view_page.cfm&page=RCES|title=Reedy Creek Fire Rescue|website=reedycreek.unionactive.com|access-date=December 27, 2019}}</ref> Its name was changed to District Fire Department (DFD) in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://allears.net/2024/04/25/disney-world-fire-department-renamed-by-desantis-board/|title=Disney World Fire Department Renamed by DeSantis' Board|date=April 25, 2024 |access-date=April 25, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oversightdistrict.org/fire-department/|title=Fire Department - Central Florida Tourism Oversight District|date=July 23, 2024 |access-date=March 31, 2025}}</ref>

The Fire Department currently staffs four fire stations located throughout the district with 138 personnel across three shifts.<ref>{{Cite news|agency=Associated Press|last1=Schneider |first1=Mike |date=June 18, 2023 |title=Disney World firefighters welcomed DeSantis taking over their district, but he doesn't want to raise the union starting pay from $55,000 to $66,000 |url=https://fortune.com/2023/06/18/disney-world-firefighters-union-contract-ron-desantis-delay-endorsement/ |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=Fortune}}</ref> They also maintain a staff of 86 administrative and support personnel including EMS team members (primarily located in each of the four Walt Disney World theme parks), 911 communicators, and fire inspectors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://reedycreek.unionactive.com/index.cfm?zone=/unionactive/view_page.cfm&page=SUPP|title=Reedy Creek Professional Firefighters {{!}} Operations Suppression|website=reedycreek.unionactive.com|access-date=December 27, 2019}}</ref> There are four engines, two tower trucks, one squad unit, eight rescue ambulances, and several special units.
{{clear}}

== See also ==
* [[Florida tourism industry]]

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name=":4">{{Cite press release |title=Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Legislation Ending the Corporate Kingdom of Walt Disney World |url=https://www.flgov.com/2023/02/27/governor-ron-desantis-signs-legislation-ending-the-corporate-kingdom-of-walt-disney-world/ |access-date=February 27, 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref>

}}

== Further reading ==
* [[Richard Foglesong]] (2001), ''Married to the Mouse: Walt Disney World and Orlando'', Yale University Press, {{ISBN|0-300-08707-1}}, {{ISBN|0-300-09828-6}}
* Sam Gennawey (2011), ''Walt Disney and the Promise of Progress City'', Theme Park Press, {{ISBN|978-0-615-54024-5}}
* Aaron H. Goldberg (2021), "Buying Disney's World: The Story of How Florida Swampland Became Walt Disney World", Quaker Scribe, {{ISBN|978-1-733-64205-7}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.oversightdistrict.org/ Central Florida Tourism Oversight District]<!--still in use for now-->

{{Walt Disney World}}
{{Orange County, Florida}}
{{Osceola County, Florida}}
{{Celebration, Florida}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:Reedy Creek Improvement District| ]]
[[Category:Greater Orlando]]
[[Category:Quasi-public entities in the United States]]
[[Category:Special districts of Florida]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1967]]
[[Category:Walt Disney World]]
[[Category:Unincorporated communities in Orange County, Florida]]
[[Category:Unincorporated communities in Osceola County, Florida]]
[[Category:1967 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Unincorporated communities in Florida]]