Florida Governor Ron DeSantis held a press conference at Reedy Creek Fire Station yesterday before signing legislation for the state government to take over control of the Reedy Creek Improvement District. In a question and answer session following the signing of the bill, DeSantis shared some of the qualities and skillsets he deemed most helpful among the newly-appointed Board of Directors for the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
On a question to DeSantis on the criteria for which board appointees were chosen, the Florida Governor pointed to their business acumen, legal knowledge, and experience in local and state government. Perhaps most surprisingly, the Florida lawmaker also pointed to a desire among board appointees to play a role in the direction of Disney’s entertainment future.
“We also have people that very much want to see Disney be what Walt envisioned,” said DeSantis on the qualities that guided his appointments.
The Florida Governor elaborated, expressing that he felt the 100-year-old Walt Disney Company had lost its way. His hope seems to be that the appointed members of the newly-formed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District might be able to help advise or steer policies that shape Disney’s future.
“I think a lot of families have had really great experiences many times, but, when you lose your way, you’ve got to have people that are going to tell you the truth,” answered DeSantis. “We hope they can get back on [track]. I think all these board members would very much like to see the type of entertainment that all families can appreciate.”
While the board won’t directly have a say over the direction of the Walt Disney Company, as a whole, they do have negotiation power and leverage by way of infrastructure permitting, taxes, and public services.
The first meeting of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District is scheduled for next week. DeSantis urged those in attendance of the press conference that they should buckle up ahead of the first meeting, as “there’s a new sheriff in town.”
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