Disney Releases Statement on Entertainment Update at Walt Disney World After Recent Layoffs

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

On October 27, Walt Disney World laid off several entertainers from its highest-profile shows to characters that strolled the parks for entertainment. Today, Disney has released a statement regarding an update on entertainment.

As shared by Disney Parks Blog:

Walt Disney World Resort offers a treasure trove of experiences for guests of all ages. We recognize that part of the magic of visiting any Disney park is seeing favorite Disney friends and discovering one-of-a-kind shows and performances. Since reopening, we’ve continued to offer modified character experiences and entertainment throughout our resort, while also taking the appropriate steps for the health and safety of our guests and cast members.

Recently, we’ve had to make some difficult decisions to reduce our workforce as the business impacts from the Covid-19 pandemic have become more long-lasting than anyone could have predicted. As a result, we’ve had to pause many live shows and entertainment experiences at our resort for longer than originally anticipated.

While it’s impossible at this time to fully replace the incredible entertainment that existed throughout our parks before the pandemic, we are offering live entertainment in new ways wherever possible, including character cavalcades in all four parks and pop-up appearances, like discovering Joy from “Inside Out” frolicking on the lawn near the Imagination! pavilion in EPCOT. Additionally, we’re featuring modified shows such as the popular “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and live musical performances like the Main Street Philharmonic in Magic Kingdom or the Discovery Island Drummers at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This extends to our seasonal offerings, with Halloween underway and the holidays right around the corner. In fact, the fan-favorite Voices of Liberty are set to make their return and join the JAMMitors and Mariachi Cobre at the American Gardens Theatre during the upcoming Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, beginning on Nov. 27.

Determining which shows can return and when is a complex process. As with the rest of our phased reopening, we will also consider the guidance of health officials and government agencies in determining when the time will be right to adjust capacity, and as soon as it is appropriate, we will start to bring additional entertainment back.

Like most of our fans, we know that our beloved entertainment cast are an incredibly special and essential part of the Disney experience.  We look forward to the day when we can welcome back more live entertainment to our parks, and we will share more news about these announcements as we’re able to do so.

New Layoffs of Entertainment Cast Members

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

October 27, was a hard night for several Walt Disney World Cast Members as layoffs hit several of the entertainment Cast Members that fill the Disney stages, streets, and attractions.

As shared by OrlandoSentinel: Walt Disney World laid off entertainers from its highest-profile shows Tuesday night (Oct. 27) in what some described as a “bloodbath” as the scale of the layoffs rocked the Central Florida arts community. The deluge of pink slips showed the theme park has no foreseeable plans to remount marquee attractions such as “Festival of the Lion King” or “Finding Nemo: The Musical,” both of which have been dark since COVID-19 shut the parks this spring.

Even the cast of the venerable “Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue” dinner show, which has run since 1974, wasn’t immune from the latest round of Disney dismissals. “Clare DeLune, you were a dream come true,” wrote performer Nicolette Quintero, referring to one of the “Hoop-Dee-Doo” characters. “My dream role at my dream company on one of my favorite stages,” Quintero posted on Facebook. “Today is a very hard day.”

More among those cut include performers on Main Street USA, Citizens of Hollywood at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, cast and crew of “Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor”, “Beauty and the Beast — Live on Stage”, “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular”, Green Army Men and the Jedi Training Academy.

Disney did not address the job cuts on Tuesday night. In all, it appears that Disney is laying off more than 20% of its Orlando workforce, or more than 15,500 employees.

Minnie Van Service Retired at Walt Disney World

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Via wdwnt.com

In the wake of mass layoff announcements, it has been confirmed that all Minnie Van Cast Members were among those terminated at Walt Disney World. Despite early talks of the service’s demise ultimately brought on by the pandemic, Disney initially squashed rumors by including Minnie Vans in a resort transportation update that mentioned guests should “stay tuned” for return dates. There were no plans at that time to bring the service back, and the vehicles were already gone from the property.

It has been a tumultuous existence for the Minnie Van service at Walt Disney World, a point-to-point transportation option owned and operated by Disney that launched back in 2017. A pet-project of now-CEO Bob Chapek, Minnie Vans were Disney’s response to many of their guests choosing not to use the provided, complimentary (and honestly, often unreliable) transportation options Disney provides their guests and instead booking a Uber, Lyft, or similar transportation method to get around The Vacation Kingdom of the World. Minnie Vans were deemed overpriced by most guests, and they were also hard to get when you actually wanted them, like around park opening and closing times. After years of hemorrhaging money, Cast Members already believed the service was soon being brought to an end.

The Minnie Van fleet was leased through an agreement with Disney corporate partner Chevrolet, but it’s likely they were returned as these vehicles are no longer seen anywhere on property.

Walt Disney World Layoffs Include 6,700 Non-Union Employees

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Disney Parks announced the layoffs of 28,000 domestic employees. We have learned now that roughly 6,700 Walt Disney World non-union employees are losing their jobs.

As shared by OrlandoSentinel: About 6,700 Walt Disney World non-union employees are losing their jobs because of the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, according to an alert the Walt Disney Co. sent to the state. The layoffs will begin Dec. 4.

In all, Disney plans to lay off a total of 28,000 U.S. employees in a business division that includes theme parks, Imagineering and Disney Cruise Line.

“Due to the continuing business impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made the very difficult decision to reduce our workforce,” wrote Jim Bowden, Disney Vice President of employee relations, in a letter to the state that did not break down which positions would be affected.

“It will take time for all of us to process this information and its impact. We will be scheduling appointments with our affected salaried and non-union hourly employees over the next few days. Additionally, today we will begin the process of discussing next steps with unions,” D’Amaro wrote in a letter to employees Tuesday.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Entertainers Among Disney Layoffs

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Resorts

A sad week on the news front for numerous Disney Cast Members as Disney is laying off 28,000 domestic employees. Unfortunately, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort entertainers are among the Disney layoffs.

As shared on the Tikiman’s Unofficial Polynesian Resort Pages: “I had to reuse this graphic made by Joshua L Harris today after many of the Cast Members were told they won’t be back, including the entertainers at the resort.”

The page also posted the following picture with: “Let’s hope this even comes back.”

Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show has been a Disney fan favorite for years at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Disney’s Polynesian Resort remains closed (outside of the Disney Vacation Club portion) until Summer 2021.