The
Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID) is the immediate governing jurisdiction for the land of the
Walt Disney World ResortWalt Disney World Resort is the largest and most visited recreational resort in the world, containing four theme parks; two water parks; 23 themed hotels; and numerous shopping, dining, entertainment and recreation venues. Owned and operated by the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts segment of The Walt...
. As of the late 1990s, it comprised an area of within the outer limits of
OrangeOrange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida and is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of 2007 Census Bureau estimates, the population was 1,066,113. The county seat is Orlando....
and
OsceolaOsceola County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 172,493. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 244,045 , making it the 17th fastest-growing county in the United States. Its county seat is Kissimmee.- History :Osceola County was...
counties in
FloridaFlorida is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the north. It was the 27th state admitted to the United States...
. The RCID includes the cities of
Bay LakeBay Lake is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 23 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 22. It is named after Bay Lake, a lake east of the Magic Kingdom. Most of the Walt Disney World Resort, including...
and
Lake Buena VistaLake Buena Vista is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. It is mostly known for being home to the Walt Disney World Resort. It is one of two Florida municipalities controlled by The Walt Disney Company....
, and
unincorporatedIn law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality. To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city or town with its own government. Thus, an unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
RCID land.
Prior to the formation of the district, the Walt Disney Company used multiple shell companies to buy up land at very low prices from unknowing landowners in the area to become the district.
The
Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID) is the immediate governing jurisdiction for the land of the
Walt Disney World ResortWalt Disney World Resort is the largest and most visited recreational resort in the world, containing four theme parks; two water parks; 23 themed hotels; and numerous shopping, dining, entertainment and recreation venues. Owned and operated by the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts segment of The Walt...
. As of the late 1990s, it comprised an area of within the outer limits of
OrangeOrange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida and is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of 2007 Census Bureau estimates, the population was 1,066,113. The county seat is Orlando....
and
OsceolaOsceola County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 172,493. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 244,045 , making it the 17th fastest-growing county in the United States. Its county seat is Kissimmee.- History :Osceola County was...
counties in
FloridaFlorida is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the north. It was the 27th state admitted to the United States...
. The RCID includes the cities of
Bay LakeBay Lake is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 23 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 22. It is named after Bay Lake, a lake east of the Magic Kingdom. Most of the Walt Disney World Resort, including...
and
Lake Buena VistaLake Buena Vista is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. It is mostly known for being home to the Walt Disney World Resort. It is one of two Florida municipalities controlled by The Walt Disney Company....
, and
unincorporatedIn law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality. To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city or town with its own government. Thus, an unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
RCID land.
Creation
Prior to the formation of the district, the Walt Disney Company used multiple shell companies to buy up land at very low prices from unknowing landowners in the area to become the district. These company names are listed on the upper story windows of what is now the
Main Street USA section of Walt Disney World:
- Compass East Corporation
- Latin-American Development and Management Corporation
- Ayefour Corporation
- Tomahawk Properties, Incorporated
- Reedy Creek Ranch, Incorporated
- Bay Lake Properties, Incorporated
On March 11, 1966, these landowners, all fully-owned subsidiaries of what is now
The Walt Disney CompanyThe Walt Disney Company , often simply known as Disney, is the largest media and entertainment conglomerate in the world, known for its family-friendly products...
, petitioned the Circuit Court of the Ninth Judicial Circuit, which served
Orange County, FloridaOrange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida and is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of 2007 Census Bureau estimates, the population was 1,066,113. The county seat is Orlando....
, for the creation of the Reedy Creek Drainage District under Chapter 298 of the Florida Statutes. After a period during which some minor landowners within the boundaries opted out, the Drainage District was incorporated on May 13, 1966, as a public corporation. Among the powers of a Drainage District were the power to condemn and acquire property outside its boundaries "for the public use". It used this power at least once to obtain land for Canal C-1 (Bonnet Creek) through land that is now being developed as the
Bonnet Creek ResortBonnet Creek Resort is a area located in the southeast corner of Walt Disney World. It is not owned by Disney, but is bordered on three sides by Disney owned land. The entrance is located just east of the entrance to Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. The concept was to set up a cluster of luxury...
, a non-Disney resort.
However, Disney knew that their plans for the land would be easier to carry out with more independence, and they petitioned the Florida State Legislature for the creation of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which would have almost total autonomy within its borders. Chapter 67-764 of the Laws of Florida was signed into law by Governor
Claude R. Kirk, Jr.Claude Roy Kirk, Jr. was the thirty-sixth governor of the U.S. state of Florida. He was the first Republican to hold the office of governor since 1877.-Early life:...
on May 12, 1967, creating the District. On the same day, Governor Kirk also signed the incorporation acts for two cities inside the District:
Bay LakeBay Lake is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 23 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 22. It is named after Bay Lake, a lake east of the Magic Kingdom. Most of the Walt Disney World Resort, including...
(Chapter 67-1104) and Reedy Creek (Chapter 67-1965). (The City of Reedy Creek was renamed to the
City of Lake Buena VistaLake Buena Vista is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. It is mostly known for being home to the Walt Disney World Resort. It is one of two Florida municipalities controlled by The Walt Disney Company....
around 1970.)
According to a press conference held in
Winter Park, FloridaWinter Park is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 24,090 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the city had a population of 28,083. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, on February 2, 1967, by Disney Vice President
Donn TatumDonn Tatum was the first non-Disney family member to be president of Walt Disney Productions. Tatum held senior executive positions with Disney for 25 years and was its chairman from 1971 until 1980. He then served as a director until 1992, when he was named Director Emeritus...
, the Improvement District and Cities were created to serve "the needs of those residing there", and the company needed its own government to "clarify the District's authority to [provide services] within the District's limits" and because of the public nature of the planned development. The original city boundaries did not cover the whole Improvement District; they may have been intended as the areas where communities would be built for people to live.
Naming
Reedy CreekReedy Creek may refer to places in:Australia* Reedy Creek, Queensland** Reedy Creek Observatory, observatory* Reedy Creek Reserve, QueenslandUSA* Reedy Creek Improvement District, Florida...
is a natural waterway, the course of which runs mostly through undeveloped territory east of
Haines CityHaines City is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 13,174 at the 2000 census. As of 2007, the population estimated by the Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Florida is 18,748. Haines City is the third most populated city in Polk County, Florida...
. Its flow, drainage, and destination have been altered over the years by human development: It crosses
Interstate 4Interstate 4 is a 132.30-mile intrastate Highway located entirely within the state of Florida, United States. It goes from Interstate 275 in Tampa, Florida to Interstate 95 at Daytona Beach, Florida...
and enters Disney property west of Celebration and passes between
Disney's Animal KingdomDisney's Animal Kingdom is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort. The fourth park built at the resort, it opened on April 22, 1998, and it is the largest single Disney theme park in the world, covering more than 500 acres . It is also the first Disney theme park to be themed entirely around...
and Blizzard Beach, meandering north past the western reaches of the Bay Lake city limits and the Magic Kingdom.
Objections
The Improvement District has far-reaching powers. Through the District, Disney could construct almost anything within its borders, including a nuclear power plant (which it never built, opting instead for a more traditional plant that supplements power from outside of the District). The District, as with any
municipal corporationA municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
, can issue tax-free bonds for internal improvements. This became a point of contention when a 1985 law limited the amount of tax-free bonds in Florida. The eligible bonds were chosen randomly, causing the District to beat out
Orange CountyOrange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida and is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of 2007 Census Bureau estimates, the population was 1,066,113. The county seat is Orlando....
, which had planned to build low-income housing, in 1989.
In addition to the power of
eminent domainEminent domain , compulsory purchase , resumption/compulsory acquisition or expropriation is the inherent power of the state to seize a citizen's private property, expropriate property, or seize a citizen's rights in property with due monetary compensation, but...
outside the District, the one other power that the District was given (that it would not have had if it were simply the two cities) was an exemption to state zoning and land use laws. When the state later established the Development of Regional Impact study process, Disney, through the District, was able to avoid the paperwork and streamline the process to build theme parks and other attractions. On the other hand, county taxes, including property and sales taxes, still apply within the District.
The planned residential areas never came (though part of the plans for
EPCOTThe Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow was a concept developed by Walt Disney near the end of his lifetime. It was his intended purpose for the property purchased near Orlando, Florida that eventually became the Walt Disney World Resort, including Epcot , to be a "community of the...
did come through), due in part to the fear of losing control of the District, causing some to cry foul. Most notably, Richard Foglesong argues in his book,
Married to the Mouse: Walt Disney World and Orlando, that Disney has abused its powers by remaining in complete control of the District.
In addition, the Disney-controlled town of
Celebration, FloridaCelebration, Florida is a census-designated place and an unincorporated master-planned community in Osceola County in the U.S. state of Florida, near Walt Disney World Resort. It was developed by The Walt Disney Company...
, which was built with many of
Walt DisneyWalter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon and philanthropist. Disney is famous for his influence in the field of entertainment during the twentieth century. As the co-founder Walter Elias...
's original ideas, which have evolved into a form of
New UrbanismNew Urbanism is an urban design movement, which promotes walkable neighborhoods that contain a range of housing and job types. It arose in the United States in the early 1980s and continues to reform many aspects of real estate development and urban planning....
, was deannexed from Bay Lake and the District to keep its residents from having power over Disney by providing for separate administration of the areas. Celebration lies on unincorporated land within
Osceola CountyOsceola County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 172,493. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 244,045 , making it the 17th fastest-growing county in the United States. Its county seat is Kissimmee.- History :Osceola County was...
, with a thin strip of still-incorporated land separating it from the rest of the county. This strip of land contains canals and other land used by the District.
Governance
A five-member Board of Supervisors governs the District, elected by the landowners of the District. These members, senior employees of The Walt Disney Company, each own undeveloped five-acre (20,235 m²) lots of land within the District, the only land in the District not technically controlled by Disney or used for public road purposes. The only residents of the District, also Disney employees or their immediate family members, live in two small communities, one in each city. In the 2000 census, Bay Lake had 23 residents, all in the community on the north shore of Bay Lake, and Lake Buena Vista had 16 residents, all in the community about a mile north of
Downtown DisneyDowntown Disney is an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment complex located at the Walt Disney World Resort. Downtown Disney is open to the public, requires no admission fee and offers entirely free parking and transportation to all Disney resorts. The large outdoor complex is divided into...
. These residents elect the officials of the cities, but since they don't actually own any land, they don't have any power in electing the District Board of Supervisors.
The District headquarters are in a building in Lake Buena Vista, east of
Downtown DisneyDowntown Disney is an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment complex located at the Walt Disney World Resort. Downtown Disney is open to the public, requires no admission fee and offers entirely free parking and transportation to all Disney resorts. The large outdoor complex is divided into...
. Everything publicly run is run by the District; the cities are a formality. This is reflected in recent land acquisitions by Disney towards the west; these were added to the District but not Bay Lake. The District runs the following services, primarily serving Disney:
- Fire protection and emergency medical services: through four fire stations
- Environmental protection: Many pieces of land have been donated to the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation
Florida Department of Environmental Regulation was the agency which, from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s, handled regulation, management, conservation, compliance and enforcement of a wide range of environmental and natural resource activities in the state of Florida, USA...
and the South Florida Water Management DistrictThe South Florida Water Management District is a regional governmental agency supervised by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection , and is responsible for water quality, flood control, water supply and restoration of the environment in 16 counties in Central and Southern Florida...
as conservation easements, and the District collects data and ensures that large portions remain in their natural wetlandA wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with moisture either permanently or seasonally. Such areas may also be covered partially or completely by shallow pools of water. Wetlands include swamps, marshes, and bogs, among others. The water found in wetlands can be saltwater, freshwater,...
state.
- Building code
A building code, or building control, is a set of rules that specify the minimum acceptable level of safety for constructed objects such as buildings and nonbuilding structures. The main purpose of the building codes is to protect public health, safety and general welfare as they relate to the...
s and land-use planning: The "EPCOT Building Codes" were implemented to provide the sort of flexibility that the innovative community of EPCOT would require. The provisions contained therein, although rumored to be exceptionally stringent, have in fact never been far and above those of the Standard Building Code or the Florida Building Code (FBC) that is currently in force in the rest of Florida. In fact, since the inception of the International Building Code (IBC) in 2000, the EPCOT Building Code defers much of its design parameters to the IBC-based FBC, and many of the reference standards contained therein. Particularly with regard to wind design, today's standards are better than the ones that previously existed, and today's RCID buildings are built to withstand winds. Hurricane Charley (2004) reached maximum sustained winds estimated on RCID property. Although the codes are ostensibly updated on a three-year cycle, the most recent and currently-used version of the EPCOT Building Codes is the 2002 version.http://www.rcid.org/Dept_Building_Safety.cfm
- Utilities: wastewater treatment and collection, water reclamation, electric generation and distribution, solid waste disposal, potable water, natural gas distribution, and hot and chilled water distribution, through Reedy Creek Energy Services
Reedy Creek Energy Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. It provides electric power to the Reedy Creek Improvement District , which specifically covers Walt Disney World outside of Orlando, Florida, by supplementing the public power grid.In addition to electric power,...
, which has been merged with the Walt Disney World CompanyThe Walt Disney World Company manages and operates the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida. The resort land is owned by the Walt Disney World Company, the Walt Disney Travel Company, and the Walt Disney World Hospitality and Recreation Corporation. All are wholly-owned subsidiaries of...
- Roads: Many of the main roads in the District are public roads maintained by the District, while minor roads and roads dead-ending at attractions are private roads maintained by Disney; in addition, state-maintained Interstate 4
Interstate 4 is a 132.30-mile intrastate Highway located entirely within the state of Florida, United States. It goes from Interstate 275 in Tampa, Florida to Interstate 95 at Daytona Beach, Florida...
and U.S. Highway 192 pass through the District, as does part of the right-of-way of County Road 535 (formerly State Road 535SR 535, also known as Kissimmee-Vineland Road, is a public road in the U.S. state of Florida. The road originates at U.S. Highway 192 in Kissimmee, Florida and ends in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, formerly Vineland, Florida...
).
Disney provides transportation for guests and employees in the form of buses, ferries, and monorails, under the name
Disney TransportDisney Transport is the privately run transportation system at Walt Disney World. Most movements are made using buses that run along the public and private roads of the resort...
. In addition, several
LynxLYNX is a bus system run by the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority, serving the Orlando, Florida region. Bus routes are referred to as Links. Standard adult one-way fare is $2.00 with free single transfers valid for 90 minutes...
public bus routes enter the District, with half-hour service between the Transportation and Ticket Center (and backstage areas at the
Magic KingdomThe Magic Kingdom is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort. The first park built at the resort, it opened on October 1, 1971. The park saw an estimated 17 million visitors in 2008, making it the most visited theme park in the world....
) and Downtown
OrlandoOrlando is a major city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan region...
and
KissimmeeKissimmee is a city in Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of 2006, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 60,894. It is the county seat of Osceola County...
, and once-a-day service to more points, intended mainly for cleaning staff. Hourly service is provided, via Lynx, to Orlando International Airport (MCO).
Security
The District does not have a police force, instead allowing
Orange CountyOrange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida and is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of 2007 Census Bureau estimates, the population was 1,066,113. The county seat is Orlando....
and
Osceola CountyOsceola County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 172,493. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 244,045 , making it the 17th fastest-growing county in the United States. Its county seat is Kissimmee.- History :Osceola County was...
to respond to incidents. The approximately 800 security staff are instead considered employees of the Walt Disney Company. Arrests and citations are issued by the Florida Highway Patrol along with the Orange County and Osceola County sheriffs deputies who patrol the roads. Disney security does maintain a fleet of security vans equipped flares, traffic cones, and chalk commonly used by police officers. These security personnel are charged with traffic control by the RCID and may only issue personnel violation notices to Disney and RCID employees, not the general public. Security vans previously had red flashing lights, but after public scrutiny following the Sipkema case, were changed to amber to fall in line with Florida State Statutes.
See also
- Greater Orlando
- Bay Lake, Florida
Bay Lake is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 23 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 22. It is named after Bay Lake, a lake east of the Magic Kingdom. Most of the Walt Disney World Resort, including...
- Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Lake Buena Vista is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. It is mostly known for being home to the Walt Disney World Resort. It is one of two Florida municipalities controlled by The Walt Disney Company....
- Walt Disney Travel Company, Incorporated
The Walt Disney Travel Company, Incorporated, along with the Walt Disney World Company, the Walt Disney World Hospitality and Recreation Corporation and the Reedy Creek Improvement District, owns the land in the Walt Disney World Resort...
- Walt Disney World Company
The Walt Disney World Company manages and operates the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida. The resort land is owned by the Walt Disney World Company, the Walt Disney Travel Company, and the Walt Disney World Hospitality and Recreation Corporation. All are wholly-owned subsidiaries of...
- Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort is the largest and most visited recreational resort in the world, containing four theme parks; two water parks; 23 themed hotels; and numerous shopping, dining, entertainment and recreation venues. Owned and operated by the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts segment of The Walt...
- Walt Disney World Hospitality and Recreation Corporation
The Walt Disney World Hospitality and Recreation Corporation, along with the Walt Disney World Company, Walt Disney Travel Company, Incorporated, and the Reedy Creek Improvement District, owns the land in the Walt Disney World Resort...
Further reading
- Richard Fogelsong (2001), Married to the Mouse: Walt Disney World and Orlando, Yale University Press, ISBN 0-300-08707-1, ISBN 0-300-09828-6
External links