Things Disney Does That Would Be Illegal Anywhere Else

Disney World looks like a collection of theme parks, hotels and attractions—but behind the magic was one of the most unusual governmental arrangements in America. For decades, Walt Disney World's Florida property operated within the Reedy Creek Improvement District, a special governmental district created by the Florida Legislature in 1967. The district could provide infrastructure and public services ranging from roads and utilities to fire protection, water systems and development oversight. So how much power did Disney really have? Which incredible claims about Reedy Creek are true, which are exaggerated, and why did Florida eventually restructure the entire system? This video investigates the laws, infrastructure and governmental powers behind Walt Disney World—and explains how the Most Magical Place on Earth became much more than an ordinary theme park.