Florida and Disney: Infrastructure and Development around the Entertainment Industry

An agreement signed between Florida and Disney brings the creation of a fifth theme park in Orlando and investments in the territory by the entertainment giant amounting to $17 billion over the next 15 years. This is a win-win compromise, setting aside claims and demands from both parties that had been ongoing for a year. The controversy revolved around the Reedy Creek Special District, which, established by law in 1971 even before Disney World opened to the public, granted the multinational a sort of autonomous government in a vast municipal area dedicated to parks and real estate development, allowing it to manage infrastructure, water systems, road improvements, building permits, emergency services, waste collection, and more. This autonomous reign lasted until last year when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis revoked Disney’s special permits after the company refused to comply with a state law on gender education, leading Disney to suspend its development plans in Orlando.

According to the recent new agreement, Disney is authorized to build the fifth mega-park and two other smaller ones. Additionally, the company can increase the number of hotel rooms on its property from nearly 40,000 to over 53,000 and expand commercial and dining space by more than 20%. Lastly, Disney will maintain control over building heights due to its need for an immersive environment but must cede up to 100 of its 24,000 acres to the district for infrastructure projects. The resolution of the dispute allows Disney to maintain its role as the leader in entertainment in Orlando, just as competitor Universal is launching its new super theme park, Epic Universe. According to the agreement with the state of Florida, the Mickey Mouse & Co. multinational must also assign at least half of its construction projects to Florida-based companies and spend at least $10 million on affordable housing in central Florida.

The tourism industry has welcomed the agreement, which will also boost the planning of new transport infrastructures. The areas of Orlando and nearby Tampa are in a growth phase, with construction sites for new highway connections everywhere. Local administrations aim to make mobility sustainable despite the constant and exponential increase in traffic. The best companies in the sector are engaged in various segments.

The Lane Construction Corporation, a subsidiary of the Webuild Group, recently secured a $299 million contract for the Seminole Expressway/SR 417. The contract includes the design and construction of the expansion of a section of the Seminole Expressway/SR 417 in Seminole County. This artery, an evacuation route in emergencies and part of Orlando’s eastern beltway, will be expanded from four to eight lanes over six miles (about 10 km), from the Orange County border to north of SR 434. Commissioned by the Florida Turnpike Enterprise, this project adds to Lane’s portfolio in Florida, a key market for the company. Here, the Webuild subsidiary is also working on a $218 million contract to enhance the interchange between I-4 and Sand Lake Road in Orange County, completing the Poinciana Parkway in Osceola County, and working on the Mainline Turnpike in Orlando.