About 60 are currently working or about to return to work in the park. Prior to the closure in March, about 780 Equity Cast Members were employed at Walt Disney World, either full time, part time or seasonally. That does not make this news any less painful.” “Disney has made it clear that our members would face work reductions since they announced layoffs of nearly 28,000 employees. “Our hearts go out to all the cast members at Walt Disney World,” said Kate Shindle, president of Actors’ Equity Association. All other shows have remained dark and atmospheric entertainment has not been called back.Īfter we published this post, that union released a statement about the layoffs. Since that time, some performers have returned to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Savi’s Workshop and the Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. The standoff was highly publicized and contentious, but the union and Disney ultimately reached an “agreement” when the Maingate testing complex opened near Animal Kingdom. You might recall that over the summer, that union and Disney were at odds over performers returning to work safely. Whether someone works in custodial or as Cinderella, those jobs are both essential in making Walt Disney World what it is.Īs for the latest round of layoffs, many of those affected are members of Actors’ Equity Association, a union for stage managers and performers. It’s just worth pointing out that for every one of these prominent entertainment jobs lost, there are a dozen other less visible positions that have also been eliminated.Īll of them are integral in making the rides, shows, restaurants, and everything else about the Walt Disney World experience run smoothly. They were what makes Disney, Disney.įor many of you, these entertainment layoffs are likely going to “hit harder” because these are highly-visible roles in popular shows or atmospheric acts that left indelible, lasting memories on your vacations. We cannot fathom Disney without all of these people. All were ambassadors for Disney, worthy stewards of Walt’s legacy, and vital assets for the company. Some uprooted their families and lives to move to Florida or California and be magic-makers. Some were truly living their dream in working for this company. Some of these people are Disney lifers who have been with the company for decades. Hearing from Cast Member friends and seeing acquaintances post that they “got the call.” Opening social media and hearing from people who have received the life-altering news. The last few weeks have been rough, and the latest round of entertainment layoffs is equally devastating. Beyond that, have extra empathy and courtesy when interacting with Cast Members in the coming days, weeks, and months. Please see our Help Give Back to Disney Cast Members & Community post, which offers a range of ways you can assist during this time of need. However, these have been occurring in waves as Disney negotiates with unions, and are likely not finished yet.īefore we begin, a reminder that Central Florida’s tourism industry has been devastated, with many people losing their jobs. Thus far, it appears that Florida accounts for roughly 15,000 of the lost jobs. These entertainment cuts are part of the 28,000 layoffs announced for Walt Disney World and Disneyland last month. In this post, we’ll cover details and offer commentary. Another massive round of Cast Member layoffs hit entertainment at Walt Disney World, including performers and supporting Cast Members at many highly popular shows in the parks & resorts.
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