Gov. Ron DeSantis has restructured the state committee, which plays a major role in Central Florida’s theme park future, setting up a new chair and two new board members on a panel that oversees government services at Walt Disney World. Masu.
The state’s Central Florida Tourism Monitoring District is working with Disney on a development plan that is expected to bring $17 billion in investments to the region over the next 10-20 years.
Alexis Yarbra, chairman of the Broward University District Council, was tapped to lead the district’s oversight committee.
DeSantis also appointed two Orlando businessmen. He has appointed John Gilbert, executive managing director of Stream Realty Partners, and Scott Workman, president and CEO of Workman Travel.
The remaining two board members are Clearwater Attorney Brian Angst Jr. and Bridget Ziegler, a member of the Sarasota County Board of Education, co-founder of Liberty, which expired Wednesday.
Ziegler and Governor’s Office did not respond to messages on Thursday asking for clarification of her status.
Yarbrough, a Broward County resident, is married to Shane Strum, who served as Desantis’ Chief of Staff from 2019 to February 2021. She is a former advisor to the Florida Department of Transport and a former supervisor at the Fort Lauderdale law firm. Trip Scott.
Disney World’s expansion plans include villain lands
Unpaid board members oversee and cooperate with administrator Stephanie Copelosos, another close desantis alley that runs the district’s day-to-day operations. Their appointments will be subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
Three members have finished the board. Orlando executive and entrepreneur Craig Mater said he resigned from his seat to make time for other boards. According to a note from Kopelousos, Vice-Chairman Charbel Barakat has left his position on the Council of Trustees at the University of South Florida.
With this month’s term expired, board member Ron Perri chose not to seek reappointment in order to focus on his family, Kopersus wrote.
The district development agreement with Disney opens up the possibility of a fifth Disney theme park to join Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Disney officials have not announced any new parks, but they are working on some new projects.
The addition to Magic Kingdom will have a villain theme and includes two new attractions, meals and shopping, the company leader said in August. “Monsters, Inc.” Land has also appeared in Hollywood Studios’ works alongside tropical American projects at Animal Kingdom, featuring attractions based on “Indiana Jones” and “Encanto.”
The Tourism Bureau, once known as the Leaddy Creek Improvement District, played the lead role in the Battle of DeSantis with Disney. The district oversees fire prevention, roads and other government services for Disney World.
DeSantis clashed with Disney over the company’s opposition to custody in 2022 in the pedagogy that critics called “Don’t Say Gay.” The law limits classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity.
In February 2023, DeSantis dismissed five Disney Loyalists from the district committee and replaced them with his political allies. Lawmakers have renamed Leedy Creek to the Central Florida Tourism Supervision District.
The two sides fought a lengthy court battle over a district development agreement and settled the lawsuit in March. The agreement maintained control over the Desantis district, while allowing for the creation of new development plans.
Since then, Desantis and Disney have hit a more coordinated tone, highlighting the economic benefits that the entertainment giant has brought to the state’s economy.
