RaySharpton
Retired and going to Disney.
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2000
Interesting Reddit forum discussion from cast members about Furloughs.
It’s a sad day in the world of Disney as you hear about so many of your friends like a family getting laid off.
Disney Cast Member Furlough Check-In
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Help Give Back to Disney Cast & Community By Tom Bricker
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I found the link from Josh's easyWDW website
It’s a sad day in the world of Disney as you hear about so many of your friends like a family getting laid off.
Disney Cast Member Furlough Check-In
Posted by u/cmfurloughed
Like many here, I was furloughed from my job with Disney. Since then, I’ve been told... nothing. I’m completely in the dark.
I thought it might be helpful to anonymously compare notes. Could help give us a better idea of what’s happening.
If you’d like- please answer these questions.
- When were you furloughed?
- Have you returned to work?
- If so, when did you return?
- If not, have you been given a return date?
- When was the last update given to you? (this could just be a leader checking in vs. official communication)
- What is your role (be general/vague)?
- Are you in a union?
- Other thoughts and comments?
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Help Give Back to Disney Cast & Community By Tom Bricker
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I found the link from Josh's easyWDW website
Disney will terminate the employment of more than 28,000 domestic cast members across its Parks, Experiences, and Products segments. Many of them have been on furlough since March and have received virtually no communication from Disney about what’s happening in the interim or when their jobs may become available again. Most haven’t heard anything since early August, or nearly two months ago. Disney does point out that they used your tax money to pay the meager health benefits that most lower-level cast members carried. This thread on Reddit, posted three days and titled, “Disney Cast Member Furlough Check-In” ...you can read anecdotal stories about how Disney has treated its employees since the Parks closed back in March. Most have received the same poor treatment and lack of communication.
A lot of cast members make it work, one way or another, but it’s a struggle for most. With the hospitality market in Orlando in absolute shambles, there are few to no positions available for anyone who is about to be laid off.
The “escape from reality” that Disney so vehemently markets is inherently connected to these people. I will admit that when I visited Disneyland early last year, the thought of what any particular cast member had going on outside of work never entered my mind. I was on “vacation” like everyone else. When you visit Walt Disney World, you likely arrive with the same mindset. In Florida, where I know hundreds or thousands of cast members personally, the reality for me back home is quite different.
Disney is obviously not alone in laying off a substantial amount of its workforce. Neither is there anything particularly unique about making $12/hour working in costuming versus making the same money at any fast food restaurant? Both people endure similar struggles with making ends meet. Unfortunately, the economic climate in Orlando is particularly poor. We have the lowest wages of any major city in America. At least as recently as last year, rent in Orlando was also increasing faster than any other major metropolitan area. Apartments are also priced higher, as a percentage of the amount of money that you can expect to make, than any other city in the country. It is expensive to live here and there are very few jobs that pay enough to make things easy.
Bricker has a nice rundown of how you can help affected cast members in this post. If you are planning on skipping a trip this year, you might send along with the money you were planning on tipping housekeeping. Or the equivalent of a couple of Mickey Bars. Or more, if you can afford it.
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