You know Disney World has castles and rides, but did you know it has its own government, fire department, and the power to build a NUCLEAR a POWER PLANT? Yes, really. The Most Magical Place on Earth is basically its own secret kingdom.
Back in the 1960s, Walt Disney was buying up swampland in Florida. He’d had issues with city officials in Anaheim meddling with Disneyland, and he wasn’t about to let that happen again. So, he convinced Florida to create the Reedy Creek Improvement District in 1967.
This special district gave Disney total control. It’s like a whole county that’s run by a mouse. They could write their own building codes, build their own roads, and basically do whatever they wanted without asking for permission. It was a wild deal.
This isn’t just a fancy title. Reedy Creek has its own:
They handle their own water treatment, waste collection (60,000 tons a year!), and maintain 134 miles of roads. It’s a full-blown city hiding in plain sight.
Here’s where it gets even crazier. To make the “government” legit, it needed voters. So, Disney hand-picked about 50 loyal employees to live inside the district in two hidden mobile home parks. 🤫
These residents pay super cheap rent and, in exchange, vote on whatever Disney needs them to. Can you imagine? Your landlord is Mickey Mouse, and your civic duty is to approve a new roller coaster. It’s literally a company town.
For decades, this arrangement let Disney build bigger, faster, and weirder than anyone else. It’s the ultimate life hack for a mega-corporation. While things have gotten a little complicated recently with the state of Florida, the core of this magic kingdom’s power remains.
Next time you’re there, remember you’re not just in a theme park—you’re in a private empire. 🤯
Why Disney has its own government in Florida - CNN
Disney World Is Its Own City With Its Own Residents - Southern Living
Fla. bill causes uncertainty for Disney's Reedy Creek Fire Department - FireRescue1
