I think what some people fail to realize is that it's not the fact the Disney fired people with over 20 years of employment with them, it's that it was done unceremoniously - no thanks for working for the company for over 20 years and no offer of another position and the reasons are deeper than just revamping an entertainment show.
Previously the entertainers that had been in groups that were ended for one reason or another had been offered new roles. For example - Frankie and the West End Boys may have gotten the boot but at that time Disney understood that their employees were worthy of treating right. They offered them either severance packages or other positions within the company. Some took the severance and some took the positions but they had a choice.
This time they found out the same time it was released online. They did not get anything to thank them for their service, they did not get the option of taking a different role within the company. Shame on them I guess for thinking that Disney would treat them they way Disney had treated them in the past.
If anyone thinks this wasn't due to budget cuts, you really need to get your head out of your a$$. They started cutting budgets in entertainment slowly and yes, maybe Off Kilter should have seen it coming when the fiddle player was brought in as a replacement for half of the bagpipers shows because he could be paid less. Or when the bump in salary for the fiddle player caused them to fire the keyboard player (short notice and again unceremoniously).
Budget cuts are the reason these long time Disney employees were not offered other roles. They spent a lot of money elsewhere (* cough* MDE *cough*) and decided to make cuts.
The issue for some of us is personal, yes we are personally attached and don't want to see our friends unemployed knowing that they have families to care for at home. We also would have liked to know that Disney at least said SOMETHING about being a loyal employee since before they could legally buy a beer!
That's not what people should be concerned about though. As Disney fans you should be concerned that Disney used to treat entertaining their guests as part of the "show". They now consider it a nuisance. Disney does not want to entertain you, they want to shuffle you from attraction to gift shop to restaurant. The attractions get you in the gates, the gift shops and restaurants make them money and the entertainment sucks your time that you could be spent shopping.
Disney is cutting back on spending money on things that make guests happy and create a memorable experience because of cost. Is it the right move business wise? Who knows - maybe they will find themselves rolling in dough because people don't realize that they can fire 5 higher paid performers with a huge following and replace them with two at a much lower wage and pretend this is an "enhancement".
The fact is - that is not how Disney used to do things. Disney used to celebrate long term Cast Members, they are now considered expensive and easily replaced (by Disney standards - not by mine). If you have over 10 years service and have been bumped to a new salary you are a ticking time bomb with Disney.
