The Orlando Sentinel
2023/04/25
The "Partners" statue sits in front of Cinderella's Castle at Magic Kingdom on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
- Allie Goulding/Tampa Bay Times/TNS
We all know how much Disney loves sequels. But here’s a safe prediction: “Ron DeSantis and The Multiverse of Madness” is going to be a flop, for everyone involved.
Because while the governor’s attempts to retaliate against the magic kingdom of the Mouse started out as popcorn-worthy entertainment, they are spinning off into real threats to the stability of Florida’s economy.
Tale as old as .. 2022
Our story so far: Way back in January 2022, everything was satisfactual, at least by Florida standards. Disney gave politicians lots of money and swag, and got special privileges in return. That included near-total control of a special, county-like district set up 50-plus years ago that protected its theme parks, resorts and land from inconvenient government intrusion.
But then the Legislature, thoroughly under DeSantis control, rammed through legislation aimed at corporations (well, some corporations) that trained their employees not to be racist or gender-identity biased. Next came a series of attacks on Florida’s gay, lesbian and most of all transgender people that is still escalating. Disney, prodded into action by outraged employees and customers, finally issued a weakly vague complaint and said it was turning off the tap on campaign cash.
DeSantis’ rational response: Global thermonuclear war. He rammed through legislation to kill the Reedy Creek improvement district and took a victory strut, though there was heavy foreshadowing that all might not be well — in the form of a massive tax burden and bond debt that was going to have to be dealt with… somehow. Cliffhanger! Roll credits.
The Woke Strikes Back
A year later, the sequel came out. DeSantis had finally realized that he’d made a pretty big mistake, but didn’t realize how big: While his staff was scribbling out fix-it legislation that let him seize control of the Reedy Creek Improvement District and put his cronies in power, Disney struck back in the dead of night (by which we mean, at open-to-the-public meetings of the district, backed with plans that were available to anyone who asked).
In the weeks before the DeSantis takeover, outgoing board members signed a pile of contracts and covenants that boiled down to this: While DeSantis was claiming a win, the mouse was stealing most of the cheese. The first meeting of the new, DeSanctified board featured some of their many, many attorneys saying that theboard had very little power left.
That led to last week’s goofy press conference, where DeSantis threatened Disney with all kinds of retaliation. Most of it involved the significant assets the company had stashed in the Reedy Creek governmental shell, including thousands of acres of Disney property currently serving as conservation land — which DeSantis suggested might be a dandy venue for a competing theme park. Or a state park. Or a state prison. Was he joking? Who knows?
Then there were the financial attacks: The new board would force Disney to pay off its $1 billion in bond debt. The new board would raise property taxes (Disney, which owns nearly every square inch of the property inside the district, already taxes itself more than double the maximum that would be allowed if the district didn’t exist.) The new board would sell off Disney’s highly efficient and specialized utilities.
Some of the “vengeance” clearly hadn’t been very well thought out. Higher tolls on roads around Disney would only hurt the families who visited the park and the thousands of workers who toiled there, and could actually benefit Disney’s bottom line by keeping guests on-property when they might have instead visited non-Disney restaurants and other theme parks.
Speaking of other theme parks, DeSantis wants state Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson to take over inspections of Disney rides and investigations of injuries. That’s something we’ve been pushing for for years, so, OK. But how do DeSantis and Simpson justify not doing the same for SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Universal? When asked, DeSantis muttered something about “special districts” and the press conference was over.
But we can’t help but wonder about something the governor has said all along: He believes the district was never legally set up in the first place. He believes the district could and should be erased. If he pursues that train of thought, it sparks a whole new world of questions: Doesn’t that make everything listed above technically and legally impossible?
Roll credits, again.
Not feeling the love
It’s safe to say that this latest release is not getting the best of reviews. In fact, it turns out the global business community is not that enchanted with a governor who thinks it’s OK to go around seizing control of private corporations. Or one who thinks it’s OK to cobble together a plan of attack on one of his own state’s biggest economic drivers over a week or maybe three.
They’re starting to become alarmed. You can tell by the way that campaign contributions are shriveling, and people are starting to edge away from DeSantis’ camp in his all-but-announced plan to run for president in 2024. He’s making Donald look calm and rational by comparison, and in this case we mean Trump and Duck.
The governor demonstrably doesn’t listen to a word we say, but he needs to look at his own box office: This franchise is played out. He’s already made a mess that hundreds of trial attorneys will be feasting on for years, and turned #AccidentalCommunist into a tag on Twitter.
It’s enough, governor. Florida has real priorities to tend to. You know what they are.
Once more, with gusto:
Let. It. Go.
Count the Hidden Mickeys
Just to make this fun — or OK, to keep from crying —we’ve included a little challenge: This editorial contains a not-insignificant number of references to Disney movies (including ones that aren’t branded as Disney movies) as well as theme park features.
Which ones did you spot? Tell us at insight@orlandosentinel.com. Be careful: There are a few ringers in there that reference classics from other studios.
Feel free to suggest some we missed and give us your take on the situation — whether or not you feel the same way. We’ll publish a collection of the best responses (please include your name, address and phone number for verification if you’re OK with publishing.) Happy hunting!
____
The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Krys Fluker, Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson and Viewpoints Editor Jay Reddick. Contact us at insight@orlandosentinel.com
We all know how much Disney loves sequels. But here’s a safe prediction: “Ron DeSantis and The Multiverse of Madness” is going to be a flop, for everyone involved.
Because while the governor’s attempts to retaliate against the magic kingdom of the Mouse started out as popcorn-worthy entertainment, they are spinning off into real threats to the stability of Florida’s economy.
Tale as old as .. 2022
Our story so far: Way back in January 2022, everything was satisfactual, at least by Florida standards. Disney gave politicians lots of money and swag, and got special privileges in return. That included near-total control of a special, county-like district set up 50-plus years ago that protected its theme parks, resorts and land from inconvenient government intrusion.
But then the Legislature, thoroughly under DeSantis control, rammed through legislation aimed at corporations (well, some corporations) that trained their employees not to be racist or gender-identity biased. Next came a series of attacks on Florida’s gay, lesbian and most of all transgender people that is still escalating. Disney, prodded into action by outraged employees and customers, finally issued a weakly vague complaint and said it was turning off the tap on campaign cash.
DeSantis’ rational response: Global thermonuclear war. He rammed through legislation to kill the Reedy Creek improvement district and took a victory strut, though there was heavy foreshadowing that all might not be well — in the form of a massive tax burden and bond debt that was going to have to be dealt with… somehow. Cliffhanger! Roll credits.
The Woke Strikes Back
A year later, the sequel came out. DeSantis had finally realized that he’d made a pretty big mistake, but didn’t realize how big: While his staff was scribbling out fix-it legislation that let him seize control of the Reedy Creek Improvement District and put his cronies in power, Disney struck back in the dead of night (by which we mean, at open-to-the-public meetings of the district, backed with plans that were available to anyone who asked).
In the weeks before the DeSantis takeover, outgoing board members signed a pile of contracts and covenants that boiled down to this: While DeSantis was claiming a win, the mouse was stealing most of the cheese. The first meeting of the new, DeSanctified board featured some of their many, many attorneys saying that theboard had very little power left.
That led to last week’s goofy press conference, where DeSantis threatened Disney with all kinds of retaliation. Most of it involved the significant assets the company had stashed in the Reedy Creek governmental shell, including thousands of acres of Disney property currently serving as conservation land — which DeSantis suggested might be a dandy venue for a competing theme park. Or a state park. Or a state prison. Was he joking? Who knows?
Then there were the financial attacks: The new board would force Disney to pay off its $1 billion in bond debt. The new board would raise property taxes (Disney, which owns nearly every square inch of the property inside the district, already taxes itself more than double the maximum that would be allowed if the district didn’t exist.) The new board would sell off Disney’s highly efficient and specialized utilities.
Some of the “vengeance” clearly hadn’t been very well thought out. Higher tolls on roads around Disney would only hurt the families who visited the park and the thousands of workers who toiled there, and could actually benefit Disney’s bottom line by keeping guests on-property when they might have instead visited non-Disney restaurants and other theme parks.
Speaking of other theme parks, DeSantis wants state Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson to take over inspections of Disney rides and investigations of injuries. That’s something we’ve been pushing for for years, so, OK. But how do DeSantis and Simpson justify not doing the same for SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Universal? When asked, DeSantis muttered something about “special districts” and the press conference was over.
But we can’t help but wonder about something the governor has said all along: He believes the district was never legally set up in the first place. He believes the district could and should be erased. If he pursues that train of thought, it sparks a whole new world of questions: Doesn’t that make everything listed above technically and legally impossible?
Roll credits, again.
Not feeling the love
It’s safe to say that this latest release is not getting the best of reviews. In fact, it turns out the global business community is not that enchanted with a governor who thinks it’s OK to go around seizing control of private corporations. Or one who thinks it’s OK to cobble together a plan of attack on one of his own state’s biggest economic drivers over a week or maybe three.
They’re starting to become alarmed. You can tell by the way that campaign contributions are shriveling, and people are starting to edge away from DeSantis’ camp in his all-but-announced plan to run for president in 2024. He’s making Donald look calm and rational by comparison, and in this case we mean Trump and Duck.
The governor demonstrably doesn’t listen to a word we say, but he needs to look at his own box office: This franchise is played out. He’s already made a mess that hundreds of trial attorneys will be feasting on for years, and turned #AccidentalCommunist into a tag on Twitter.
It’s enough, governor. Florida has real priorities to tend to. You know what they are.
Once more, with gusto:
Let. It. Go.
Count the Hidden Mickeys
Just to make this fun — or OK, to keep from crying —we’ve included a little challenge: This editorial contains a not-insignificant number of references to Disney movies (including ones that aren’t branded as Disney movies) as well as theme park features.
Which ones did you spot? Tell us at insight@orlandosentinel.com. Be careful: There are a few ringers in there that reference classics from other studios.
Feel free to suggest some we missed and give us your take on the situation — whether or not you feel the same way. We’ll publish a collection of the best responses (please include your name, address and phone number for verification if you’re OK with publishing.) Happy hunting!
____
The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Krys Fluker, Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson and Viewpoints Editor Jay Reddick. Contact us at insight@orlandosentinel.com
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