WDW during a Recession / Economic Downturn

[Nubs70]

On the subject of cars and the economy... are any of you in your states seeing your car insurance premiums spike lately for no reason? I live in Tennessee, mine has jumped tremendously in the past year.
No traffic tickets, no claims, no anything.

As already mentioned, much of the issue is the cost to repair. With all the electronics added, sensors, lane departure, etc, minor fender benders can cost thousands to repair.

A minor fender bender knocks all the front end sensors out of whack that need to be replaced and recalibrated. I am aware of a minor incident that resulted in an $8,000 claim,whereas without the sensor package, it would have been $300 buff job at a bodyshop.

 

[Baloo124]

Also, how much vehicle damage claims due to Helene happened in parts of Tennessee?

That could be a big factor too.

 

[Calmdownnow]

Is it true that because of labor shortages, the Florida Legislature is introducing a bill that will make it legal for 14 year olds (8th graders) to work night shifts, 11pm to 6.30 am, including during the school week? It's clearly not aimed at the construction or agriculture sectors, but at factories and hospitality businesses. I saw a quote somewhere from the Governor at a tourism event that said something along the lines of we don't need to import foreign workers when teenagers can work at these resorts. Surely Disney/Universal wouldn't buy into this sort of child labor exploitation, but would other hotels and businesses? Are labor shortages that bad?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Is it true that because of labor shortages, the Florida Legislature is introducing a bill that will make it legal for 14 year olds (8th graders) to work night shifts, 11pm to 6.30 am, including during the school week? It's clearly not aimed at the construction or agriculture sectors, but at factories and hospitality businesses. I saw a quote somewhere from the Governor at a tourism event that said something along the lines of we don't need to import foreign workers when teenagers can work at these resorts. Surely Disney/Universal wouldn't buy into this sort of child labor exploitation, but would other hotels and businesses? Are labor shortages that bad?

That’s embarrassing

As are most things these days

 

[lazyboy97o]

Is it true that because of labor shortages, the Florida Legislature is introducing a bill that will make it legal for 14 year olds (8th graders) to work night shifts, 11pm to 6.30 am, including during the school week? It's clearly not aimed at the construction or agriculture sectors, but at factories and hospitality businesses. I saw a quote somewhere from the Governor at a tourism event that said something along the lines of we don't need to import foreign workers when teenagers can work at these resorts. Surely Disney/Universal wouldn't buy into this sort of child labor exploitation, but would other hotels and businesses? Are labor shortages that bad?

Senate Bill 918 (2025) - The Florida Senate

www.flsenate.gov

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Senate Bill 918 (2025) - The Florida Senate

www.flsenate.gov

16 and 17 year olds, that’s a lot less controversial, accepting more work visas still seems like an easier option though.

It’s odd this has become an either/or option, nothing prevents us from accepting as many legal immigrants as we need while simultaneously also knowing who’s in the country and making sure the bad seeds are weeded out.

 

[nickys]

16 and 17 year olds, that’s a lot less controversial, accepting more work visas still seems like an easier option though.

It’s odd this has become an either/or option, nothing prevents us from accepting as many legal immigrants as we need while simultaneously also knowing who’s in the country and making sure the bad seeds are weeded out.

That’s just the summary. Read the actual web page.

I think it’s saying 14 year olds and over could work 4 hrs at any time, with at least 10 minutes break to eat. 16 & 17 year olds need not be given a meal break on a 4 hr shift.

 

[lazyboy97o]

That’s just the summary. Read the actual web page.

I think it’s saying 14 year olds and over could work 4 hrs at any time, with at least 10 minutes break to eat. 16 & 17 year olds need not be given a meal break on a 4 hr shift.

It’s also being edited a good bit so where it ends up is still to be determined.

 

[Calmdownnow]

That’s just the summary. Read the actual web page.

I think it’s saying 14 year olds and over could work 4 hrs at any time, with at least 10 minutes break to eat. 16 & 17 year olds need not be given a meal break on a 4 hr shift.

There also seems to be a perverse incentive to hire children in Florida, with laws allowing kids to be paid just $4.25 an hour (compared to the minimum wage of $13) for the first 3 months of employment and nothing to stop businesses firing the kids after 90 days and then taking on another bunch of their classmates or sisters/brothers/cousins.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

There also seems to be a perverse incentive to hire children in Florida, with laws allowing kids to be paid just $4.25 an hour (compared to the minimum wage of $13) for the first 3 months of employment and nothing to stop businesses firing the kids after 90 days and then taking on another bunch of their classmates or sisters/brothers/cousins.

Completely disgusting…I’ll own this opinion all the way to the wall and back

 

[Nubs70]

There also seems to be a perverse incentive to hire children in Florida, with laws allowing kids to be paid just $4.25 an hour (compared to the minimum wage of $13) for the first 3 months of employment and nothing to stop businesses firing the kids after 90 days and then taking on another bunch of their classmates or sisters/brothers/cousins.

WDW could manufacture their own t-shirts in FL at those rates. All the way from loom to final product. Kids can do intricate work with those tiny fingers.

Now all they need is another law to complete the vertical integration of raw materials.

 

[jloucks]

There also seems to be a perverse incentive to hire children in Florida, with laws allowing kids to be paid just $4.25 an hour (compared to the minimum wage of $13) for the first 3 months of employment and nothing to stop businesses firing the kids after 90 days and then taking on another bunch of their classmates or sisters/brothers/cousins.

That's not perversion; that's capitalism.

...I can see how sometimes its confusing.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

That's not perversion; that's capitalism.

...I can see how sometimes its confusing.

If capitalism says use child labor for corporate profit…then capitalism is wrong

This is a debate not worth having

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

…the OP may get their answer soon

 

[Lilofan]

That’s just the summary. Read the actual web page.

I think it’s saying 14 year olds and over could work 4 hrs at any time, with at least 10 minutes break to eat. 16 & 17 year olds need not be given a meal break on a 4 hr shift.

Some may not be aware to not figure out that a number of workers that will be leaving not by choice and there will be immediate manual labor job openings. ( ie lessen the regs of 14-16 year olds and you’ve got the ones to backfill the positions ) . The top two income producing industries in FL are also low paying - agriculture and tourism.

 

[Baloo124]

…the OP may get their answer soon

Yep... and it'll be that new Epic place down the road that takes this the hardest.
Not the grand opening they were hoping for if/when things start to really hit the ceiling fan.

 

[Lilofan]

That's not perversion; that's capitalism.

...I can see how sometimes its confusing.

Free to hire young. Whether one supports this or not we buy our products from various industries that employ these individuals. It is somewhat hypocritical to criticize this but continue to support these industries with our hard earned monies.

 

[Calmdownnow]

Free to hire young. Whether one supports this or not we buy our products from various industries that employ these individuals. It is somewhat hypocritical to criticize this but continue to support these industries with our hard earned monies.

It's a bit more in your face when it's your neighbors' kids being exploited and legislators are promoting it. It's hardly the behavior of "a shining city on the hill" -- more akin to a favela in Brazil. For 150 years, America has been trying to get kids into education and keep them in school to improve their lives. Putting them on the night shift for pennies turns the clock back to the 19th century. But hey, it's OK because "capitalism".

 

[Lilofan]

It's a bit more in your face when it's your neighbors' kids being exploited and legislators are promoting it. It's hardly the behavior of "a shining city on the hill" -- more akin to a favela in Brazil. For 150 years, America has been trying to get kids into education and keep them in school to improve their lives. Putting them on the night shift for pennies turns the clock back to the 19th century. But hey, it's OK because "capitalism".

It's a bit more in your face when it's your neighbors' kids being exploited and legislators are promoting it. It's hardly the behavior of "a shining city on the hill" -- more akin to a favela in Brazil. For 150 years, America has been trying to get kids into education and keep them in school to improve their lives. Putting them on the night shift for pennies turns the clock back to the 19th century. But hey, it's OK because "capitalism".

I doubt America is trying . How’s that Dept of Education going ? Still in existence ?

 

[Nerdman3000]

Honestly, forget recession, I think we need to start asking what WDW will be like during a Depression.