Associated Press
Morale and trust within the Walt Disney World government has deteriorated since allies of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took it over earlier this year, according to many employees who have departed in recent months saying the governing district has been politicized and cronyism now permeates the organization.
More than 40 out of about 370 employees have left the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District since it was taken over in February, raising concerns that decades of institutional knowledge is departing with them, along with a reputation for a well-run government.
“When I first joined the District, I found an organization that strived to be the very best at serving our community, sought the very best employees and valued those employees above all else,” a former facilities manager with three years of experience said in an employee exit survey last week. “I find myself leaving a completely different District. A District that prioritizes politics above all else and will gladly sacrifice its employees, its community and its work if there’s an opportunity to score political points.”
The Associated Press obtained the employee exit surveys through a records request, and has withheld names to protect security. Most of the records were first obtained by Seeking Rents, a Florida-based watchdog newsletter.
With the departure of so many district employees in such a short period of time, the district is “no longer functional,” a facilities director who left last month wrote in her exit survey.
With the departure of so many district employees in such a short period of time, the district is “no longer functional,” a facilities director who left last month wrote in her exit survey.
The Republican governor and GOP-dominated Florida Legislature took control of the district in retaliation after Disney publicly opposed a state law banning classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades. The law was championed by DeSantis, who currently is running for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.
Before the takeover, the governing district had been controlled by Disney supporters. It previously was named the Reedy Creek Improvement District when it was established in 1967 to provide municipal services like road repairs, waste collection and firefighting on the 25,000 acres (10,117 hectares) that make up Disney’s theme park resort in central Florida.
An environmental biologist who departed the district in September after 35 years said the DeSantis allies on the board had “negatively changed my experience with top leadership, the work culture, trust, and given me a good reason to retire.” An accountant who also departed in September said she hadn’t wanted to leave but “the workplace culture has been destroyed.”
The new board members, though, have been accusing the previous administration of cronyism while at the same time hiring politically-connected associates to positions in the district or awarding them contracts, the former facilities manager said in his exit interview last week.
One of the five original DeSantis-appointed board members to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District was the best man at the June wedding of Glen Gilzean, who was named by the new board to be the district’s new administrator in May and is a DeSantis ally. Gilzean also recently promoted his chief of staff, who he had worked with in his previous job, to be a deputy district administrator.
Last month, the district authorized a $242,500 no-bid contract to update its emergency-calls network with a company whose chief executive had served with Gilzean on the Florida Commission on Ethics, where both were DeSantis appointees. Following pushback from local media reports about the no-bid nature of the deal, the company CEO requested that the contract be reopened for an open bidding process.
Disney has sued DeSantis and the members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board in federal court in Tallahassee over the takeover, claiming its free speech rights were violated. Disney is also battling the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District in state court in Orlando.
Before control of the district changed hands, the Disney supporters on its board signed agreements with Disney to shift control over design and construction at Disney World to the company. The new DeSantis appointees claimed the “eleventh-hour deals” neutered their powers, and the district sued the company in state court to have the contracts voided. Disney filed counterclaims. A hearing in the state court case is slated for Wednesday.
The Republican governor and GOP-dominated Florida Legislature took control of the district in retaliation after Disney publicly opposed a state law banning classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades. The law was championed by DeSantis, who currently is running for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.
Before the takeover, the governing district had been controlled by Disney supporters. It previously was named the Reedy Creek Improvement District when it was established in 1967 to provide municipal services like road repairs, waste collection and firefighting on the 25,000 acres (10,117 hectares) that make up Disney’s theme park resort in central Florida.
An environmental biologist who departed the district in September after 35 years said the DeSantis allies on the board had “negatively changed my experience with top leadership, the work culture, trust, and given me a good reason to retire.” An accountant who also departed in September said she hadn’t wanted to leave but “the workplace culture has been destroyed.”
An executive administrative assistant who left the district in June cited the “bridge burning” by the DeSantis appointees and Gilzean as the reason why she departed.
“I am truly saddened that I am leaving the District, because there are great people here who do great work,” said the former employee who had worked at the district for four years. “I hope they can continue to do the work that has made us the Magic Behind the Magic.”
___
Republished with permission from The Associated Press.
17 comments
JD
November 6, 2023 at 5:37 pm
Where’s the groomer comments now about Disney? Come on FABUIS, lets here how this is playing out correctly?
Who else is tired of the “scorched earth” policies?
“It’s not the heat. It’s the stupidity”
JD
November 6, 2023 at 5:37 pm
*lets hear*
My Take
November 6, 2023 at 6:05 pm
DirtSSantis soils everythinģ he touches.
The Reverse Midas Touch.
Earl Pitts "World-Wide Political Influncer" American
November 6, 2023 at 7:13 pm
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:
America, before you get too excited just be aware this legit looking piece of “journalism” is in reality nothing but an A. P. re-print.
And as such is on average 99.99% filled with lies, damn lies, and statistics based on the above lies and damn lies.
Basically its Dook 4 Brains information made to rally the Dook 4 Brains lurkers into posting Dook 4 Brains comments.
You are welcome America,
I just hope I, Earl Pitts American, was able to get my “Sage Words of Wisdom” out to the troupes before anyone other than JD, and My Take were duped into thinking it was legitimate news and not just more smoke being blown up their gulliable butts.
Thank you America,
Thats what I, Earl Pitts America, am here for. Everyone get a good nights sleep after you relax your sphincters.
EPA
JD
November 6, 2023 at 10:06 pm
And again your all about someone’s ass in your posts.
Man you are a Groomer weirdo.
Rick Whitaker
November 7, 2023 at 12:51 pm
WARNING ⚠ TROLL COMMENT BY EARL SPHINCTER
My Take
November 6, 2023 at 7:17 pm
Their boardroom should require a permit as a business septic tank.
Earl Pitts "World-Wide Political Influncer" American
November 6, 2023 at 7:27 pm
Your welcome, My Take, dont feel bad because you failed to notice it was nothing but Dook 4 Brains A. P. propaganda.
It can happen to the best of us, My Take, in fact even I, Earl Pitts American, have been fooled by A. P. articals in the past.
Keep your chin up, My Take, keep fighting the good fight for America, and relax your sphincter.
EPA
Rick Whitaker
November 7, 2023 at 12:56 pm
CAUTION ⚠ TROLL COMMENT BY EARL SPHINCTER
PeterH
November 6, 2023 at 7:38 pm
Everything Ron DeSantis touches eventually begins to rot!
He’s never been a business man! He really has no idea what he’s doing. He’s been on the government dole his entire “working” career.
DeSantis appointed a selection of “not the best or most qualified people” to run the district! Much like the quickly failing New College with enrollment down and staff quitting…… DeSantis could actually ruin Disney ….. and Disney is one of Florida’s main tourist magnets.
Rick Whitaker
November 7, 2023 at 12:58 pm
desantis is just like trump in that he tears everything he touches up. kinda like a spoiled brat.
tom palmer
November 6, 2023 at 7:51 pm
The Associated Press was founded in 1846 and is one of America’s top sources of news. It has high standards for its reporters. This Earl person doesn’t know squat.
Earl Pitts "World-Wide Political Influncer" American
November 6, 2023 at 10:03 pm
Thank you for reaching out for help Mr. Palmer.
You were been raised in a Dook 4 Brains Leftist family which spent a lifetime of indoctrination on your brain since you were born.
We at The Earl Pitts American Fan Club’s Political Science Medical Clinic can help you. Dont feel sad Mr. Palmer its not your fault. We have turned around worse cases than yours.
Dont worry we stopped using surgury on the brain several years ago and are having great success with our newest hi-tech, A-I Based, mild electric shock collar which will get a Dook 4 Brains lifer (as we call those like you) turned around in less than 6 to 8 months time. And great news most employer based insurance covers our cutting edge treatment plans.
Imagin how proud your wife and kids will be of you, Mr. Palmer, when they no longer have to keep you locked up in the basement.
We got you Big Guy and we look forward to prepering you to enter polite scociety for the first time ever.
As a plus to make lifers (such as yourself) feel more at ease we allow you to wear your covid mask and all of our medical professionals wear those “Dr. Fouchi” inspired white lab coats to make you Dook 4 Brains Leftist Lifers feel right at ease as we drive the Dook 4 Brains demons from your brains.
Looking forward to turning your life around for the better Sir.
Doctor Earl Pitts American
Rick Whitaker
November 7, 2023 at 1:00 pm
WARNING ⚠ TROLL COMMENT BY EARL DOOK
My Take
November 7, 2023 at 4:53 am
The board objectìve has gòne from
Do the job . . . and well
to just
Be in còntrol.
Joe
November 7, 2023 at 12:40 pm
Thanks Tiny D!
Rick Whitaker
November 7, 2023 at 1:02 pm
disney needs to keep suing desantis personally. disney is in the right and can afford good lawyers
Comments are closed.