Governor DeSantis Appoints Craig Mateer to Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board Following Garcia’s Resignation

Craig Mateer at Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Board meeting

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has chosen Craig Mateer to take over the empty Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board seat left by Martin Garcia, who was Chairman of the Board and resigned two weeks ago. DeSantis Appoints Craig Mateer Mateer founded Bags Inc., a luggage handling business that he sold in 2018 for $275 million. … Read more

Senator Urges Governor DeSantis to Replace Oversight District Administrator Glen Gilzean

Linda Stewart, Ron DeSantis, Glen Gilzean

Florida State Senator Linda Stewart is asking Governor Ron DeSantis to replace Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Administrator Glen Gilzean with a local Orange County official. Sen. Stewart Writes to Gov. DeSantis Stewart (D, Orlando) wrote a letter to the Governor after DeSantis appointed Gilzean to the position of Supervisor of Elections in Orange County. … Read more

Disney Says Central Florida Tourism Oversight District is ‘Plagued by Chaos and Upheaval’ in New Filing

Central Florida Tourism Oversight District CFTOD logo

Disney has filed a new Motion for Injunctive Relief in which they say the first year of Governor DeSantis’ Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) has been “plagued by chaos and upheaval.” Disney Says CFTOD is ‘Plagued by Chaos and Upheaval’ The motion comes amid Disney’s lawsuit against the CFTOD claiming the District has not … Read more

DeSantis Says Disney Should ‘Move On’ After Federal Lawsuit Dismissed, State Lawsuit Continues With Protective Order Motion

Collage of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Disney CEO Bob Iger

While Disney’s federal lawsuit against Governor Ron DeSantis and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District is heading to an appellate court, state-level lawsuits are still ongoing. Disney vs. DeSantis, Central Florida Tourism Oversight District After Judge Allen Winsor dismissed the federal lawsuit this week, Disney filed a notice of intent to appeal to the United … Read more

Disney Files Intent to Appeal Federal Lawsuit Against Governor DeSantis and CFTOD

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Disney has filed a notice of intent to appeal the decision to dismiss their federal lawsuit against Governor DeSantis and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. Disney Files Intent to Appeal Federal Lawsuit Decision Disney filed the notice of intent to appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on Thursday, … Read more

Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Issues New Statements Following Dismissal of Disney’s First Amendment Federal Lawsuit

Martin Garcia

Following the dismissal of Disney’s First Amendment federal lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD), the District’s Board has now issued its own statements in response to the ruling. Oversight District Issues Statement on Disney Lawsuit Dismissal After the ruling was passed down, Disney issued a statement saying … Read more

CFTOD Asks Judge to Ignore Recent Ruling That Governor DeSantis Retaliated Against Someone for Freedom of Speech

DeSantis and Iger

The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) filed a new document asking the judge in Disney’s federal lawsuit against them to ignore a recent appeals court decision that states Governor Ron DeSantis has retaliated against someone for using their First Amendment rights. CFTOD Asks Judge to Ignore Recent DeSantis Ruling Disney filed a Notice of … Read more

Iger Less Optimistic About Disney Business in China, Offered to Sit Down with DeSantis but Governor Declined

bob iger ron desantis

During a conversation with Andrew Ross Sorkin at the New York Times’ DealBook Summit on Wednesday, Disney CEO Bob Iger addressed the company’s ongoing legal battle with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, as well as Disney’s presence in China, which DeSantis has previously criticized. Shanghai Disneyland and China Regarding Disney’s business prospects in China, Iger said … Read more

Full Text Revealed of Bill to Repeal DeSantis Takeover of Reedy Creek Improvement District

RCID Reedy Creek Improvement District Sign

Last week, we learned that Florida State Senator Linda Stewart was preparing to file a bill seeking to repeal Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ takeover of the former Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID), which was replaced by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD). The full text of the bill has now been released. New Bill … Read more

‘Disney Defenders’ Petitioning to Restore Reedy Creek, Give Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board ‘Pink Slips’

Reedy Creek Improvement District sign

A group called “Disney Defenders” handed the members of the Governor DeSantis-appointed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board of Supervisors “pink slips” during their meeting on Wednesday. The group is collecting signatures for two petitions, one to restore the previous Reedy Creek Improvement District and the other to prevent political retaliation. ‘Disney Defenders’ Give CFTOD … Read more

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Claims ‘We Won the Battle Against Disney’

bob iger ron desantis

In a recent interview with the President and CEO of The FAMiLY Leader, Bob Vander Plaats, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis commented on the two still ongoing court cases with The Walt Disney Company, saying he believes he has “won the battle.” DeSantis Claims to Have ‘Won the Battle Against Disney’ DeSantis addressed the Florida Parental … Read more

Disney Compares Universal Taxing District to Reedy Creek in New Legal Filing Against DeSantis, Central Florida Tourism Oversight District

Reedy Creek Improvement District sign

In their latest filing in their case against Governor Ron DeSantis and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, Disney compares the District to the new one established by Orange County for Universal Orlando Resort. Disney and Universal Taxing Districts In October, Orange County, Florida approved the creation of a special taxing district for Universal Orlando … Read more

Over 30 Employees Leave DeSantis’ Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Due to ‘Toxic Workplace,’ ‘Bridge Burning,’ and ‘Incompetent’ Leadership

Ron DeSantis in front of Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World

More than 30 employees have resigned from Governor Ron DeSantis’ Central Florida Tourism Oversight District due to an “uncomfortable,” “stressful,” and “toxic” work environment, according to a report by Jason Garcia for Seeking Rents. Garcia interviewed former employees and obtained several exit surveys that paint a bleak picture of the behind-the-scenes operations of the current … Read more

Deadline Extended for Disney to Respond to Governor DeSantis’ Motion to Dismiss Federal Lawsuit

Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom

The judge has extended the deadline for Disney to file their response to Florida Governor Ron Desantis and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District’s latest motions to dismiss their federal case. DeSantis and the District filed their new motions on the deadline to file after Disney updated their federal lawsuit. Disney changed some of their … Read more

College Program Cast Member Fired After Viral TikTok Captures Guest Altercation, CFTOD Board Removes Walt Disney World Pass Benefits for Employees, & More: Daily Recap (8/21/23)

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We bring you a lot of stories every single day. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up. So in case you missed anything from our feed, we have rounded up all our stories in one place to get the news at a glance. Here is your Daily Recap for Monday, August 21, 2023. Walt Disney World EPCOT … Read more

BREAKING: DeSantis’ Tourism Oversight Board Canceled Walt Disney World Pass Benefit for Employees, Offering New $1000 Stipend Despite Calling Benefit Program ‘Scheme to Funnel Taxpayer Dollars’

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In a leaked email from an anonymous source, it was revealed that the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District has already ended the Walt Disney World Annual Pass program for their employees with no prior notice. CFTOD Board Ends Walt Disney World Annual Pass Benefit With No Notice Our source detailed that this change affects retired … Read more