OPINION: Walt Disney World needs to start treating Cast Members as good as they say they are!

Walt Disney World is the most magical place on earth, and since the resort opened in 1971, its the Disney Cast Members who have created the magic that envelopes us all from the moment we enter the resort, Walt Disney World is not just about the rides, the castle or the hotels, its the Cast Members, they are as much an attraction as Peter Pan's Flight.

Personally, many of our most magical memories are from moments spent with Cast Members, not on any ride or attraction, Cast Members are Walt Disney World!

So why are being treated so poorly treated by Disney in their fight for a living wage?

Walt Disney World Cast Members current contracts ended last October, and negotiations have been ongoing, with Disney returning to the negotiating table with unions yesterday, Wednesday, February 15, 2023 in the latest round of contract negotiations.

Negotiations resumed following an overwhelming 96% rejection of Walt Disney World’s offer to gradually raise wages to $20 over the next few years by the Service Trades Council Union, who represent more than 45,000 Walt Disney World Cast Members, yet despite this, unbelievably Disney came back to the table with a WORSE offer than the one that Cast Members had rejected!

Plus, this is happening at time when earlier this week, Universal Orlando announced it's raising its Team Members starting pay to $17 per hour, plus additional raises coming to current Team Members.

In contrast, Disney’s current base rate of pay for Cast Members is $15 per hour.

After yesterday's negotiations ended, the Service Trades Council Union issued the following statement on its social media channels.

"Today the 6 unions of the Service Trades Council met with Disney for the first time since 13,650 Cast Members voted to reject Disney’s contract proposal on February 2 and 3.

Despite the overwhelming message sent by Cast Members, Disney refused to add even one cent to its wage proposal. Moreover, Disney’s proposal today reduced retroactive pay for thousands of workers, making today’s proposal even worse than the offer already rejected.

The 6 unions will be announcing public actions soon to bring light to the plight of Cast Members struggling to survive the devastating increase in the cost of living."

So yet again Disney appear to be falling behind Universal, for years Disney had the better of Universal, they had better parks, better hotels, they treated their Cast Members better than many local companies did their employees, but it seems Disney is determined to allow Universal to get one up on them here in Orlando on all fronts.

Universal Orlando is building new attractions, new lands, and even a new theme park, while Disney are cutting the budgets for new attractions, they have decimated the talent in Imagineering, job losses are coming to the parks too, plus don't forget the general maintenance, and cleanliness of Walt Disney World recently.

And, yes it hurts us to say all this because our family are 100% Disney fans, annual pass holders, heck we been moved to Florida for Disney, but we have a bad feeling about the way things are going down here in the Orlando.

Bringing Bob Iger back was a glimmer of hope, and yes cutting parking fees at resorts, easing the park pass reservations etc were helpful moves, oh and bringing back character meet and greets that we had before is great, much appreciated, but it's only moving the deckchairs around on deck while the ship really does appear to be sinking!

We want new attractions, clean well maintained parks, and all the things that made Walt Disney World the greatest theme park destination in the world, and yes we want Cast Members to be as happy as us when we're in the most magical place on earth, imagine smiling all day, creating magical moments for guests, all the while worrying how you are going to pay rent, or even feed yourself properly?

Cast Members are amazing, it's what sets Disney Parks apart form the competition, but Cast Members can't live on praise or thank you's, and if Disney does not start paying more money to it's Cast Members. they will leave, go to better paid jobs, yes and in may cases that means Universal!

The sad thing is that in the majority of cases Cast Members do not want to leave, they love their jobs, they love Disney, they are in love with creating the Magic that makes Disney World what it is.

Disney are always praising its Cast Members, saying they are the best in the world, how amazing they are, and that they are the magic, and yes its all true, so Disney start treating your CM's like you mean what you say!

PLEASE!

The GGO Family