Disney to take videotaped deposition of DeSantis' CFTOD CEO Glen Gilzean as part of state lawsuit

Feb 21, 2024 in "Reedy Creek Improvement District"

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Posted: Wednesday February 21, 2024 7:50pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has filed notice that it will take a videotaped deposition of Glen Gilzean, the CEO of Ron DeSantis' Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.

CFTOD Administrator Glen Gilzean

The deposition will take place on April 9, 2024, at the offices of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Los Angeles, California.

The notice filed by Disney states that the deposition will take place under oath, for the purpose of discovery or other purposes, including trial.

The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District filed its lawsuit in the 9th Judicial Circuit Orange County against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts in May 2023.

The 188-page lawsuit says that "in an effort to stymie Florida's elected representatives, Disney covertly cobbled together a series of eleventh- hour deals with its soon-to-be-replaced puppet government."

The suit continues, "Disney hoped to tie the hands of the new, independent Board and to preserve Disney's special status as its own government in the District for at least the next thirty years. These agreements reek of a backroom deal—drafted by Disney with the acquiescence a lawyer who represented both Disney and the District, set for hearing without proper notice, and hustled through a compliant Disney-controlled Board that Disney knew would not dwell long on the issue. But perhaps out of haste or arrogance, Disney's deals violate basic principles of Florida constitutional, statutory, and common law. As a result, they are null and void—not even worth the paper they were printed on."

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castlecake2.01 day ago

Yes

Stripes1 day ago

Has Disney/CFTOD continued to replace the purple direction signage with the new blue color scheme since CFTOD took over?

mkt1 day ago

You're right. The new document will be different. It will be "different" in the way that Chris Gaines was "different" from Garth Brooks or how the drummer from Nirvana is "different" from the singer of the Foo Fighters.

Unbanshee1 day ago

Both are effectively picked by the Governor, just not technically. Look no further than the communications "strategy" with the replacement of Gilzean of the Governor's office getting out ahead of every single step of the process

lazyboy97o1 day ago

The settlement acknowledged the “need” to change the comprehensive plan, which undermines this idea. So too does the lack of an agreement, as the 2032 Comprehensive Plan wasn’t that different than the again in force 2020 Comprehensive Plan.

Brian1 day ago

That's understandable for sure. I just felt inclined to make the distinction due to the ongoing conversation, as the district administrator is selected by the board, while the board is selected by the governor.

mkt1 day ago

The new agreement will be functionally the same as the one Disney was sued over.

pdude811 day ago

You're right. This has been going on so long I just lumped all the antagonists together.

Brian1 day ago

Not to nitpick, but Gilzean was district administrator, not a board member.

pdude811 day ago

A bigger risk than keeping Garcia and Gilzean on the board as active disruptors? I don't agree with their decision to stall the federal lawsuit, but I understand why they saw the status quo as a risk to growth over the next few years.

lazyboy97o2 days ago

You don’t think dropping your bargaining power in the middle is the best strategy in a negotiation?

flynnibus2 days ago

Again… we know nothing except both sides have shown signs of positive attitude and certainty of successful outcomes. What does that mean? None if us know. All we can speculate is… they know a lot more than they have said publicly… and obvious things like "desantis is not perpetual…" were clearly obvious to them when they made these choices.

UNCgolf2 days ago

That seems wildly optimistic.

flynnibus2 days ago

“Right now…” Yes, we all know this. But again, we don’t know what back room deal they have setup. Who knows… it could even include new legislation promises… Or Disney is just rolling with the hand they are dealt… maybe they have accepted that the time to sunset their advantages of rcid is here… none of us can tell what their true intentions are right now.