Answering Some of the Most Pressing Problems at Disney
A stunning amount has happened at Disney theme parks over the past calendar year.
Let’s talk about how Disney is answering some of its most pressing problems.
Photo:visitorlando.com
PS: The first solution is a masterstroke!
What Just Happened with Reedy Creek?
Photo: Disney clip art
In a nutshell, Disney just scored a stunning knockout. We’re talking about a Mortal Kombat Fatality type of win.
Since Florida’s governor attacked Disney a year ago, everyone has assumed the worst. Now, Disney has reminded everyone that it has the best lawyers.
Photo: Yahoo Sports!
During the final meeting of the former Reedy Creek Improvement District, the board members honored Sunshine Law requirements.
In other words, Disney:
- Gave reasonable notice that the meeting would occur
- Opened the board meeting to the public
- Took the minutes of the meeting
@HazenWESH on Twitter
Why does any of that matter? Because the board also signed the paperwork to give Disney control of its own development at Walt Disney World.
According to one of the new board members of the former Reedy Creek, “This essentially makes Disney the government.”
Photo: The Business Journal
The depowered panelist added, “This board loses, for practical purposes, the majority of its ability to do anything beyond maintaining the roads and maintaining basic infrastructure.”
Effectively, Disney maintains development rights to all the former Reedy Creek land until “21 years after the death of the last survivor of the descendants of King Charles III, king of England.”
Photo: Fox Business
News of the King Charles III clause, sometimes used in legal documents, has gone viral and caused abject humiliation for the very people trying to assail Disney.
Presumably, Florida’s anti-Disney government officials anticipated Disney suing for years. At each point, these critics would attack Disney for being a sore loser.
Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
With one swift move of proper governance, Disney has completely reversed the status.
If certain Florida officials want to continue this grudge, they’ll be the ones suing in a prolonged legal battle.
Photo:newsbreak.com
Meanwhile, Disney can correctly state that they’re following the law as they dismiss all attempts by the shaky members of the new board to provoke controversy.
What’s the Latest with Brightline?
I know that some of you are asking, and I owe you a more detailed explanation than this. For now, let’s stick with the basics, though.
During the pandemic, something rare happened. Somebody outflanked Disney on a theme park matter.
Comcast
Comcast executives successfully lobbied behind the scenes to persuade Florida officials to build the so-called Sunshine Corridor.
Please understand that these negotiations ensued before Disney’s recent skirmish with the previously mentioned election officials.
Photo: Universal
However, we should also acknowledge that Florida bribery charges occur regularly.
In fact, Orlando’s Mayor (!) has stated that he’s skeptical about the special district the government may create for Universal.
Photo WESH 2
According to the Mayor, “There was a lack of transparency.” That’s probably the tell-tale part of this story.
Disney negotiated for a high-speed train station on the Disney Springs campus.
Photo: All Aboard Florida
Park strategists planned to open this station as a way to split the difference for tourists flying into Orlando International Airport (MCO).
Had everything worked out well, guests would have grabbed their luggage at MCO, hopped on a train, and arrived at Disney Springs in a matter of minutes.
Photo: https://www.local10.com
From there, Disney would have provided additional transportation options to the various official resorts and theme parks. My money was on a Disney Skyliner expansion.
Alas, Comcast needed the Sunshine Corridor so that it’d have a Brightline station close to its upcoming theme park expansion, Universal’s Epic Universe.
Photo: Universal
So, Comcast proved willing to grease the wheels, something Disney wouldn’t do.
The latter company believed that elected officials would do what’s best for Florida. Alas, that hasn’t happened.
Photo: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Not coincidentally, an official website for this expansion is called – I kid you not – Right Rail. Interpret that information as you see fit.
The overriding point is that Disney needs to come up with a Plan B here.
What’s Happening with Passes and Plans?
Photo: Disneyclipart.com
I’m frustrated to report that Park Passes appear to be permanent.
I held out hope that returning CEO Bob Iger would eliminate this aggravating aspect of current Disney visits.
Alas, nothing has changed in more than four months. Also, recent comments suggest that Disney likes Park Passes enough to continue their usage.
As a theme park devotee, I hate Park Passes and want them gone. The instant I buy an admission ticket, I OWN a Park Pass by any reasonable evaluation.
Currently, Disney evaluates the matter differently, and that’s apparently not changing soon.
The good news is that annual passholders won’t need to worry about Park Passes when Park Hopping after 2 p.m. as of April 18th. So, there’s that.
Speaking of annual passes, I…have terrific news to relay if you haven’t heard!. Annual passes are returning soon at Walt Disney World!
Disneyland park guests have enjoyed the returning option to purchase Magic Keys since January.
Photo: Disneyland
Park officials have indicated that annual pass sales will reopen on April 20th!
Photo: Disney
Finally, Disney hasn’t brought back the dining plan. Instead, the company offered a similar Dining Card Promo.
This deal hints that Disney has adjusted its dining approach, at least in the short term. My hopes aren’t high for a dining plan returning any time soon.
On the plus side, the Dining Card Promo was a pretty good deal, though.
What’s Coming Soon to Disney Theme Parks?
On a quarterly basis, I update the attractions and experiences that are coming soon to Disney theme parks.
With Tron Lightcycle / Run and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway up and running, the number of in-progress attractions has turned into a shortlist.
Photo: Disney
Later this year, Journey of Water | Inspired by Moana will arrive. Then, in 2024, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open at Disneyland and Magic Kingdom.
Beyond that, we know that a King Thanos attraction is coming to Avengers Campus, and an Avatar experience will debut at Disneyland.
Photo: Disney
Otherwise, we’ve finally reached that day we feared during the heart of the pandemic. Disney’s reduction in capital expenditures has led to fewer new projects.
Thankfully, I believe there’s a light at the end of the tunnel here. Disney’s parks division earns so much annual revenue — $28.7 billion in fiscal 2022! – that executives can easily justify new expenditures.
Photo: Washington Post
In fact, I’m optimistic that the recent Reedy Creek kerfuffle will end in an unexpected benefit. I expect Disney to announce a major expansion soon-ish.
The Reedy Creek/King Charles III clause has stymied anti-Disney attempts to control the district.
Photo: Wikipedia
However, Florida’s government hasn’t followed the conventional political playbook in many other avenues.
As such, if I were Disney, I would move quickly to avoid such potential roadblocks.
Photo: The Walt Disney Company
As things stand, the new district’s board members hold no power over Disney. A new law or quick legal ruling could change that, though.
Now is the time to act, Disney! And Bob Iger seems to recognize this fact!
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Feature Photo: Newsbreak
