Who Needs Who? Disney vs. Florida
Whenever something new arises in the ongoing, super-weird battle between Florida politicians and its largest tourist attraction, a debate ensues.
Who needs who?
Photo: Disney
Does Florida need The Walt Disney Company more than Disney needs the Sunshine State? Or is the reverse true?
People on the internet hold shockingly strong opinions about this subject.
So, let’s debate both arguments and decide which one holds more weight.
Disney Needs Florida More
Photo: Pixabay
I recently discussed the idea of Disney leaving Florida. It was the second time I wrote on the subject, and I’ve felt a bit silly both times.
Reasonable people know that Disney cannot uproot its theme park operations in Central Florida and start all over again.
Yes, Disney could plan a new park elsewhere and would receive comically large incentives to do so.
Photo:visitorlando.com
Such an endeavor would likely take a decade and cost north of $25 billion, though.
Afterward, at best, Disney would recreate what it already possesses with Walt Disney World. Simply stated, the company has landlocked itself to Florida.
Still, let’s be realistic here. A government entity has just made Disney’s business operations more challenging.
Some of the politicians have suggested that Disney was getting a free handout of special benefits. That’s no longer the case.
Photo:sun-sentinel.com
The Florida legislature’s recent actions may not hold up in court. Let’s say that they do, though.
In performing this legislative action, Florida nullified some of the aspects of Disney’s operations that made the company’s daily operations easier.
Photo: Google earth
I must stress that Disney wasn’t getting anything special here, as approximately 2,000 districts like Reedy Creek exist in Florida.
However, Florida officials had previously happily let Disney act unimpeded on self-governance, save for frequent squabbles about accurate taxation.
Photo:Investopedia
That’s no longer the case, reducing Disney’s need to invest more in Florida.
The existing content at Walt Disney World will continue to lure guests for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, the money generated here represents a fractional amount of Disney’s overall annual revenue.
The Parks division earns roughly one-third of the company’s total take. That covers six theme parks, two water parks, and several entertainment districts.
At MOST, Walt Disney World accounts for five percent of Disney’s overall income. That’s not much.
Florida Needs Disney More
Photo: Forbes
Business Insider recently posted a scare tactic of a clickbait headline entitled: “If DeSantis drags down Disney, he could bring down central Florida with it.”
The implication of the article centers on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ ill-considered feud with Disney. It cites Oxford Economics research often.
Photo: Washington Post
According to this study, Central Florida tourism brings $75.2 billion in revenue to the Sunshine State each year.
Remarkably, Central Florida tourism is responsible for 41 percent (!) of all jobs in the area!
Photo: Disney
You can imagine how much damage the local and state economies would suffer if that industry suffered a catastrophic event like Disney closing.
Again, that won’t happen, but there’s a reason why I keep referring to Disney as the golden goose. It props up Florida’s economy to a comical degree.
Photo: Central Florida Development Council
Disney employs 75,000 people in the state and would have added thousands more if the Lake Nona project had advanced.
Even during a recent series of layoffs, Disney largely avoided letting go of people at its theme parks.
Also, Disney has remained a loyal, trustworthy, and reliable tenant during its time in the Sunshine State.
The company knows that its roots run deep in Florida and is committed to protecting the land and its people.
Importantly, Disney also pays the most in taxes of any corporation in Central Florida. So, it’s not taking shortcuts for legal but shady tax breaks in the region.
Photo: Moneycrashers.com
Disney does extremely well for Florida financially, while hosting roughly 58.8 million guests annually before the pandemic.
That’s more than a million people visiting Florida weekly just for Walt Disney World!
Without those tourists, Florida would be a fraction of its current status.
The Two Parties Need One Another
Photo: Disney
Here’s the truth of the matter. Disney and Florida’s ruling class should come together and find common ground. We all know that.
I recognize that this concept seems wildly unlikely at the moment, though.
Photo: The Wall Street Journal
As long as DeSantis is running for President of the United States (POTUS), he’s anchored his entire national campaign on targeting Disney.
While nobody will ever understand why his political advisors allowed this to happen, that’s where we stand.
Credit: WESH2
Still, DeSantis faces a term limit, and while anything is possible, I doubt Florida’s legislature alters that rule.
I must say that with the caveat that a recent bill almost certain to pass would allow DeSantis to run for office without resigning from office.
Photo: Yahoo Sports!
The cracks are showing with DeSantis’ local allies, though. According to Newsweek, Florida’s two Senators have both questioned his Disney antics.
Marco Rubio argued, “I think where it gets problematic in the eyes of some people is when you start creating the idea…
Photo: ABC News
“And I’m not saying we’re there yet as a state. But the idea (is) that somehow if you run crossways with us politically, whoever’s in charge, then you may wind up in the crosshairs of the legislature for political purposes to make a statement at you.”
Rick Scott, Florida’s governor before DeSantis, said the following:
Photo: CNN
“Half the tourism that comes to our state comes to visit Disney. It’s a reason people come to our state.
“After they come there, people move there. So, I think cooler heads need to prevail. My view is we have to do everything to help our businesses grow.”
(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Both Senators have experience operating on a national rather than local scale, and they recognize the mistakes DeSantis is making.
So, what does that mean?
When Could the Parties Make Peace?
Photo: Pexel.com
That’s a challenging answer. For starters, the court system will ultimately decide who is right and wrong on the matter.
From what I’ve learned in interviews and research, someone would need to establish an entirely new legal precedent for DeSantis to win.
We’re talking about one with far-reaching legal ramifications.
Photo: cba.cj
Such a landmark ruling would probably reference some super-obscure ruling that’s decades, if not centuries, old. Otherwise, the law heavily favors Disney.
The Orlando Sentinel’s editorial board recently described the DeSantis tactics as an “attempt at a coup looking more and more like something that was roughed out on the backs of pudding-stained napkins.”
Photo: Miriam-Webster
Let’s be clear. They won’t change as long as DeSantis is running for POTUS.
No small fry Florida representative will stand up to him at the moment, though. So, we’re stuck here for at least nine months and probably longer.
Photographer: Jacquelyn Martin/AP/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Joe Biden didn’t clinch the Democratic nomination for POTUS until June 2020.
That same timeline means DeSantis wouldn’t return to Florida full-time for a calendar year. Yes, we’re in purgatory for a while.
Presuming DeSantis loses, he may perceive Disney differently when he comes back.
If not, he’ll have two more years to find new ways to punish Mickey Mouse.
Should DeSantis come back humbled, other Florida politicians may intercede, though. A politically damaged DeSantis wouldn’t carry the same weight.
Photo: Disneyplanning.com
Still, I wouldn’t be surprised if we had to wait until 2026 (!) to find politicians more favorable to Disney.
So, the company’s best bet over the next couple of years is the court system because I doubt common sense prevails anytime soon.
Photo: MickeyBlog
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Feature Photo: Getty
