food IS a theme park
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently suggested offsetting other revenue losses by targeting tourists who vacation in the Sunshine State.
Florida Citrus mural in Disney Springs
During an appearance in Palm Bay, DeSantis responded to a question by saying, “Tax the tourists. Tax some of the foreigners,” according to the Orlando Sentinel.
A severe weather warning has been put in place for several areas in northern and central Florida, including Walt Disney World, as winter weather is set to batter the Sunshine State.
Ominous weather is on the wwy
According to WESH news, areas including Pensacola, Panama City, Tallahassee, and portions of Jacksonville will be under a winter storm warning beginning at 1:00 AM Wednesday, January 22nd. This “significant system” may bring freezing rain, ice, or snow. While most of Central Florida isn’t expected to see the same type of wintery mix, a bitter cold is expected to sweep through the area, and the possibility does exist that areas including Marion County and Flagler County may see freezing rain.
Tropical Storm Helene is expected to strengthen in the Gulf of Mexico before it makes landfall in Florida on Thursday.
©National Hurricane Center
As we reported yesterday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had declared a state of emergency for 41 counties in Florida, but stopped short of the Central Florida area where Disney World is located. All that has changed today, though. As is often the case with hurricanes, Helene’s forecast is changing. The storm is now expected to grow larger and more powerful than previously thought — and that means it will affect a larger area.
Will the 2024 U.S. Election affect Walt Disney World?
Magic Kingdom
This coming November, the United States will hold the 60th presidential election in the country’s history between incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. While it should go without saying that the election will have far-reaching ramifications across American society, to pull things “closer to home” as it were, there’s also a chance it may affect Walt Disney World going forward.
For YEARS now (literally, years) a serious battle has been going on between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Walt Disney Company (first with former CEO Bob Chapek and then with current CEO Bob Iger). But things have finally changed in a major way.
Disney vs. DeSantis
Legislation, press conferences, official statements, and MORE — this battle has involved everything from a federal lawsuit to threats of building a state prison next to Disney World. It has been one interesting ride — so what’s happened now? Well, let us get you up to speed.
Disney’s culture war with Ron DeSantis may officially be over.
©Governor Ron DeSantis Website
After several years of political and legal battles, and several months of deescalation and settlement deals, Disney’s most recent legal action seems to indicate that the company’s long-running ideological battle with Florida’s governor has cooled.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has targeted a new industry.
Good Meat lab-grown chicken.
You might be familiar with DeSantis and his policies through his appointed board that oversees Disney World and the surrounding areas: the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board. Now, though, DeSantis is targeting a new industry outside of the theme parks: food.
We’ve seen quite a few changes at the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) lately.
Reedy Creek Improvement District
After the Reedy Creek Improvement District was out, the CFTOD was taken over by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who quickly appointed his own members to the board. Since then, we’ve seen a mass employee exodus in the district and more recently, some changes to those DeSantis-appointed board members. Now, it seems the district has officially agreed to change the name of Disney World’s fire department.
Disney and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have been battling it out in the courts through various lawsuits for a while now, but it seems as though the war is over.
Disney vs. DeSantis
The DeSantis-appointed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board’s state lawsuit against Disney came shortly after the House of Mouse filed a federal lawsuit against the Board and DeSantis with Disney filing a countersuit in August 2023. But, the two parties have now entered into a settlement agreement for the state-level cases. So, what does that mean for the federal suit?
The battle between Disney and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) has come to an end — well, part of it anyway.
Disney vs. DeSantis
While we’re still waiting on a ruling in appeal Disney filed in the federal case, the state case filed by the CFTOD has continued on without much drama. The CFTOD lawsuit came shortly after Disney filed a lawsuit against the Board and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis with the board officially filing its own suit in May 2023 and Disney filing a countersuit in August. But now, it looks like the CFTOD and Disney have officially reached a settlement.
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