OK, Downtown Disney workers are a mix of CM's and employees of individual locations (aka Patina Group, Sephora, etc.)
Every CM working there are by choice. Everyone of them could have remained on furlough, and collect state unemployment, plus an extra $300 per week. No one was forced to go to work, there was plenty of volunteers.
I have been to DtD two times since they opened in July. I also have contacts in working CM's, employees of restaurants and shops, and also GardenWalk employees, the Pizza Press and some of the Hotels operating.
Basically, they are happy to be back at work and interacting with guests. These folks opted for these type of jobs because they are "people" personalities, and like talking to others. The servers are saying the average tip is higher, and not just due to the fact the average food costs are higher.
The majority of guests are following the rules, and happier than normal. Yes, they complain about certain guests and how they behave, but then, they complained about certain guests for decades now. They will always be there. Today, it might be the attitude about the mask, 10 years ago, it was the smoking policy, for an example, plenty of things guests do can be bothersome.
I have been told by Managers/owners, that they get contacted by those not working on a regular basis, asking about if shifts are available, and that they would be happy to work.
As for COVID, I can tell you that the city watches the COVID numbers very carefully, and have not seen a rise of COVID cases coming from the Resort area. Same with Orange County officials.
Did someone working in the area get COVID? Maybe. But was it from work, or was it some other activity, such as hang out with friends?
Find out information about Coronavirus in Anaheim.
www.anaheim.net
Anyways, it has been a busy holiday weekend for the resort area. Well, actually it is dead versus Labor Day 2019, but for the current conditions, things have been good. More locations have opened, and more are planning to do so.
Are things perfect? No, but when have they been?
I would say things are Good. And that is what I have been hearing and seeing. And I have been in the resort area many times a week since July, so that is direct responses from CM's and employees, managers, owners and guests. Plus what my wife and I have seen for ourselves.
And as a person involved in current political campaigns in the area, have not heard things advertising how awful it is to work in the area, something you would expect from certain campaigns or union groups.
And the same basic thing at Knott's. I was having dinner with my wife at the Chicken Dinner restaurant, and our server was a wonderful woman, older than us, who has worked there for many decades. She did say she wanted more shifts, but was very happy to be at work. She missed the interactions with her fellow associates, and even the guests. Yes, she had a few complaints about management, but it seemed directed to the Cedar Fair level, and not the Knott's managers.
She did complain about the outdoor seating, as it was a longer walk to and from the kitchen!
Things happen, and people adapt. We will continue to do so as we continue forward, living our lives.
Happy Labor Day!
