Cast Members Enraged At Changes to Attendance Requirements

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Disney Resorts, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Uncategorized

When it comes to creating that magical Disney experience, there are few keys more important than Cast Members. Cast Members do everything from keeping the Parks clean and safe to helping Guests who may not be very experienced in Disney vacations, running your favorite attractions and rides, and more. Without the thousands of hard-working Cast Members, Walt Disney World would not be the top vacation destination it is.

While becoming a Disney Cast Member may be a dream job for many, it is still a job. There are still clock-ins and clock-outs, breaks, vacation time, and all of the other things that come with a regular job. Each Company has its own attendance policy that employees have to follow, and The Walt Disney Company is no different. However, according to a local union, Disney is trying to drastically alter its attendance policy for Walt Disney World Cast Members, and the Cast Members are anything but pleased.

The Workers United Local 50 posted the following message on its Facebook page:

ATTENDANCE POLICY UPDATE

We’ve met with Disney and reviewed the proposed attendance policy. While we wait for clarification to questions that were raised we wanted to provide members with the main takeaways. Understand, this is just the beginning of the conversation with Disney and we will negotiate with Disney over the impact and request changes be made. Meaning, this may not be the final policy.

-No more points system. Instead attendance infractions will be tracked as total amount of unexcused time of missed work.

Tardies tracked separately by number of occurrences

– Different amounts of unexcused time/tardies for Full Time, Casual Regular, and Casual Temporary will trigger discipline.

16 hours to trigger for FT, 12 hours for CR, 6 hours for CT

3 tardies to trigger for FT, 2 tardies for CR, 2 tardies for CT.

– Supplementing sick time to not receive an infraction will require equal amount of time be supplemented. For example a 6 hour shift requires 6 hours be supplement.

– FMLA and other applicable leave time will continue to excuse absences.

– No more continued absences only counting as one infraction.

We will post updates as they become available. Message us with any questions or call the office (714 502 0220).

In Solidarity,

Chris Duarte

Local 50 Vice President

Now, only those who work at Walt Disney World and the union are incredibly familiar with the attendance policy and how it works for the type of company Disney is. And, according to numerous Cast Members, the new proposed attendance policy is just insulting.

Twitter user Jess (@jesscantlead) said that Disney was messing up with the new attendance policy, especially because being a Cast Member is both physically and mentally exhausting.

Facebook user Amber T. posted that the hour-for-hour proposed system doesn’t make sense. If an employee calls out, and they were scheduled to work a double shift, that could really hurt their sick time.

So if I need to call out on a double then I’ve just used almost all of my 12 hours for the whole year…this is insane.

Caroline M. pointed out on Facebook that Disney encourages Cast Members to call out and not come into work if they are feeling sick, which is especially important during the pandemic. Every day, sick Guests visit the Parks knowing that they are sick and knowing that they could get others sick. With this new strict attendance policy, those signs may be ignored.

I hope when you guys sit down with Disney you will bring up the signs posted in all areas indicating that if we are sick we should not come to work and indicate to them that if they truly believe in this statement they need to reconsider everything they have put on the plate especially not being able to extend a call out. Disney might not believe it but we still are in the middle of a PANDEMIC with Covid cases on the rise, as I’m sure HR is currently witnessing. This is not a proper solution to the call out issue, and will only require them to hire more people when Covid once again comes around in winter because everyone will be fired. Truthfully if Disney cannot negotiate in good faith as they generally cannot do, Local 50 you should contact media. I’m sure Disney would love to have more bad publicity on their hands.

Some commented that the new attendance policy is similar to attendance policies in regular businesses. However, many people who claimed to be Cast Members said that regular attendance policies may work for “normal” jobs, but being a Cast Member is anything but a normal job. One of those people was Jess, the original poster, who pointed out that yes, the proposed attendance policy is normal, but doesn’t work for the demands of a Disney job.

but also since leaving Disney I haven’t needed to call out a bunch because I’m not worked to exhaustion, not burnt out, not getting sick from guests, I have PTO, I have 80 hours worth of PSL, I have a set schedule, time off requests are honored, etc.

At this time, the Local Union is still working with Disney to negotiate a new attendance policy. So, the current points system that Cast Members seem to really like is still in place. Hopefully, Disney and the Union are able to come to an agreement that everyone can be happy with.

Disney Runs Out of Park Reservations for Major Upcoming Holiday

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

One Disney Park is already booked solid for a major upcoming holiday.

There is no denying that since 2020, the Disney Parks and Resorts have been completely different. When the Parks reopened in 2020 we saw a lull in Guests as there were very few who were traveling as well as Disney has a very small capacity limit. Since that point in time, we have seen borders reopen and travel become a more “normal” part of life for many. Along with that, we have seen Disney open their capacity more, remove mask mandates, bring back a lot of entertainment, and head towards an operational schedule that reminds us of a pre-pandemic Disney.

Despite how crowded the Parks are, they are all still operating under a reduced capacity. At the moment, Disney will not release what that number is, but it is likely in the higher range as shoulder-to-shoulder crowds are back. Guests must still collect and obtain a Disney Park Pass to enter a theme park, and as we noted, those do not seem to be going anywhere soon as you can currently make Park Passes through to 2024.

Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom

We recently noticed that one Disney Park is completely full in a few months. As you can see in our screenshot from the official Disney World website below, there are no more reservations available for Magic Kingdon on the 4th of July this year:

magic-kingdom-capacity

To enter a park, both a park reservation and a valid ticket or pass for the same park on the same date are required. Upon reopening, certain parks, hotels, restaurants, attractions, services, experiences, amenities, and other offerings will be modified or unavailable, will have limited capacity, and will be subject to limited availability or even closure, and that park admission and offerings are not guaranteed.

magic kingdom

In addition to riding rides such as Big Thunder Mountain, Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, “it’s a small world”, Space Mountain, and others, Guests can also catch what many refer to as the 3 o’clock parade, Festival of Fantasy, which just recently returned to the Park.

At nighttime, Guests can watch the newly debuted fireworks show, Disney Enchantment, which replaced the now retired, Happily Ever After, for Disney World’s 50th anniversary.

Massive Theme Park Passholder Lawsuit Heads to Supreme Court

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

The theme park world was struck in a major way back in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered the business and forced many venues to close for months, and others for even longer.

While Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood, Six Flags, SeaWorld, Cedar Fair, and Busch Gardens are all open now and are welcoming crowds similar to that of what was seen in pre-pandemic times, many theme parks are still picking up the pieces of decisions made during the pandemic.

One of the most prominent lawsuits currently on the docket is the class-action suit being filed against Cedar Fair for its refusal to provide a pro-rated discount to its annual pass holders when the pandemic struck back in 2020.

Cedar Fair operates 11 theme parks, including Knott’s Berry Farm, California’s Great America, Ohio’s Cedar Point, Virginia’s Kings Dominion, Canada’s Wonderland, and Carowinds. The theme parks are visited by approximately 25 million people each year. The company is headquartered at Cedar Point in Ohio.

cedar point

Just recently, it was reported that the case will now be heard by the Ohio Supreme Court. While Cedar Fair has attempted to have the class-action lawsuit dismissed, this hasn’t happened and now it’s certain that the case will be heard by the highest judiciary body in the state.

Cedar Point argues that it didn’t breach its contract because the pandemic was unforeseeable, and it extended pass benefits through 2021.

Gemini at Cedar Point

Both Disney Park Annual Pass holders, as well as Universal offered Annual Passholders partial refunds or an extension of their pass when their theme parks closed for several months during the pandemic.

This isn’t the only lawsuit happening in the theme park world currently. Several theme parks are being sued over their enforcement of mask mandates back in 2020 and a federal judge just recently approved a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Disneyland in relation to the Magic Key.

Perhaps the most prominent lawsuit recently field was that from 14-year-old Tyre Sampson’s family following the teenager’s tragic fatal fall on the Orlando FreeFall at ICON Park. Sampson’s family sued more than a dozen parties for negligence and alleges that SlingShot Group, which operated the attraction, manually manipulated the sensors.

Tour Walt Disney’s Newly-Restored 1932 “Storybook Mansion” in Los Angeles

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Via DisDining.com

From the street, visitors to the area in Los Angeles only see a gate and a really steep driveway. But something very special sits upon a small area of land at the top of that driveway–a mansion that at first glance seems unassuming and not entirely different from other structures visitors see in the neighborhood on Woking Way, a tiny street that lies between Los Feliz Boulevard and Griffith Park.

But atop that steep driveway is a place where real magic was born, real magic happened, and real magic was relived over and over again. It is, after all, Walt Disney’s Storybook mansion.

walt Disney's home on woking way

Known as Walt Disney’s “Storybook Mansion,” the home is a private residence that opens up for tours once a month. The home is one part luxury mansion, one part storybook cottage. And it’s 100% fairytale magic.

“There is something special about the house,” says Dusty Sage, who gives the once-a-month tours of the home formerly owned and lived in by Walt and his wife Lillian Disney. “I always like to think I’m feeling the spirit of Walt Disney when I’m in here. Whether that’s just me thinking that way or if it’s actually his spirit, I don’t know. But I get goosebumps in this house. No matter how many times I’m here, I feel the vibe of this place and it speaks to me.”

The mansion features white plaster and deep red brick. Dark wood shingles line the roof of the structure, and stained glass adorns the windows to the outside world. Within a tower topped with a classic weather vane lies the front door to the Storybook Mansion where Walt once lived, and if you’re ever lucky enough to tour the home, the walk up to the house will inspire you with rose bushes bearing two colors of roses lining both sides of the walk: yellow for Walt and pink for Lillian.

The year was 1932. Walt Disney hadn’t yet created and released what would be the first-ever feature-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The film wouldn’t debut at the Carthay Circle Theater for five more years. That year, Walt and Lillian had their new home built at 4053 Woking Way in Los Angeles.

Over the next 18 years, the Disney couple would welcome two daughters, Diane and Sharon, Walt Disney Studios would release Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fantasia, Pinocchio, Dumbo, Bambi, Victory Through Air Power, Make Mine Music, Fun & Fancy-Free, Melody Time, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, and Cinderella, and Walt would begin plans for his first theme park, Disneyland, in Anaheim, California, some 32 miles southeast of his Storybook Mansion.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs One Sheet Movie Poster (RKO, | Lot #13005 | Heritage Auctions

The mansion encompasses more than 6,300 square feet and originally sat upon 1.5 acres of prime Los Angeles real estate. It’s not the same house in many respects as it has seen changes over 72 years that have passed since Walt and Lillian lived in it.

walt disney's home on woking way

Part of the land on which the Disneys had their house built has been sold. The house has undergone some renovations and refurbishments as well. Walt’s workout room was first converted to a nursery and then to a billiards room.

While Walt and Lillian lived there, Walt had one of the bedrooms turned into a screening room. There, he could work with footage that was recently shot for the live-action projects on which Walt Disney Studios was working.

walt disney home on woking way

Just inside the mansion is a large rotunda, and the home still features the original colored-leaded glass. Other features inside Walt’s Storybook Mansion include painted vaulted ceiling beams, a “Juliet” balcony, a library, a sleeping porch, a breakfast nook, and two bars. There are also four bedrooms and five bathrooms. Just like Walt’s Carolwood estate, to which the family moved in 1950, the Storybook Mansion made beautiful use of plants native to California and rock terraces.

Upon the start of the Second World War, the country began to take strikes in supporting the effort, and Americans started to contribute metals to that end. Walt Disney himself donated two metal deer sculptures from his home on Woking Way.

This photo from the Los Angeles Times, dated August 14, 1942, shows Walt Disney with his sledgehammer as he prepares to break up the metal sculptures into pieces.

walt disney metal drive for world war 2

The home still has a little cottage where Walt’s daughters Diane and Sharon used to play outside. Since the Disneys moved, a swimming pool has been installed on the property, but the tiny cottage is still on the property as it was when Walt and Lillian lived on Woking Way.

walt disney's home on woking way

“This house was just a style Walt Disney liked,” said Sage.

Guest loses Apple Watch on ride at EPCOT

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

A Guest at the Walt Disney World Resort lost her Apple Watch while visiting EPCOT. The wearable technology snafu has already cost her more than $40,000.

EPCOT is often referred to as the “park to skip” if you only have three days to spend at the Walt Disney World Resort. But the Disney theme park is home to the engineering marvel Spaceship Earth, a brand-new take on the previous “Future World,” and soon, the brand-new Guardians of the Galaxy: COSMIC REWIND coaster. Thanks to all of these offerings and more, EPCOT could easily become the one Disney theme park NOT to miss.

But a Guest and her husband who visited EPCOT last month are probably wishing they’d never stepped foot inside the theme park.

According to a report from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office as reported by SebastianDaily, the Guest was visiting EPCOT on April 13. She and her husband were enjoying the Seas with Nemo & Friends attraction when her Apple Watch fell off her wrist and fell through the grated floor under the ride.

According to reports, the Apple Watch was a Hermes watch, similar to the one seen here, valued at more than $1,300 on Apple’s website.

Just below the grated floor, the Apple Watch lay on a pathway where the Guest could see it. Immediately, her husband jumped from the moving ride vehicle to attempt to retrieve it. As this was a direct violation of safety rules aboard a ride at Disney World, Cast Members promptly halted the ride’s operation and told the couple they were not to disembark the ride vehicle while it was in motion.

The Guest asked the Cast Members how she could retrieve her Apple Watch, and the couple was told that they would retrieve the device and return it to the couple’s room at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

But when the Guest and her husband returned to their Resort Hotel, they asked a Cast Member at Disney Guest Relations whether the Apple Watch had been returned, but they were told that no watch had been delivered to the Resort.

As frustrating as that was for the Guest and her husband, it was probably the best part of the whole ordeal, as more bad news was delivered to her next. The Guest had linked her American Express card to her Apple Wallet, and almost immediately, she began to receive fraud alerts from the credit card.

American Express Charge Cards | Amex - HSBC Expat

Her card had an unlimited spending limit on it, and it looked like someone else was having a great time in the parks on her card. Fraud alerts continued to warn her that fraudulent charges were being made on her American Express card. In all, the charges totaled tens of thousands of dollars.

According to the report from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Guest told Disney Guest Relations that she had received “several fraud alerts throughout the day on her Amex card. According to the victim, there were approximately $40,000 in fraudulent charges on her card.”

Woman sues Orange County Sheriff's Office claiming excessive use of force

The Guest says she froze her credit card and proceeded to file a report of grand theft with the Sheriff’s office, as she intended to prosecute whoever had made the charges.

At this time, because the investigation is ongoing, no details are known publicly about the fraudulent charges incurred on the credit card.