>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, CENTRAL FLORIDA BUSINESSES THAT ASK CUSTOMERS FOR PROOF OF COVID-19 VACCINATION WILL FACE FINES OF $5,000 IN A NEW RULE STARTING THIS MONTH.

DISNEY WORLD PREPARES TO MARK 50 YEARS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.

WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OUR REGION AND ITS LARGEST EMPLOYER HAS CHANGED OVER THE DECADES AND REMEMBERING THE TRAGEDY OF 9/11, 20 YEARS ON.

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO.

I'M STEVE MORT.

WELCOME TO NEWS NIGHT WHERE WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG STORIES IMPACTING CENTRAL FLORIDA AND HOW THEY AFFECT YOU.

WE DO THIS BY BRINGING TOGETHER A TEAM OF JOURNALISTS FROM DIFFERENT LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR IN-DEPTH DISCUSSIONS ON THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES.

JOINING US THIS WEEK, MATTHEW PEDDIE OF 90.7 WMFE.

FOR THE FIRST TIME TO DEWAYNE BEVIL, WHO COVERS THE PARKS AND ATTRACTIONS FOR THE ORLANDO SENTINEL.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

ALL RIGHT.

FIRST, TONIGHT IS CASES OF COVID 19 DECLINE IN FLORIDA, THE LEGAL BATTLES CONTINUE.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE CARLOS GUILLERMO SMITH, WHO REPRESENTS PARTS OF ORLANDO AND WINTER PARK IS SUING THE STATE TO GET MORE DATA ON THE STATUS OF THE PANDEMIC.

THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RECENTLY REJECTED THE PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST BY THE LAWMAKER SEEKING INFORMATION PREVIOUSLY RELEASED ON THE STATE'S COVID DASHBOARD.

>>THE STATE RELEASES A WEEKLY COVID 19 REPORT.

THAT IS NOWHERE NEAR AS DETAILED AS THESE DAILY REPORTS THE DASHBOARD USED TO BE, AND THEY ALSO REPORT DAILY INFORMATION TO THE CDC, BUT WHAT WE CAN'T FIND OUT, AND THIS IS WHY WE SUBMITTED PUBLIC RECORDS, THAT WERE DENIED BY THE STATE.

NOW WE'RE SUING THE STATE TO GET THIS INFORMATION IS YOU CAN'T FIND OUT, FOR EXAMPLE, HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE CURRENTLY HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID-19 IN ORANGE COUNTY?

WHY CAN'T WE FIND THAT INFORMATION?

WELL, BECAUSE THE STATE TOOK DOWN THE DAILY COVID-19 REPORTING DASHBOARD, WHICH USED TO INCLUDE THIS INFORMATION AND THE DAILY NUMBERS THAT THEY PROVIDE DON'T GIVE YOU THE DETAILED ASSESSMENT THAT YOU WOULD NEED TO SEE EXACTLY HOW MANY KIDS ARE ACTUALLY HOSPITALIZED HERE IN OUR AREA.

WHY DO WE NEED THAT INFORMATION?

>>WELL, PARENTS NEED IT SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ON HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR KIDS, BUT ALSO OUR SCHOOL BOARD LEADERS NEED IT SO THAT THEY CAN COME UP WITH THE BEST MASKING POLICY AND OTHER MITIGATION STRATEGIES IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE GENERAL PUBLIC NEEDS IT TO BE ABLE TO ACCURATELY ASSESS WHAT THEIR LEVEL OF RISK IS.

FLORIDIANS DESERVE AND THEY HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO THIS PUBLIC HEALTH DATA.

THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION DOESN'T WANT TO GIVE IT TO US AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE SUING THEM.

>>ALL RIGHT, MATT, LET'S START WITH YOU ON THIS ONE.

IS THE STATE GIVEN ANY REASONING FOR ITS REFUSAL TO RESUME RELEASING MORE GRANULAR INFORMATION?

>>THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REALLY HASN'T EXPLAINED WHY THEY WON'T RELEASE MORE INFORMATION.

I SPOKE TO CARLOS GUILLERMO SMITH LAST WEEK, AND HE SAID THAT THE RATIONALE, THAT I GAVE HIM FOR TURNING DOWN HIS REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THOSE DAILY NUMBERS WAS THEY SAID IT WAS A PRIVACY ISSUE AND THEY COULDN'T RELEASE IT FOR CONFIDENTIALITY REASONS.

THE STATE HAS ALSO SAID THEY'RE SUPPLYING THE INFORMATION TO THE CDC, BUT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE LATEST SURGE OVER THE LAST MONTH OR SO THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCREPANCIES AND LACK OF DETAIL THAT REALLY COULD BE EASILY SOLVED.

IF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, IF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RESUMED THAT DETAILED DAILY REPORTING THAT THEY HAD BEEN DOING EARLIER IN THE PANDEMIC AND THE RATIONALE FOR STOPPING THOSE DAILY UPDATES EARLIER ON THIS YEAR WAS THAT NUMBERS WOULD DECLINE, SO THERE WASN'T REALLY A NEED.

GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS HAS SAID, HE SAID THE PRESS CONFERENCE EARLIER THIS MONTH THAT RELEASING COUNTY LEVEL DATA WOULD BE APPROPRIATE, BUT JUST HASN'T HAPPENED YET.

SO WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE WHY IT HASN'T HAPPENED TO WHEN WE WILL GET OUR HANDS ON THAT DATA, IF AT ALL.

>>ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET'S STICK WITH THE LEGAL SIDE OF THIS.

THE JUDGE THIS WEEK SET ASIDE AN AUTOMATIC STAY OF HIS RULING THAT PREVENTED THE STATE FROM ENFORCING ITS BAN ON MASK MANDATES BY LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS.

THAT MEANS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP DISTRICTS FROM REQUIRING STUDENTS TO WEAR FACIAL COVERINGS WITHOUT A PARENTAL OPT-OUT AT LEAST FOR NOW.

THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION IS APPEALING THE JUDGE'S EARLIER RULING.

I ASKED DARLENE JONES FROM WFTV CHANNEL NINE, ABOUT THE ONGOING DEBATE OVER MASKS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS THIS WEEK.

>>YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER IT REALLY STARTED BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER, WHICH WAS SIGNED THIS SUMMER, AND A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS SUPERINTENDENTS FELT LIKE THAT ORDER PREVENTING THEM FROM PUTTING MASK MANDATES IN PLACE, SORT OF TIED THEIR HANDS.

SO NOW WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IS A SCRAMBLE AND A LOT OF FRUSTRATION AND A LOT OF CHAOS WITHIN THESE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BEST TO KEEP THESE CHILDREN SAFE AND KEEP IN MIND.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS BROAD NUMBER OF COVID 19 CASES GOING DOWN, WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE BREAKDOWN FOR THOSE PEDIATRIC CASES, AND WE ARE STILL SEEING SURGES WITHIN OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS.

SO I THINK YOU HAVE TO KIND OF SEPARATE THE TWO AND WHAT YOU SEE IS IT ALL PLAYING OUT AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS, WHERE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS CAN NOT BE FOCUSED ON POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND OTHER DISTRICT BUSINESS, THEIR MEETINGS ARE TIED UP WITH THESE CHAOTIC DEBATES ABOUT MASK MANDATES.

>>ALL RIGHT, MATT, I'M GOING TO PIVOT A LITTLE BIT AND TALK ABOUT FINES.

THE STATE WILL BEGIN ISSUING $5,000 FINES TO ENTITIES THAT ASK CUSTOMERS FOR PROOF OF COVID-19 VACCINATIONS.

THIS WON'T APPLY THOUGH TO CRUISE LINES BECAUSE THE FEDERAL COURT RECENTLY TEMPORARILY BLOCKED FLORIDA'S PASSPORT BAN FOR THAT INDUSTRY, PENDING APPEAL OF COURSE.

WHAT ORGANIZATIONS WILL THIS APPLY TO?

>>RIGHT?

JUST ON THAT APPEAL TO, I MEAN, THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND, THE ADVISORS TO THE GOVERNOR HAD BEEN FAIRLY BULLISH ON WHETHER THEY WILL WIN THAT APPEAL.

THEY'RE FAIRLY CONFIDENTLY SO THEY'VE SAID THAT THEY THINK THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GET THE JUDGE TO OVERTURN THE RULING AND KIND OF BEND THE CRUISE LINES TO THEIR WILL, IF YOU WILL.

HOWEVER, AS TO WHO THIS $5,000 FINE, WHO THESE FINES COULD APPLY TO, IT'S BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THAT REQUIRE PROOF OF VACCINATION FOR VISITORS OR CUSTOMERS.

IT DOESN'T APPLY TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE REQUIRING EMPLOYEES TO SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION OR TO GET VACCINATED THAT IS.

THE FINES, IF THEY DO KICK IN WE'LL, THAT'LL BE SEPTEMBER 16TH.

HOWEVER, THERE'S A CLAUSE IN THERE THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS, IF THEY ARE GETTING FINED, THEY CAN APPEAL BEFORE THEY HAVE TO PAY UP.

>>DEWAYNE, LET ME TURN TO YOU.

EMPLOYERS ARE ALLOWED TO REQUIRE VACCINATIONS FOR STAFF LIKE DISNEY'S DONE.

HAS THE COMPANY SET A TIMEFRAME FOR THAT TO HAPPEN AND HAVE OTHER LARGE HOSPITALITY COMPANIES THAT YOU COVER FOLLOWED DISNEY'S LEAD?

>>SO IN JULY, DISNEY SAID THEY WANTED ALL THEIR EMPLOYEES, THAT WOULD REQUIRE ALL THEIR EMPLOYEES TO BE VACCINATED.

THE UNION SIGNED ON, AND THAT HAS TO BE DONE BY DATE IN LATE SEPTEMBER.

SO IT'S COMING UP, SEAWORLD ORLANDO IS NOT REQUIRING THEIR EMPLOYEES TO GET VACCINATED AND NEITHER IS UNIVERSAL ORLANDO.

ALTHOUGH THEY ARE ASKING TO BE TOLD WHAT THEIR STATUS IS.

THEY WANT THEIR EMPLOYEES TO TELL THEM WHAT THEIR VACCINATION STATUS IS, BUT NOT REQUIRING THE SHOT.

>>ALL RIGHT.

AND YOU CAN JOIN THIS CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WE'RE AT WUCFTV ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND ALSO ON INSTAGRAM.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT TONIGHT ON SATURDAY, IT'LL BE EXACTLY 20 YEARS SINCE THE TERRORIST ATTACKS OF SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001, THERE'LL BE EVENTS THROUGHOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA TO MARK THE ANNIVERSARY OF THAT TRAGIC DAY.

THIS WEEK, I SPOKE WITH NANCY ROSADO, A RETIRED AND NYPD SERGEANT AND CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER, WHO NOW WORKS FOR UCF RESTORES HERE IN ORLANDO.

NANCY WAS ONE OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS TO THE WORLD TRADE CENTER ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001.

SHE RECALLS RUNNING TOWARDS THE WORLD TRADE CENTER SHORTLY AFTER THE PLANES HIT THE TOWERS.

>>THERE WAS ALL THAT DEBRIS THAT, AT A DISTANCE, WELL, IT LOOKED LIKE DEBRIS, BUT IT WASN'T, IT WASN'T JUST DEBRIS.

AS YOU GOT CLOSE, YOU REALIZED THAT IT WAS PEOPLE AND NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAW ON TV, IT WAS NOTHING LIKE THAT.

IT RAINED PEOPLE.

AS YOU STOOD THERE, FULLY EQUIPPED AND FULLY TRAINED WITH THIS OBLIGATION AS FIRST RESPONDERS TEND TO HAVE TO HELP.

YOU WERE IN FACT HELPLESS, YOU STOOD THERE AND YOU LOOKED UP AND YOU WATCH PEOPLE MAKE THE LAST DECISION OF THEIR LIVES.

DO I BURN, DO I JUMP?

SUDDENLY THERE'S THIS THERE'S RUMBLING AT OUR FEET.

SOMEBODY AT THE OTHER END OF WHERE WE WERE STANDING SCREAMED, "RUN!"

SUDDENLY, YOU WERE ENVELOPED IN THIS STUFF, THIS CLOUD, JUST FILLED YOUR MOUTH.

IT MADE IT HARD TO BREATHE, AND YOU DEFINITELY WERE HAVING A HARD TIME SEEING.

I KIND OF SAID MY GOODBYES TO LIFE.

I THOUGHT IT WAS OVER.

>>I WONDER HOW YOU STILL THINK ABOUT IT, HOW OFTEN AND HOW THESE MILESTONES IN HISTORY, LIKE THE ONE WE'RE APPROACHING AFFECT YOU, OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT'S WITH YOU CONSTANTLY?

>>THE PAIN IS STILL THERE.

I CAN BE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AND I'LL JUST DRIFT OFF AND SEE IT ALL AGAIN.

I DON'T LIKE PEOPLE TO FEEL BAD ABOUT THAT OR FEEL, "OH MY GOD, DAMAGED GOODS."

THIS IS JUST THE WAY IT IS.

>>DID YOUR EXPERIENCE GIVE YOU AN ABILITY TO EMPATHIZE AFTER PULSE FOR EXAMPLE, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT YOU'RE A MEMBER OF THE LGBTQ AND LATINO COMMUNITIES?

>>THE BLESSING WAS IN BEING ABLE TO RELATE TO THE HUGENESS OF THE EVENT.

YOUR LIFE SUDDENLY BECOMES DEFINED BY THIS ONE HUGE EVENT THAT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED.

HAVING LIVED THROUGH ONE AND HAVING WATCHED MY COWORKERS GO THROUGH IT, IT CERTAINLY HELPED ME FIND THE VERBIAGE WITH WHICH TO EXPLAIN WHAT WAS TO COME TO MOST FOLKS WHO WERE, FOR EXAMPLE, DOWN IN PARKLAND OR WHO WERE AT PULSE.

>>IS THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN TOO YOUNG TO REMEMBER THE EVENTS OF 9/11, 2001?

OR PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT HAVE EVEN BEEN BORN ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT DATE IN AMERICAN HISTORY, DO YOU THINK?

>>THAT'S CORRECT.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE A LIGHT ON A HISTORIC EVENT THAT SHOOK THE NATION.

IT GOES BEYOND THAT ALSO, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO PAY RESPECTS AGAIN, TO THE PEOPLE WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES THAT DAY.

SEE AT THE TIME, EVERYONE LOVED THE COP, EVERYONE LOVED FIRST RESPONDERS.

THEY SAW WHAT WE WERE CAPABLE OF DOING, GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN.

RIGHT?

TO CONTRAST THAT WITH TODAY, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT THESE MEN AND WOMEN ARE WILLING TO GIVE IT ALL FOR THEIR COMMUNITY.

>>WELL, THE ANNIVERSARY COMES AFTER AMERICA'S CHAOTIC WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN AND A WAR TRIGGERED BY THE 9/11 ATTACKS.

I SPOKE WITH US REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ, A REPUBLICAN WHOSE DISTRICT INCLUDES VOLUSIA AND FLAGLER COUNTIES.

CONGRESSMAN WALTZ IS A FORMER GREEN BERET AND SERVED MULTIPLE TOURS IN AFGHANISTAN.

HE WAS ALSO A DEFENSE AND COUNTER TERRORISM ADVISOR IN THE PENTAGON AND THE WHITE HOUSE DURING THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION.

>>I NEVER, IN A MILLION YEARS WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD BE ENTERING AND MARKING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 WITH THE TALIBAN AND AL-QAEDA FLAGS FLYING BACK OVER AFGHANISTAN.

IN MANY WAYS, I THINK WE'RE IN A WORSE PLACE THAN WE WERE NOW IN 2001.

>>WE TALKED TO A FORMER NYPD SERGEANT ABOUT THE CONTINUING MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES FACED BY FIRST RESPONDERS ON THAT DAY, 20 YEARS AGO.

I WONDER ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THOSE WHO SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT WE'VE LEFT THAT COUNTRY WITH THE TALIBAN IN CONTROL AGAIN.

>>IT'S BRUTAL, IT'S GUT WRENCHING, EVERY VETERAN AND GOLD STAR FAMILY THAT I'M TALKING TO ARE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN RAGE AND GRIEF AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT.

BUT I DO WANT THEM TO HEAR ME LOUD AND CLEAR, TO THOSE GOLD STAR FAMILIES, TO THOSE VETERANS, TO THE VICTIMS OF 9/11.

THEIR SACRIFICE WAS NOT IN VAIN.

WE KEPT AMERICA SAFE.

WE KEPT THE WEST SAFE FOR MULTIPLE DECADES.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO A DARK PLACE, PLEASE CALL SOMEBODY AND PLEASE REACH OUT.

WE'VE SEEN AN 86% INCREASE IN CALLS AND TEXTS AND MESSAGES TO THE VETERANS SUICIDE HOTLINE JUST IN THE LAST MONTH.

IT'S OUTRAGEOUS AND IT'S HEARTBREAKING, BUT IT WAS NOT IN VAIN.

>>ALL RIGHT, MATT, LET'S START WITH YOU.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THOSE YOU'RE TALKING TO ABOUT HOW THEY'RE REFLECTING 20 YEARS AFTER 9/11?

>>SPOKEN TO A COUPLE OF PEOPLE, WHO HAVE BEEN SORT OF REFLECTING ON THE SORT OF 20 YEAR MARK, INCLUDING THE CEO OF THE CAMERADERIE FOUNDATION, NEFTALI RODRIGUEZ, AND JUST SORT OF ECHOING ON WHAT WE HEARD FROM REPRESENTATIVE OF WALTZ THERE, HE SORT OF TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE END OF THE WAR AND THE WITHDRAWAL OF US TROOPS, GROUND TROOPS, AT LEAST FROM AFGHANISTAN AND THE KIND OF IMPACT THAT'S HAVING ON VETERANS.

A STATISTIC THAT HE MENTIONED, AND WE HEARD SOME STATS THERE FROM REPRESENTATIVE WALTZ TOO, IT'S STATISTICS THAT RODRIGUEZ HAS MENTIONED WAS SOME 22 VETERAN SUICIDES ACROSS THE COUNTRY EVERY DAY.

HE'S EXPECTING THE CALLS FOR HELP AND THE CRIES FOR ASSISTANCE AND THE WORK THAT HIS ORGANIZATION DOES TO SPIKE IN THE SORT OF COMING MONTHS AND YEARS, PROBABLY AS MORE TROOPS COME BACK, TO VETERANS COME BACK TO FLORIDA AND SORT OF READJUST TO CIVILIAN LIFE.

SOMEBODY ELSE I SPOKE TO WAS ANTHONY GARDNER, HIS BROTHER DIED AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER ON 9/11, AND HE SORT OF STARTED HIS JOURNEY WITH THE SORT OF THE 9/11 MEMORIAL AS PART OF A PERSONAL JOURNEY TO HONOR THE LEGACY AND THE MEMORY OF HIS BROTHER.

HE'S NOW BECOME, HIS CAREER HAS BECOME INTIMATELY INVOLVED WITH THE 9/11 MEMORIAL.

HE WAS INVOLVED IN SORT OF HELPING ADVISE THE PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION OF THAT MEMORIAL MUSEUM, HE'S ALSO ON AN ADVISORY CAPACITY ON THE PULSE MEMORIAL.

HE HAD SOME INTERESTING WORDS TO SAY ABOUT HOW THE EXPERIENCE OF CRAFTING THAT MEMORIAL, THE INPUT FROM THE VICTIMS, FAMILIES AND THE SURVIVORS WHO WERE AT THE SCENE ON THE DAY, AND THEN INVOLVED AFTERWARDS.

INSTEAD OF CREATING A MEMORIAL, THAT WOULD BE A SPACE FOR EVERYONE.

SOME OF THAT INFORMATION OF THAT JOURNEY CAN SORT OF APPLY TO HOW ORLANDO HAS APPROACHED IT'S RESPONSE TO THE PULSE MEMORIAL.

SO THERE ARE SOME CONNECTIONS, OBVIOUSLY BETWEEN THE TRAGEDY THAT STRUCK ORLANDO IN 2016 AND 9/11.

I THINK FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE A REAL CLOSE CONNECTION WITH THE PULSE NIGHTCLUB SHOOTING, I THINK A 9/11 IS GOING TO HAVE SOME, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME ECHOES THERE.

THEY'LL BE THINKING ABOUT THAT AS THEY REFLECT ON 20 YEARS SINCE 9/11 TOO.

>>YEAH, DEWAYNE, LET'S LOOK AT THIS FROM OUR REGION'S PERSPECTIVE, THE TOURISM INDUSTRY WAS IMPACTED GREATLY BY THE EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001, RIGHT?

HOW DID THE ATTACKS TRANSFORM THAT INDUSTRY HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA?

>>BAG CHECKS ARE INCREASED 20 YEARS AGO.

THOSE HAVE STAYED IN PLACE.

I THINK A LOT OF GUESTS HAVE ADJUSTED TO IT QUITE WELL ACTUALLY.

SOME OF THE TECHNOLOGY HAS MADE IT LESS INVASIVE.

I SEE PEOPLE AT UNIVERSAL NOW, WHO START WHIPPING OUT THEIR BELTS AND THEIR SHOES CAUSE THEY THINK THEY'RE AT THE AIRPORT AND IT'S NOT QUITE AS STRINGENT AS AIR TRAVEL.

SO PEOPLE HAVE ADJUSTED.

FOR MOST PEOPLE THAT IS NORMAL.

I THINK THE COMPANIES HAVE MORE OF AN EYE ON US AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THEY'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT AT ALL.

THEY DON'T WANT TO GIVE AWAY WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO AID ANYONE WHO MIGHT HAVE ILL WILL.

>>MATT, YOU TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS, BUT ORLANDO EXPERIENCE THE DEADLIEST TERROR ATTACK ON THE UNITED STATES SINCE 9/11 AT PULSE.

PEOPLE OFTEN GATHER AT THE 9/11 MEMORIAL IN NEW YORK TO REMEMBER PULSE, THEY WERE DIFFERENT IN SCALE, RIGHT?

BUT DO YOU THINK BOTH WILL BE REMEMBERED AS NATIONAL TRAGEDIES?

>>YEAH, I MEAN, REMEMBER OF COURSE THEN IN THE YEAR, SINCE THE PULSE SHOOTING AMERICA HAS EXPERIENCED THE TRAUMA OF OTHER MASS SHOOTINGS LIKE LAS VEGAS AND PARKLAND, OF COURSE, IN SOME WAYS PULSE HAS BECOME JUST SORT OF WOUND INTO THOSE STATISTICS OF IN THE TALLY OF MASS SHOOTINGS.

BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT THE PULSE NIGHTCLUB MEANT AND THE SCALE OF THE TRAGEDY AT THE TIME, DOES CARRY THAT SIGNIFICANCE.

OF COURSE THERE IS LEGISLATION THAT WAS SIGNED THIS YEAR DESIGNATING PULSE A NATIONAL MEMORIAL.

OF COURSE, AS WE KNOW, PLANS ARE UNDERWAY TO BUILD A FAIRLY AMBITIOUS MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM AT THE SITE OF THE PULSE NIGHTCLUB.

SO YES, THIS IS VERY MUCH, PULSE IS VERY MUCH A NATIONAL MEMORIAL, NOT ON THE SCALE, AS YOU SAID NANCY OF 9/11 AND OF COURSE, BUT I THINK IN THE APPROACH THAT THE OFFICIALS HAVE TAKEN TO SORT OF CRAFTING THAT SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND REMEMBER, AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT IT MEANT TO THE PEOPLE OF ORLANDO.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

>>YEAH.

WELL, I SPOKE AT LENGTH WITH NANCY ROSADO AND CONGRESSMAN MIKE WALTZ, AND YOU CAN FIND THOSE INTERVIEWS IN FULL ON OUR WEBSITE AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, FINALLY TONIGHT, NEXT MONTH WILL MARK 50 YEARS SINCE WALT DISNEY WORLD OPENED CHANGING CENTRAL FLORIDA AND ITS ECONOMY FOREVER.

DEWAYNE IS PUTTING TOGETHER A SERIES OF PIECES FOR THE ORLANDO SENTINEL ON DISNEY WORLD AT 50.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT.

BUT FIRST LET'S HEAR FROM RICK FOGLESONG WHO WROTE THE BOOK, MARRIED TO THE MOUSE ON ORLANDO'S COMPLEX RELATIONSHIP WITH DISNEY.

>>THERE WAS A TIME I THINK, BEFORE EPCOT OPENED UP EARLY 1980S, WHEN IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT WALT DISNEY WORLD WAS THE LOCAL CHAMPION.

THEN WHAT WAS GOOD FOR DISNEY WAS BY AND LARGE GOOD FOR ORLANDO.

YOU MOVE FORWARD.

THERE WAS A PERCEPTION, WELL NOT SO, THAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE IN GREATER ORLANDO WAS TO MOVE BEYOND DISNEY AND TOURISM.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF GROWTH.

BUT WE'VE LACKED AS A COMMUNITY IS DEVELOPMENT, MEANING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THAT'S REALLY THE CHALLENGE IS TO HAVE GOOD JOBS AT GOOD WAGES.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT YET.

>>50 YEARS LATER, IS THIS A CODEPENDENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DISNEY AND CENTRAL FLORIDA.

DO WE NEED EACH OTHER?

>>IT IS LIKE A MARRIAGE IT SEEMS TO ME, BUT HERE'S THE THING.

WHEN DISNEY CAME, IT WAS A BIG DEAL AND ORLANDO WAS NOT.

ORLANDO NEEDED THEM.

BUT ONCE THE DISNEY COMPANY BUILT THE PARK AND BECAME DUG IN, IF YOU WILL, THEY COULD NO LONGER CREDIBLY THREATEN TO LEAVE IF THEY DIDN'T GET WHAT THEY WANTED FROM THE CITY, THE COUNTY OR THE STATE.

THAT REALITY, ECONOMIC REALITY, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, NEEDS TO BE APPRECIATED WHEN LOCAL AND STATE AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT RESPOND TO OR ADDRESS THE QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS MADE BY THE DISNEY COMPANY.

>>RICK FOGLESONG THERE.

DEWAYNE, IN ITS 50 YEARS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, DISNEY'S CHANGED A LOT, RIGHT?

WHAT ARE THE MAIN MILESTONES FOR YOU IN ITS JOURNEY TO BECOMING THE BEHEMOTH THAT IT IS TODAY?

DO YOU AGREE WITH RICK FOGLESONG THAT ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY HAS CHANGED?

>>I'M GOING TO SAY ASIDE FROM THE ORIGINAL OPENING IN 1971, WHEN EPCOT OPENED IN 1982, IT TOTALLY CHANGED THE DYNAMIC IN THAT THIS WAS A NEW KIND OF THEME PARK.

IT WAS A LITTLE MORE ADULT AND IT WAS MORE TO DO.

THEN AS TIME WENT ON AND THEY OPENED A DISNEY MGM, NOW HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS AND DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM, IT DEFINITELY MADE IT MORE LIKE A WEEK LONG DESTINATION, MORE HOTELS.

NOW, IF YOU GO TO ALL FOUR PARKS AND SPEND A DAY THERE, THEN YOU NEED A DAY TO REST INDEED BY THE POOL, GO TO DISNEY SPRINGS.

SO IT'S VERY, IT STARTED OFF WITH CALLING IT VACATION KINGDOM, BUT IT TOOK A WHILE FOR IT TO BE A WHOLE WEEK.

THAT'S A LOT MORE SPENDING OBVIOUSLY.

>>DEWAYNE, YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN COMBING THROUGH THE SENTINELS ARCHIVES TO SEE HOW YOUR PAPER COVERED THE LEAD UP TO DISNEY'S OPENING IN 1971.

WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU FROM THAT COVERAGE?

>>I LOVE THE CONSTRUCTION PHOTOS.

WE HAVE SOME NEGATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE SLEEVES FOR 50 YEARS.

SO THE CASTLE HALFWAY BUILT IS, AND SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT HIM, YOU CAN'T TELL, "WELL, WHAT IS THAT?

IT'S HAUNTED MANSION BUT IT'S ONLY HALFWAY THERE.

OR IT'S A LOT OF DIRT.

THERE'S USUALLY WATER THERE."

I'M INTRIGUED BY THAT, REALLY INTRIGUED BY THE OPENING DAYS.

THEN I GET A LOT OF EMAIL FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE, EARLY CAST MEMBERS, AND THEY JUST TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH FUN IT WAS AND OVER THE DECADES THAT THERE'S A ROSY GLOW TO IT.

BUT MOST OF THEM WERE OBVIOUSLY TEENAGERS OR EARLY 20 COLLEGE, SOMETHING PEOPLE.

THEY LOOK BACK ON IT FONDLY AND JUST TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT HONESTLY, HAVE BEEN GONE SO LONG.

I DIDN'T KNOW THEY EXIST.

>>DEWAYNE, WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE RIDES AND ATTRACTIONS AT DISNEY, BUT WHAT HAVE BEEN THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AND ALSO THE LEAST MEMORABLE EFFORTS BY THE IMAGINEERS OVER THE YEARS?

>>SO IT'S SO RECENT.

I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT WHEN A RISE OF THE RESISTANCE OPENED AT STAR WARS GALAXY'S EDGE AT HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS, LONG TITLE, WE ALL WERE LIKE, "WELL, THAT'S THE BEST THING THEY'VE EVER DONE."

I THINK THE NEW CAR SMELL HAS FADED AND IT'S STILL COOL.

IT'S HARD TO GET ONTO IT.

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HARD EVEN WITHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

I THINK IT'S JUST VERY COMPLICATED.

IT'S TRIPLE RIDES SYSTEMS.

THERE'S A BIG STORY.

THERE'S HOLOGRAMS, THERE'S AUDIO ANIMATRONICS, ALL THE THINGS DISNEY HAS DONE FOR YEARS, JUST KIND OF INTENSIFIED.

ON THE MINUS SIDE, THEY'VE HAD TROUBLE PROVIDING NIGHTTIME ENTERTAINMENT FOR ANIMAL KINGDOM.

IT'S BEEN A LITTLE PUZZLE.

THEY'VE TRIED SOME SHOWS THAT DIDN'T GO OVER SO WELL.

SO NOW THEY'RE TRYING DAYTIME SHOWS AND IT'S A CHALLENGE BECAUSE OF THE ANIMALS.

YOU CAN'T DISTURB THEIR SLEEP.

THEY WANT IT TO ALL BE NICE FOR THEM.

SO THERE'S NO FIREWORKS, THAT'S OUT.

SO THEY CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT.

>>IT CERTAINLY SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE ONE OF THE BEST GIGS IN JOURNALISM IN ORLANDO.

>>I'M NOT COMPLAINING.

>>ALL RIGHT.

WELL, DISNEY CONTINUES TO CHANGE TODAY IN TERMS OF THE WAY IT INNOVATES AND GROWS, RIGHT?

I MEAN, WHAT ARE YOUR PREDICTIONS FOR WHAT WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE FROM DISNEY GOING FORWARD?

>>SO HERE'S WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN SEEING I'M INTERESTED IN SEEING WHAT THEY DO AFTER PANDEMIC, BRINGING BACK LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, GOOD OLD FASHIONED, LIVE ENTERTAINMENT WITH PEOPLE.

THERE ARE STILL AT HOTELS THAT AREN'T OPEN, SO WE'RE WAITING ON THAT.

I THINK THE STAR WARS HOTEL, GALACTIC STAR CRUISER, WHICH OPENS NEXT YEAR IS INTERESTING BECAUSE IT'S SO SMALL, DISNEY DOES THINGS BIG.

THIS IS 100 UNITS REALLY IMMERSIVE.

SO WILL WE HAVE MORE BOUTIQUE TYPE THINGS?

WILL THERE BE MULTIPLE, IT'S MORE LIKE A CRUISE THAN A VACATION, A PARK VACATION.

SO CAN THEY TAKE OTHER PROPERTIES AND TURN THEM INTO SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO SPEND MULTIPLE DAYS IMMERSED IN?

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ROLLERCOASTERS COMING UP THAT ARE A LITTLE MORE INTENSE THAN WHAT THEY'VE BEEN INTRODUCING LATELY.

I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN HOW THEY WILL REACT TO EPIC UNIVERSE, THE PLANNED THIRD THEME PARK OR A UNIVERSAL ORLANDO.

>>WELL, YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO THE SENTINELS COVERAGE OF DISNEY WORLD AT 50 ON OUR WEBSITE.

YOU'LL ALSO FIND MY FULL INTERVIEW WITH RICK FOGLESONG THERE AS WELL.

IT'S ALL AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

WELL, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

MY THANKS TO MATTHEW PEDDIE OF 90.7 WMFE AND DEWAYNE BEVIL OF THE ORLANDO SENTINEL.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:30 HERE ON WUCF FROM ALL OF US HERE AT NEWSNIGHT.

TAKE CARE AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.