The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District has restored a Disney park pass option for employees, three years after eliminating the benefit.
CFTOD spokesperson Chad Colby confirmed the new agreement to BlogMickey. The district buys the passes from Walt Disney World, and employees pay the applicable taxes.
What the New Pass Includes
The benefit covers Walt Disney World and other participating theme parks. It also includes a merchandise discount similar to the one available to annual passholders. An exact cost has not been released.
The tax treatment differs from the former program. CFTOD ended the previous Disney passes and discounts in August 2023 after identifying them as taxable employee benefits that had not been properly reported.
Three Years of Changes
The district replaced the Disney-controlled Reedy Creek Improvement District in 2023. Its five-member board oversees roads, utilities, fire services and planning across the district around Walt Disney World.
After the old pass program ended, district employees raised concerns about losing a long-standing benefit. The board approved an annual stipend in September 2023 as part of the replacement compensation plan.
The reinstated pass returns direct park access under a new purchasing agreement and corrected tax handling. CFTOD has not announced when employees will receive the passes.
Sources: BlogMickey, The Associated Press, Office of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
Image credit: Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.