Despite Massive Worker Turnover, Gilzean Says ‘Morale is Up’ At DeSantis Disney District

Over the past two weeks, reports surfaced about worker dissatisfaction at the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. Since the Board appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took over the Reedy Creek Improvement District earlier this year, more than 40 employees have resigned, taking more than 400 years of experience with them. And these employees have not gone quietly into the night.

Related: DeSantis Cronies Are Scoring Big Paydays Courtesy of the New Disney District

According to an article from Jason Garcia, since the new Board took over for the Reedy Creek Improvement District, employees have felt “demoralized” and “stressed,” and the new Board “doesn’t trust the employees.” Former employees told the Associated Press that employee morale is low, and those who have stayed are concerned that the District is no longer “functional.”

But despite those reports to the contrary, District Administrator Glen Gilzean told the Orlando Sentinel that since the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District has taken over, employee morale has improved, and the District is being run transparently for the first time.

Gilzean said at the Board meeting:

The morale in the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District has … increased as my open-door policy continues to be utilized by staff members who have met with me directly. Some staff have shared that this is the first time they’ve actually had a chance to meet with the district administrator. We have achieved significant and historic progress for taxpayers and those who visit the district. The policy before this board took over was to essentially give business to favored businesses of the largest taxpayer in the district.

Related: More Employees Flee DeSantis Disney District As It is no Longer ‘Functional’

The “largest taxpayer in the District” that Gilzean refers to is the Walt Disney World Resort. Gilzean and many other Board members do not specifically refer to Disney World by name but instead refer to it by other euphemisms.

During the meeting, Glen Gilzean taught the Board’s achievements, including giving employees Veterans Day off as a paid holiday and adding paid days off for Thanksgiving. He did not address any other issues that have plagued the Board since it took over this sprawling District earlier this year.

The Board ran into issues with the Reedy Creek Professional Firefighters after it cut Walt Disney World season passes from its budget. Those passes were given to current and retired employees as part of a perks package from the former Board. Instead, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District voted to give each employee $3,000 to use however they see fit. That cost will not cover Disney World’s season passes with no blackout dates.

Cuts to employees’ theme park perks are just the beginning of how the CFTOD is remaking the former Reedy Creek Improvement District. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District has cut $8 million in funding from security at Disney World, cut $3 million in road improvements to pay for legal fees in its cases against Disney, and, in August, cut all DEI programs and race-based hiring programs in the former Reedy Creek District.

Gilzean did not address another article in the Orlando Sentinel that accused him and other Board members of political cronyism. Most of the staff at the new District are political insiders with ties to Florida Gov Ron DeSantis and, according to the Sentinel, have received big paydays from the new Board.

Glen Gilzean and the new Board are fighting with the Walt Disney Company in State Court. Disney and Governor DeSantis battle it out in Federal Court, with Disney claiming the government retaliation and violating its First Amendment Rights.

This post is originally appeared on Disney Fanatic.