Disney Labor Shortage

[Sirwalterraleigh]

My family and I just returned home from a 10 day long Disney vacation about a week ago. One thing we noticed while we were there is that it is very obvious they are in desperate need of more employees. Dining reservations across the property would be completely full, but when we went to any restaurant half the tables would be empty. Waiters and waitresses were visibly more stressed than we remember them in vacations' past, especially in restaurants that are normally a buffet but because of COVID are now family style, like Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club.

It's really a shame and I heard that Disney is working really hard to onboard more employees, but with COVID coming to an end and an influx of people coming to Disney to vacation since they couldn't go last year, I hope they can fix their lack of staffing problem sooner rather than later.

im sure labor is an issue...the covid episode has created a bit of “strain” on what people want from employment...

but I would bet is more staffing restaurants to reservations...not short of servers.
they want guaranteed revenue...not walk ups. And typically not hard to get people to work off tips at Disney prices.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

What I remember from my last trip is that everything was impacted. Tried going to ICON one evening and the craving for Mexican food hit me, so decided to head over to Uncle Julio's. This was around 7pm on a Tuesday. I asked how long the wait would be - response - if you don't have a reservation we can't seat you. Not due to the crowd. Due to the availability of staff.

Encountered that at the next 2 restaurants I tried to hit there. Finally decided to get out of that area and hit an Alehouse close to Universal. Well, 45 minute wait at about 8:30pm on a Tuesday. At least I ate.

Wendy's was the next option.

 

[CastAStone]

What I remember from my last trip is that everything was impacted. Tried going to ICON one evening and the craving for Mexican food hit me, so decided to head over to Uncle Julio's. This was around 7pm on a Tuesday. I asked how long the wait would be - response - if you don't have a reservation we can't seat you. Not due to the crowd. Due to the availability of staff.

Encountered that at the next 2 restaurants I tried to hit there. Finally decided to get out of that area and hit an Alehouse close to Universal. Well, 45 minute wait at about 8:30pm on a Tuesday. At least I ate.

Wendy's was the next option.

You are more patient than I. The Spicy Chicken Sandwich with no wait at 8:15 is better than real food at 9:15

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

You are more patient than I. The Spicy Chicken Sandwich with no wait at 8:15 is better than real food at 9:15

It got close.

 

[Lilofan]

What I remember from my last trip is that everything was impacted. Tried going to ICON one evening and the craving for Mexican food hit me, so decided to head over to Uncle Julio's. This was around 7pm on a Tuesday. I asked how long the wait would be - response - if you don't have a reservation we can't seat you. Not due to the crowd. Due to the availability of staff.

Encountered that at the next 2 restaurants I tried to hit there. Finally decided to get out of that area and hit an Alehouse close to Universal. Well, 45 minute wait at about 8:30pm on a Tuesday. At least I ate.

Wendy's was the next option.

You could go further down the road to West Colonial Drive and the Pine Hills ( Crime Hills ) area for Asian and Caribbean food but that's a very dicey neighborhood especially when the sun goes down.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

You could go further down the road to West Colonial Drive and the Pine Hills ( Crime Hills ) area for Asian and Caribbean food but that's a very dicey neighborhood especially when the sun goes down.

Yeah. Thought about getting completely out of Dodge. But I wanted to stay away from Colonial and especially OBT. Maybe near the mall, but at that time - wasn't going to take that chance. But I hear ya.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

You could go further down the road to West Colonial Drive and the Pine Hills ( Crime Hills ) area for Asian and Caribbean food but that's a very dicey neighborhood especially when the sun goes down.

yeah...nobody needs to eat that much.

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

Yes, it's not just at WDW. Though their problems are on a much larger scale than most others. I don't know how they can justify increasing capacity and opening more restaurants and resorts when they have such a severe shortage Now! They can't keep up with what they need to do now. I only hope many more CM's are hired and trained soon, or a visit won't be very magical. I feel bad for the stressed CM's who are trying to do their jobs.
Besides the pandemic, the added incentive Not to work comes from the added compensation for Unemployment. Why would some people want to work when they are getting an extra $1200 a month plus their unemployment? Not many it seems. Hopefully all the states will stop this incentive so that our labor force can get back to work.
Our small town has help wanted signs in almost every store, business, shop. One of our most popular restaurants is only open part of the week because they can't get kitchen help so they can open full time. It's sad.

 

[Lilofan]

Yes, it's not just at WDW. Though their problems are on a much larger scale than most others. I don't know how they can justify increasing capacity and opening more restaurants and resorts when they have such a severe shortage Now! They can't keep up with what they need to do now. I only hope many more CM's are hired and trained soon, or a visit won't be very magical. I feel bad for the stressed CM's who are trying to do their jobs.
Besides the pandemic, the added incentive Not to work comes from the added compensation for Unemployment. Why would some people want to work when they are getting an extra $1200 a month plus their unemployment? Not many it seems. Hopefully all the states will stop this incentive so that our labor force can get back to work.
Our small town has help wanted signs in almost every store, business, shop. One of our most popular restaurants is only open part of the week because they can't get kitchen help so they can open full time. It's sad.

Kitchen help including chefs in my area are made up of minorities including undocumented. These folks ( undocumented ) were not eligible to get govt benefits and they moved away, hence the labor shortage.

 

[Ayla]

I keep hearing that theory but many higher paying blue collar industries also have a labor shortage. I guess with several states ending the bonus unemployment benefits this week we will know soon enough if that was really the problem or if the problem is a mix of older and international workers leaving the market permanently leaving a massive mismatch of the skill sets/pay expectations of the currently unemployed and the jobs available.

There has been a labor shortage for years. The boogey-man argument of bonus unemployment doesn't hold water.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

There has been a labor shortage for years. The boogey-man argument of bonus unemployment doesn't hold water.

it does not...

that’s an understandable, but lazy take. Saying “poor people collecting checks getting rich” is about the biggest red herring in American labor history.

it’s hard to track polling/labor studies because they are so subject to bias...but those that are trying to analyze this are coming up with a much bigger problem than supplemental UE. There’s something going on that’s much different and dangerous to the powers that be...

what they’re finding is that many “don’t want to go back into their box”. Covid flipped a switch economists didn’t really believe was there.

it’s not the money...it’s a reactionary opinion of being in a service economy now.

opinions vary...but this is real problem that won’t go away if you end unemployment. So people are forced back to T.G.I. Friday’s or else? Pandora’s box may have been opened here. Lasting side effect.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

The other problem Disney has specifically is their over reliance on college program/IP...brilliant economic move...as long as the supply chain was NEVER disrupted

 

[Ayla]

Another sticking point is people have been saying "if you don't like your job waitressing/flipping burgers/cashiering, get a different job".

So they did, and now people are irritated they don't have enough people to serve them??

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Another sticking point is people have been saying "if you don't like your job waitressing/flipping burgers/cashiering, get a different job".

So they did, and now people are irritated they don't have enough people to serve them??

Great point

 

[CastAStone]

There has been a labor shortage for years. The boogey-man argument of bonus unemployment doesn't hold water.

I know, but we’re getting a real world “natural experiment” with states ending it early that will create some pretty strong proof when hiring remains roughly the same across both sets of states

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I know, but we’re getting a real world “natural experiment” with states ending it early that will create some pretty strong proof when hiring remains roughly the same across both sets of states

which ones? That kinda matters.

details on the ground aren’t always affected by politics...

...probably 99.9% of the time though.

 

[Lilofan]

I know, but we’re getting a real world “natural experiment” with states ending it early that will create some pretty strong proof when hiring remains roughly the same across both sets of states

States are ending the benefits but a number of ones impacted by layoffs have moved out of state and relocated elsewhere.

 

[MisterPenguin]

1. The extra unemployment probably plays a small role in the labor shortage; but note that back in the Fall, when the extra Fed supplement was twice as much, the unemployment rate plummeted once businesses started reopening.
2. Parents need day-care to work and with zooming schools and COVID-capped day-cares, they got none.
3. Low wage workers switched from the COVID-restricted jobs (such as in restaurants) to other jobs (such as delivery), and they're not inclined to switch back.
4. once they got a taste of it, there are a lot of people who want to work, but, from home, and there aren't enough jobs that allow that
5. colleges just got out, high school soon to follow
6. Fed supplements (like PPP) kept business open. Usually, in an event like this, a big portion would close and there wouldn't be a labor shortage. But, since they're still open... there are a lot of job openings.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

1. The extra unemployment probably plays a small role in the labor shortage; but note that back in the Fall, when the extra Fed supplement was twice as much, the unemployment rate plummeted once businesses started reopening.
2. Parents need day-care to work and with zooming schools and COVID-capped day-cares, they got none.
3. Low wage workers switched from the COVID-restricted jobs (such as in restaurants) to other jobs (such as delivery), and they're not inclined to switch back.
4. once they got a taste of it, there are a lot of people who want to work, but, from home, and there aren't enough jobs that allow that
5. colleges just got out, high school soon to follow
6. Fed supplements (like PPP) kept business open. Usually, in an event like this, a big portion would close and there wouldn't be a labor shortage. But, since they're still open... there are a lot of job openings.

The data I saw on the impact of extra payments was estimated as being a driver for 1/7 of the people...who are unemployed.

that’s almost a nil number.

lack of childcare/school disruptions are far bigger issues...as was the lack of access to babysitters...otherwise known as “grandparents”

 

[Lilofan]

1. The extra unemployment probably plays a small role in the labor shortage; but note that back in the Fall, when the extra Fed supplement was twice as much, the unemployment rate plummeted once businesses started reopening.
2. Parents need day-care to work and with zooming schools and COVID-capped day-cares, they got none.
3. Low wage workers switched from the COVID-restricted jobs (such as in restaurants) to other jobs (such as delivery), and they're not inclined to switch back.
4. once they got a taste of it, there are a lot of people who want to work, but, from home, and there aren't enough jobs that allow that
5. colleges just got out, high school soon to follow
6. Fed supplements (like PPP) kept business open. Usually, in an event like this, a big portion would close and there wouldn't be a labor shortage. But, since they're still open... there are a lot of job openings.

There is a FB site formed by laid off hourly and salaried cast of WDW called Ears For Each Other. A number of them have capitalized on their side gigs and it has been very lucrative for them with support from people from all over the country and other parts also.