More Protests Unfold at Disney Resort

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Via DisDining.com

We previously shared the news that security was enhanced at one Disney Park as Guests gathered to protest the theme park reservation system implemented by Disney. Now, we’re seeing more protests unfold for the Disney Resort.

Disneyland Paris Resort is in the midst of its 30th Anniversary, but instead of celebrating, it seems like more and more Disney fans are disgruntled about the Park’s current offerings, including the addition of the Park Reservation System.

While Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort Guests are fairly used to the process of making Park Pass Reservations since the Parks reopened after COVID closures, Disneyland Paris Guests took action by performing a protest which required a heavier security presence.

Now, we’re seeing more protests unfold, but this time at Disney Village, just outside of Disneyland Paris. Disney Village is like the Disney Springs for Walt Disney World or Downtown Disney for Disneyland.

Just moments from the Disneyland Paris Park entrance, employees of Rainforest Cafe are asking for better work conditions which forced the restaurant to close.

@DLPReport took to social media to share photos of the demonstration along with the note, “At Disney Village, employees of the Rainforest Cafe independent franchisee are demonstrating for better work conditions. The location is closed today and until further notice as a result.”

As you can see in the photos, the employees are standing directly in front of the restaurant in Disney Village. There is also an enhanced presence of security for the situation.

While some of the comments say, “Good for them, get that Mouse money” and “Great. Finally people against Chapek demonstrating,” others remind them that Rainforest Cafe is an independently owned restaurant, simply located within Disney’s property.

disneyland paris rainforest cafe

Just like the two Rainforest Cafe locations at Disney Springs and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, Disney Village’s Rainforest Cafe features the same Amazon dining experience that keeps both young and old entertained for lunch or dinner. But, sadly for these employees, they are obviously very eager to be seen and heard as they seek better working conditions.

Security Enhanced at Disney Park as Guests Gather to Protest

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Security was enhanced over the weekend at one Disney Park as Guests gathered to protest the theme park reservation system implemented by Disney.

Walt Disney World Resort introduced the new system, the Park Pass Reservation System, for the first time when the Florida parks reopened following a nearly 4-month-long closure in response to the growing coronavirus pandemic in July 2020. As with anything new, the saying goes, “It takes some getting used to,” but some fans simply can’t get comfortable with a system that limits the time they can spend in their happy place.

Early on Saturday, Guests gathered just outside the gates at Disneyland Paris to protest the park reservation system, following a beefing-up of security at the Parisian park in preparation for the protests.

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While The Walt Disney Company may tout its new park reservations system as an effective means of crowd control, many fans feel like the system is limiting–especially Guests who spend thousands of dollars on annual passes for themselves and their families. They’re told there are “no blockout dates,” when in reality, every date that’s already booked full is blocked out.

“No blockout dates” seems a misnomer at best.

Per another tweet from @DLPReport, Disney had already enhanced its security on Saturday, so as to be prepared for the potential demonstrations: “Security has been enhanced at the Resort’s checkpoints due to potential demonstrations outside Disney property against the park reservation system.”

The protesters were peaceful as they gathered just outside the park at the nearby train station. They also garnered the support of many who are reading about their plight on Twitter.

User @MatthewRansley responded to the tweet from @DLPReport, tweeting: “Good on them. Worst thing ever introduced. Annual passes aren’t annual we should boycott and not renew I certainly won’t be until this system is gone.”

Protests at Disney Park lead to closure of large Guest area

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

If you think that the coronavirus pandemic hasn’t trickled down through many facets of everyday life–including theme park operations and staffing concerns–you might want to think again.

Shortly after the virus was first discovered among people who were falling ill in China, Disney Parks in Asia closed their gates to Guests. Shanghai Disneyland announced its closure, effective January 25, 2020, “in response to the prevention and control of the disease outbreak and in order to ensure the health and safety of [the park’s] Guests and Cast Members.”

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort closed its gates on January 26, Tokyo Disneyland closed on March 1 in response to the growing spread of the virus. Disneyland Paris closed on March 12, 2020, and Disney’s U. S. parks followed suit only days later.

Initially, the spread of COVID-19 seemed to call for very temporary closures. In the cases of Disneyland Paris and Disneyland Resort in California, the closures lasted longer than anyone had imagined. The Paris park reopened, only to be closed again in the fall of 2020.

And then came the layoffs.

As of October 3, 2020, approximately 37,000 Cast Members–who were not expected to be laid off–were on furlough. And then in late September 2020, Disney announced plans for 28,000 layoffs that would take place in early 2021. Josh D’Amaro, President of Disney Parks, Products and Experiences, said the decision was a difficult one.

“As you can imagine, a decision of this magnitude is not easy,” D’Amaro wrote in a memo to Cast Members. “For the last several months, our management team has worked tirelessly to avoid having to separate anyone from the company. We’ve cut expenses, suspended capital projects, furloughed our cast members while still paying benefits, and modified our operations to run as efficiently as possible, however, we simply cannot responsibly stay fully staffed while operating at such limited capacity.”

Of those 28,000 layoffs, 67% were part-time employees, per D’Amaro. But more layoffs followed. In November, Disney added several thousand more layoffs to the initial 28,000.

Cast Members are back to work now, but there is growing unrest over pay that some Cast Members say is not “a living wage.” Some Cast Members at Disneyland Resort in California were so determined in their cause, that they filed suit against Disney, alleging that Disney wasn’t holding up its end of a deal made with the City of Anaheim that would require Disney to pay a minimum wage of $15 per hour by 2019, and then to increase that pay by at least $1 per hour to $18 per hour by the year 2022.

Disneyland

But the judge presiding over the case sided with Disney.

Protests and demonstrations regarding Cast Member pay, benefits and even working conditions have been taking place at multiple Disney Parks. Some at Disneyland Paris went on strike in October outside Disney’s Newport Bay Club Resort Hotel. A protest at Disneyland in California was related to allegedly less than desirable working conditions and understaffing.

And just today, reports have surfaced that demonstrations taking place inside the park at Disneyland Paris have once again disrupted operations. Today’s protests have warranted to closure of the Castle hub at the park, according to DLP Report (@DLPReport) on Twitter.

Today’s demonstration is by Cast Members who are part of the union known as CGT. Cast Members at Disney Parks are represented by multiple unions. Disneyland Paris security personnel have been trying their best to keep anyone from photographing the event, per @DLPReport.

It’s not clear exactly what specific effects these protests will have on operations at the park today. DisneyDining will be following this story and other protests and strikes by Cast Members and keep you updated as well.