NEWS: Reedy Creek Board Approves Stipend Following Employee Annual Pass Backlash

The ongoing conflict between the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board of Supervisors and Disney is far from over, but this time, it’s the district’s own employees they need to worry about.

The DeSantis-appointed board announced that it would eliminate some benefits and perks offered to the employees of the district, including annual passes to Disney World. In place of these perks, the board proposed a stipend instead, which didn’t sit well with employees. The board recently met to vote on this plan, and now, we have an update.

On September 27th, 2023, the Board of Supervisors for the District held a meeting to discuss the annual budget among other items including the removal of Disney World Annual Passes for district employees. In that meeting, the board agreed to approve the removal of Annual Passes in favor of an annual stipend instead.

©Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board

This comes after the board previously announced its plan, much to the chagrin of several employees. During a prior meeting held on August 23rd, an employee from the Reedy Creek Fire Department said that the members of the department take their jobs seriously and have enjoyed the benefit of park admission for decades. He continued that removing this benefit takes away one important reason why folks often apply to work for that specific fire department.

Another individual who spoke was a citizen of Central Florida who argued that the board has exhibited a pattern of lies and deceit.

One citizen stated that in their view this cut to recent benefits appears to be done in a spiteful nature. They said that while the government claims the war against Disney is over, things are only just beginning.

Now, the board has officially approved removing Annual Passes in favor of a stipend, which will reportedly be worth $3,000 per the Associated Press. Glen Gilzean, the district administrator, remarked that this is “around the equivalent value of the theme park passes.”

Members of the board claimed that the $2.5 million spent on season passes, plus discounts on hotels, merchandise, food, and drinks, employees previously received amounted to “unethical benefits and perks” in their justification for the removal.

The board approved the motion unanimously.

We’ll continue to report on the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District as it affects the Disney World area and its employees, so stay tuned to AllEars for more.