DeSantis District Reverses Course on Disney Passes After Calling Them Bribes

The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District has reinstated Disney passes for its employees, reversing its earlier stance on the program. The district's Board of Supervisors had previously called the passes a 'scheme to funnel millions of taxpayer dollars to Disney', but now says it's offering a new pass type that allows employees to access theme parks and receive merchandise discounts.

In 2023, the district concluded that receiving special privileges from Disney was inconsistent with its role as a regulator. It described these perks as 'akin to bribes'. However, in February of this year, Governor DeSantis' office released a press statement calling Walt Disney World a 'Corporate Kingdom', listing problems including millions of dollars spent on annual passes and steep discounts on merchandise.

The new pass type allows for access to theme parks worldwide, including Walt Disney World. It also includes a discount on merchandise, similar to what Annual Passholders would enjoy. The District is purchasing these passes from Walt Disney World, similar to agreements with other third-party companies that do business with Disney. An exact cost was not available.

The district's move marks a significant shift in its stance towards Disney, and follows the settlement of a March 2024 agreement between the district and Disney. The current Board is still comprised of DeSantis-selected members, but has changed since the settlement was reached.