DeSantis' Central Florida Tourism Oversight District reveals its latest plans for scrapping Disney World Annual Pass benefits for its employees

In a meeting of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board this evening, CEO Glen Gilzean revealed his latest plan to replace the Walt Disney World Annual Pass benefit given to its employees.

District employees will be given a stipend of $3000, which can be used to purchase Walt Disney World Annual Passes for the employee and family members if desired.

Gilzean said, "District Leadership ultimately determined that $3,000 was the actual cost of purchasing the equivalent pass benefits currently held by most employees."

The stiped figure announced today is an increase from the original $1000 proposed at a previous meeting. Walt Disney World Annual Passes range in price from $400 to $1400 per person, depending on the tier of pass chosen.

Board member Peri said of the stipend increase, "We like most of our employees initially understood that the passes were standard third party passes and we set the value accordingly. We have since discovered that the passes and their features were much more than that and were in fact designed for people who are committed to servicing and supporting the parks, not merely for attendees."

Employees will receive the stipend ninety days from the date of hire post the probationary period. The stipend will be issued annually and is subjected to tax withholdings and budget appropriations. Retirees, depending on their age and years of service, are eligible, with variations in eligibility for spouses of deceased employees or retirees. Unless re-adopted, the policy will expire in two fiscal years from October 1, 2023.

The removal of the Walt Disney World Annual Pass benefit follows the Ron DeSantis-appointed board receiving a bill from Walt Disney World for $2.5 million in theme park tickets and discounts given to employees of the district.

Here is the full wording of the new policy.

EMPLOYEE & RETIREE BENEFITS STIPEND (ANNUAL ADMISSION PASS) PROGAM
1. POLICY
Pursuant to a previous agreement with Walt Disney World, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District
provided an annual Walt Disney World Admission Pass to eligible employees and retirees. The annual
admission pass was a privilege and not a vested right of employees or retirees. The pass program was
reviewed periodically and was subject to revision or cancellation in whole or in part at the discretion of
the District. Based on the sunsetting of the admission pass program referenced in the Benefits section of
the 2011 Employee Policy Manual, the District will instead offer an annual stipend based on the following
policy terms.
2. LIMITATIONS
The annual stipend is a privilege and not a vested right of employees or retirees. It is reviewed periodically
and is subject to revision or cancellation in whole or in part at the discretion of the District. Stipends in
no way guarantee admission to parks or events and do not include or provide access to any theme park,
restaurant, destination, hotel, or merchandise discount. The annual stipend in no way obligates recipients
of the stipend to purchase Walt Disney World Admission Passes or any other products or services.
Recipients of the stipend may use the stipend for any legal purpose they choose in their discretion.
This policy applies to employees of the District unless the employee is covered by a collective bargaining
agreement (CBA) which has provisions that specifically address these matters and differs from this policy.
Nothing in this policy is intended to, nor shall it limit any inherent management rights of the District in
any CBA. In the event that a specific provision of a CBA is inconsistent with this policy, the provision
contained in the CBA shall prevail for covered bargaining unit employees. Otherwise, this policy shall apply
according to its terms and conditions to all employees of the District, unless and until superseded by action
of the District to modify, replace and/or cancel the policy/program/plan, or, unless expressly contradicted
by a specific provision of a CBA, or, unless superseded by law. The amount of the annual stipend is subject
to annual budgeting and appropriations by the District Board of Supervisors.
The Employee & Retiree Benefits Stipend policy sunsets at the completion of two fiscal years beginning
October 1, 2023, unless re-adopted prior to its expiration by the Board of Supervisors. The sunsetting of
stipends does not reinstate the Annual Admission Pass policy.
3. POLICY DETAIL
3.1 District Administration will be responsible for the administration of this policy.
3.2 Employee Eligibility and Distribution
3.2.1 All full-time hourly employees will receive an annual stipend ninety (90) days from
the date of hire upon successful completion of the new hire probationary period.
3.2.2 Full-time salaried and salaried non-exempt employees are eligible for an annual
stipend ninety (90) days from the date of hire upon successful completion of the new hire
probationary period.
3.2.3 Stipends will be issued on an annual basis, per the District’s fiscal year, to eligible
employees subject to annual budgeting and appropriations by the District Board of
Supervisors.
3.2.4 Stipends are subject to applicable tax withholding requirements.
3.2.5 The District at its sole discretion may utilize the services of third party vendors or
agents to distribute, pay, and/or offer stipends for the use of procuring admission passes
to theme parks or other perks offered at a later time.
3.9 Retiree Eligibility and Distribution
3.9.1 Employees who retire at or after age 55 with at least twenty (20) years of continuous
service with the District, or at any age with at least thirty (30) years of continuous service
with the District, will receive the stipend held immediately prior to the time of retirement
at the time of retirement.
3.9.2 Employees who retire prior to age 55, with at least twenty (20) years of continuous
service with the District (but less than thirty years), will receive the stipend held
immediately prior to the time of retirement upon attaining the age of 55.
3.9.3 Employees who retire because of a permanent disability, who are age 45 or older
with 10 or more years of continuous service, will receive the stipend held immediately
prior to the time of retirement at the time of retirement.
3.9.4 The spouse of a deceased retiree with at least twenty (20) years of service will
continue to be eligible for the annual stipend held by the retiree prior to his or her death
until the remarriage or death of the surviving spouse.
3.9.5 The spouse of a deceased employee will continue to be eligible for the annual
stipend held by the employee prior to his or her death until the end of the calendar year
of the employee’s death. The stipend will not be renewed the following year.
3.9.6 Retiree stipends will be paid in January in conjunction with the benefit plan year.
3.9.7 Stipends are subject to applicable tax withholding requirements.
3.9.8 The District at its sole discretion may utilize the services of third party vendors or
agents to distribute, pay, and/or offer stipends for the use of procuring admission passes
to theme parks or other perks offered at a later time.