On layoffs, very bad attendance, and Iger's legacy being one of disgrace

[NelsonRD]

As I read over this thread, and kept thinking to myself about the uncertainty of the recovery of the parks. One year stands out for us. My family has been going to Disney since early 2000's. We experienced the changes from 9/11 and 2009, but the worst year in our memory was 2006. We noticed the parks in poor condition. Garbage piled in monorail stations (especially the Epcot station, in the track), and I recall being told at Disney Quest that they had hired high school kids that year. Everything was poor the 2 times we visited that year. Does 2006 have any significance to correlate with our experiences? Or was it just anomaly?

 

[Animaniac93-98]

If WDW is Chili’s, what is Sea World?

Frozen fish sticks from the grocery store?

 

[Animaniac93-98]

As beautiful as the resort is and how well run it is, the Japanese culture is a huge factor into the success of TDR. They could never duplicate that.

The same is true for USJ as well.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ֊ᗩζᗩᗰ]

If WDW is Chili’s, what is Sea World?

Long John Silvers.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

I haven't been to Sea World since the 90s, is the general park upkeep trash there? I know they don't have elaborate Disney quality attractions, but that isn't necessarily correlated with having poor upkeep and cleanliness. Busch Gardens (Tampa and Williamsburg) was always generally very well maintained for example when I visited.

 

[mkt]

Do theme park cm furloughs work like other furloughs where they bring you back in seniority order?

or is disney doing a flat out layoff---no coming back

I found a few of WDW's union contracts online. For full-time STCU CM's:

https://www.dol.gov/olms/regs/compliance/cba/2019/private/WaltDisneyParksResortsFT_K9833_092119.pdf

ARTICLE 15 - LAYOFFS, RECALLS, AND FURLOUGH

SECTION 4. RECALLS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SENIORITY IN JOB CLASSIFICATION Employees who have been laid off as a result of the curtailment of operations shall be recalled in accordance with their seniority in their permanent job classification, provided the employees possess the necessary skills, qualifications, and abilities to perform the available work as determined by the Company.

SECTION 5. RECALL PROCEDURE Laid off employees shall be notified of recall by telephone five (5) workdays prior to the required start date. If the employee is not contacted by telephone, the Company will send a certified letter to the employee's address of record notifying him/her of recall and the required start date, which shall not be less than ten (10) workdays from the date the letter is mailed. A copy of any such letter shall be mailed to the Union.


For NABTU and CTC CM's:

https://nabtu.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Disney-Craft-Maintenance-Agreement.pdf

ARTICLE 18 - LAYOFF

SECTION 2.
(a) Any employee with one (1) year or more of seniority and who is laid off shall retain re-employment rights for twelve (12) months.
(b) Any employee who has less than one (1) year of seniority and who is laid off shall retain re-employment rights for the length of time employed.
(c) Employees who are recalled will maintain their seniority date and continuous service date for purposes of Company benefits.

SECTION 3. A laid-off employee shall be notified of his/her recall by telephone at least seven (7) days prior to the date he/she is required to report. If employee cannot be reached by telephone, he/she shall be notified by certified mail to the address on record with the Company, mailed at least fourteen (14) days prior to the date on which he/she is required to report. A copy of any such written notice shall be mailed to the appropriate Union. The employee shall notify the Company within forty-eight (48) hours of recall notification as to his/her intent to return to work. Failure to do so shall result in loss of seniority.

 

[Piebald]

As I read over this thread, and kept thinking to myself about the uncertainty of the recovery of the parks. One year stands out for us. My family has been going to Disney since early 2000's. We experienced the changes from 9/11 and 2009, but the worst year in our memory was 2006. We noticed the parks in poor condition. Garbage piled in monorail stations (especially the Epcot station, in the track), and I recall being told at Disney Quest that they had hired high school kids that year. Everything was poor the 2 times we visited that year. Does 2006 have any significance to correlate with our experiences? Or was it just anomaly?

LOL, that was when I worked as a CM. I dont remember it being particularly bad. But back then they hired anyone with a pulse. Nowadays (B.C. before covid) it seems like I'd see people on social media asking how they could get a job as a CM as if they were inquiring about employment at Google or Facebook. I'm not sure how it is now but back then they made sure you had a pulse and no tattoos or beard and you were in.

 

[Piebald]

I haven't been to Sea World since the 90s, is the general park upkeep trash there? I know they don't have elaborate Disney quality attractions, but that isn't necessarily correlated with having poor upkeep and cleanliness. Busch Gardens (Tampa and Williamsburg) was always generally very well maintained for example when I visited.

I havent been in about 8 years but I remember both BG and SeaWorld being fine. The only thing was consistency. For example, the rollercoasters were awesome but then something like that Atlantis ride was pretty cheap looking and cheesy. But overall they werent bad.

My complaint was the food was terrible. Disneys food for all its criticisms is diverse and can range from not bad to pretty damn good. I cant think of anything terrible except for Pizzarizzo. BG and SeaWorld, however, were pretty gross. Even Universal lags way behind Disney in the food department.

 

[RaiseTheShields]

Do theme park cm furloughs work like other furloughs where they bring you back in seniority order?

or is disney doing a flat out layoff---no coming back

Union CMs are being called back from furlough depending on what was agreed upon in their MOU’s. I think it’s mostly overall seniority but some may have agreed to seniority by area. If it becomes a layoff, then Union CMs have recall rights depending on their contract.
Non-union CMs are SOL. Seems like a popularity contest.

 

[The Pho]

I haven't been to Sea World since the 90s, is the general park upkeep trash there? I know they don't have elaborate Disney quality attractions, but that isn't necessarily correlated with having poor upkeep and cleanliness. Busch Gardens (Tampa and Williamsburg) was always generally very well maintained for example when I visited.

I’d place SeaWorld among the best in the country for general park upkeep. They are easily up there with Dollywood and Holiday World in that respect.

 

[larryz]

It goes without saying that Covid is a major contributor of economic problems - it goes without saying.

 

[RaiseTheShields]

I haven't been to Sea World since the 90s, is the general park upkeep trash there? I know they don't have elaborate Disney quality attractions, but that isn't necessarily correlated with having poor upkeep and cleanliness. Busch Gardens (Tampa and Williamsburg) was always generally very well maintained for example when I visited.

SeaWorld was pristine in the anheuser-busch days. That was more than a decade ago. Right after the parks were sold, upkeep kinda went to the crapper. Not sure how it is nowadays.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I haven't been to Sea World since the 90s, is the general park upkeep trash there? I know they don't have elaborate Disney quality attractions, but that isn't necessarily correlated with having poor upkeep and cleanliness. Busch Gardens (Tampa and Williamsburg) was always generally very well maintained for example when I visited.

I went in 2018 and the park seemed fine as far as being clean and respectable looking, but crowds were very low on the day I went. Raft ride was brand new so that area looked great.

Atlantis has had several broken/defunct effects for years, unfortunately.

 

[mkt]

I recall being told at Disney Quest that they had hired high school kids that year.

Disney's always hired high school kids. I started (ironically) at Disneyquest in 1999 as a high school junior. They literally recruited me at my high school, hired me on the spot, and had me scheduled for traditions the following Saturday.

Everything was poor the 2 times we visited that year. Does 2006 have any significance to correlate with our experiences? Or was it just anomaly?

Those were dark times at the parks.

 

[MickeyMind]

I thought that was going to be the case too. We went to Poly, Beach Club, Wilderness Lodge, Riviera, Boardwalk (via Beach Club). When we went to Riviera I even asked the guard about it and his response was so enthusiastic "No we want you to come here, you can even pool hop!" I was blown away, I really think they just want guests. And no we didn't pool hop.

I tried the Riviera today, guy at the gate said I can only come in if I was staying at a Disney hotel.. see that right there is what I don't understand, I'm a local, why can't I just pop in to go eat something? Take my temperature before walking in, heck search me if you need to, but if you have the parking space available, why not let me in and spend money there?

 

[Chef Mickey]

Not to be disagreeable to the pile on here, but...prior to the virus, Parks were the best part of Disney’s business, posting growth nearly every quarter since the recession of 2008-2009. The data is there and irrefutable.

Call me a Pollyanna, but you’re all going to be mistaken if you think this persists much after a vaccine comes, which will happen, possibly by end of 2020.

People will QUICKLY forget and pent up demand to get the *** out of their houses will rule 2021 and beyond. Disney Parks will be packed again, mark it up. Disney will also get every cent back over time. This is temporary, even if it lasts 18 months.

Disney will have an awful quarter, but it’s only been about 4 months of hell with signs of recovery already. Parks are open, sports are coming back, and things will pick up again.

 

[monothingie]

Not to be disagreeable to the pile on here, but...prior to the virus, Parks were the best part of Disney’s business, posting growth nearly every quarter since the recession of 2008-2009. The data is there and irrefutable.

Call me a Pollyanna, but you’re all going to be mistaken if you think this persists much after a vaccine comes, which will happen, possibly by end of 2020.

People will QUICKLY forget and pent up demand to get the *** out of their houses will rule 2021 and beyond. Disney Parks will be packed again, mark it up. Disney will also get every cent back over time. This is temporary, even if it lasts 18 months.

Disney will have an awful quarter, but it’s only been about 4 months of hell with signs of recovery already. Parks are open, sports are coming back, and things will pick up again.

It comes even sooner than that. Once interstate travel restrictions are rolled back and you can once again come and go with out self quarantining. That was the unexpected fly in the ointment to many reopening plans.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

Do theme park cm furloughs work like other furloughs where they bring you back in seniority order?

or is disney doing a flat out layoff---no coming back

The furlough can last till next March for layoffs start up ( according to the Union agreement )
Non Union roles can start up now.

 

[Archie123]

Not to be disagreeable to the pile on here, but...prior to the virus, Parks were the best part of Disney’s business, posting growth nearly every quarter since the recession of 2008-2009. The data is there and irrefutable.

Call me a Pollyanna, but you’re all going to be mistaken if you think this persists much after a vaccine comes, which will happen, possibly by end of 2020.

People will QUICKLY forget and pent up demand to get the *** out of their houses will rule 2021 and beyond. Disney Parks will be packed again, mark it up. Disney will also get every cent back over time. This is temporary, even if it lasts 18 months.

Disney will have an awful quarter, but it’s only been about 4 months of hell with signs of recovery already. Parks are open, sports are coming back, and things will pick up again.

Ok Pollyanna. Rose colored glasses look good on all of us but parks are empty and may have to reassess the strategy of keeping open as they currently are, sports are barely happening and those that are are having huge issues...looking at you Miami Marlins and things will pick up again but not until 2021 at the earliest.

 

[rk03221]

Does anyone know of any FT union cm getting laid off? I used to work there and know many cms but haven’t heard anything on social media about how they are doing