Walt Disney World has settled six property-tax lawsuits with the Orange County Property Appraiser and voluntarily dismissed five more involving Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
The settlements establish revised just values for the Grand Floridian and Polynesian for tax years 2015 through 2020. The Grand Floridian’s newly determined values range from about $356.3 million in 2015 to about $416 million in 2018, while the Polynesian’s range from about $155.6 million in 2015 to about $176.1 million in 2019. According to the settlements, assessed values remain unchanged.
The cases also determined that the Contemporary Resort’s just and assessed values should not change.
Orange County Property Appraiser Amy Mercado must issue a Certificate of Correction to the Tax Collector and Central Florida Tourism Oversight District within 30 days under the revised values. Those agencies will then recalculate Disney’s taxes. If more tax is due, revised bills must be issued within 30 days of receiving the certificate, and Disney would have 30 days after receipt to pay without penalty. If Disney is due a refund, the Tax Collector and district would mail a check to Disney’s attorney.
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The five cases Disney dismissed covered the three resorts’ taxes for 2021, 2022 and 2023, plus the Grand Floridian and Contemporary for 2024. They were dismissed with prejudice, meaning the cases cannot be reopened.
Disney routinely challenges Orange County’s hotel-property valuations in court. Earlier settlements involved Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. In July, Orange County Classroom Teachers Association members and Disney cast members represented by UNITE HERE delivered petitions asking Disney to drop the lawsuits. Orange County Public Schools had set aside $119 million for potential Disney refunds, and Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez said unused money from the cases could go toward teacher salaries.
