According to a post on Unite Here Local 362’s Facebook page, Disney will be paying certain Walt Disney World Cast Members for obtaining one of the available COVID-19 vaccines.
In a press release attached to the post, the union which represents attractions and custodial Cast Members, amongst others, states that Cast Members will be paid four hours worth of pay for receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, it mentions dates of January 1st, 2021 thru September 30, 2021, meaning Cast Members who have already been vaccinated should also be eligible for the additional pay.
Walt Disney World began their phased reopening in the summer of 2020. With the safety precautions and limited capacity, we tend to feel safer at Disney than we do at locations such as the grocery store. On the flip side, Cast Members going to work everyday are in regular contact with the Disney crowds. Now, with the COVID-19 vaccinations rolling out, a Disney Union is speaking out saying they believe Cast Members deserve the vaccination now as essential employees for Orlando’s much needed tourism industry.
As reported by OrlandoSentinel: “Unite Here 362, a local that represents 9,000 Disney World custodians, ride attendants, food service workers and others, is pushing for Gov. Ron DeSantis to make all hospitality workers eligible to get the vaccine. The union held a news conference Friday to make its case.”
“Starting Monday, anyone 40 and older can get the vaccine at the Orange County Convention Center, which is already inoculating people in certain professions, including firefighters, teachers and law enforcement officials, regardless of their ages. Disney World union leaders argued theme park workers need to be added to that list, too. If tourism is essential to Florida’s economy, then tourism workers are essential and deserve to be a priority, said Eric Clinton, who leads 362.”
While Disneyland Resort remains officially closed for almost a full year now, we are hopeful today as we’re learning a recall of 1,000 Cast Members is in the works as Disneyland plans to offer a limited-time ticketed experience.
As reported by KTLA News: Hundreds of Disneyland Resort employees will return to work as a “limited-time ticketed experience” opens next month inside California Adventure, which has been closed for nearly a year now due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The cast members — Disney parlance for its employees — received notice of the new offering Monday in a letter from Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock as DCA celebrated its 20th anniversary.” The experience will feature “world-famous food and beverage offerings from around the resort, the latest merchandise and unique, carefully crafted entertainment experiences,” according to a statement from the Disneyland Resort. It will take place multiple days per week.
While we will still have to wait to ride the California Adventure attractions, we’re thrilled for a chance to step foot in the park even if it’s for a dining experience. With Disneyland closed since last March, we’re so thankful to see small steps toward officially reopening and Cast Members returning to work!
Exciting news coming out of Disneyland Resort this evening! Disneyland Resort has placed a recall notification for 232 food and beverage Cast Members. The recall is in response to California’s lift of the regional stay-at-home orders across the state in response to improving coronavirus conditions. Restaurants are allowed to reopen once again with outdoor dining.
Exciting news coming out of Disneyland Resort this evening! Disneyland Resort has placed a recall notification for 232 food and beverage Cast Members. The recall is in response to California’s lift of the regional stay-at-home orders across the state in response to improving coronavirus conditions. Restaurants are allowed to reopen once again with outdoor dining.
Great news for Disneyland! Slowly but surely, we’re getting there. It’s hard to believe Disneyland Resort has almost been closed for a year now.
Disney Cast Members are all about creating magic, but in this situation this Cast Member should be considered a hero for helping a domestic violence victim that called Walt Disney World, pretending to book a vacation. Thankfully, the Cast Member caught on quickly to the situation.
As shared by FoxNews13: A Walt Disney World employee realized a Pennsylvania woman who called under the guise of buying theme park tickets was actually in need of help. The Disney employee heard the woman yelling “get off me” and “get away from me” at someone while they were on the phone together on Jan. 9 and sensed something was wrong, the York Dispatch reported.
The woman would only answer questions with a “yes” or “no” response, so the unidentified Disney employee asked if the woman was actually calling to book a trip, according to the report. The woman said, “no.” “She then asked (the woman) if she needed law enforcement to her home and she stated ‘yes,’” authorities said in court documents, according to the report.
FoxNews13goes on to report: The Disney employee called Northern York County Regional Police in Dover, Pennsylvania, where the caller lives, and alerted authorities, according to the report. When officers arrived at the home, they found that the woman and her 38-year-old boyfriend had been arguing, according to the report. The woman told police that he’d choked her three times and slapped her. The boyfriend also threatened the woman, saying “I’ll (expletive) kill you,” police said in court records.
Police arrested the boyfriend. He’s facing a felony charge of strangulation, as well as misdemeanor counts of terroristic threats with the intention to terrorize another and simple assault, plus harassment, court records show.
