Tag: Cast Members

Disney World Offering $1,000 Signing Bonuses to New Hires

After laying off more than 30,000 employees in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Walt Disney Co. is now offering $1,000 bonuses to recruit new housekeepers and select kitchen staff at Disney World.

Housekeepers, making $16 an hour, and line cooks, earning $18, can receive the money if they stay on the job for at least 90 days, according to the company’s website.

About 33,000 of the more than 41,000 members of the Service Trades Council Union have returned to work at Disney World, according to Matt Hollis, president of that worker coalition. About 15,000 of the 32,000 workers at California’s Disneyland resort have returned, the company said.

Disney, which was forced to close its theme parks around the world due to the coronavirus, announced plans in September to lay off 28,000 employees, a number that later grew to 32,000 companywide. Most of them were at its domestic resorts.

Disney said it has rehired more than three-quarters of those affected by furloughs and work reductions. Disneyland, in Anaheim, California, has been bringing back 300 staffers a week, and the company wants to hire thousands more at its U.S. resorts this summer and fall.

June 27, 2021
New Disney World Cast Member Name Tags Coming for 50th Anniversary
Disney World’s 18-month long 50th anniversary celebration kicks off October 1st and cast members are getting new name tags to celebrate.

“Cast members have been the heart of the Walt Disney World Resort for nearly 50 years. To honor their contribution to the magic, cast members will receive a new nametag this fall, with a touch of ‘EARidescence,’ in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort,” Disney said in a post.

Take a closer look at the reveal below:

A team of graphic artists and costume designers spent more than a year developing the new nametag, testing a number of colors and printing techniques before completing the final design. The new nametags feature several special details:
- An exclusive color wash, inspired by the sparkling new 50^th anniversary looks for Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, was developed and applied with an innovative printing technique and glaze to give each nametag a pearlescent shimmer.
- Holographic gold foil with sparkling color-shift elements is individually applied to each nametag, bringing additional shine to the Walt Disney World Resort 50^th anniversary logo.
- Royal blue lettering matching the turrets of Cinderella Castle brings a regal pop of color to the nametag, ensuring each cast member name and hometown is a focal point against the glistening background.
All of these elements will combine to produce a distinct shine across each nametag, reflecting the EARidescent décor that will be on display across Walt Disney World Resort for the duration of the celebration.

The new EARidescent nametags will debut later this year, in time for the Oct 1 start of “The World’s Most Magical Celebration.”
May 18, 2021
Disney Cast Member Starts Food Pantry for Laid off Coworkers

Disney World has laid off thousands this week and one cast member has taken it upon herself to help fellow cast members in need by creating a pantry.

Disney cast member Emily Lartigue created The Cast Member Pantry, which has been set up in a storage unit and is exclusively for Disney workers. It’s stocked with items for ranging from groceries and toiletries to pet food.

“Cast Member Pantry makes it quick and easy to receive free food essentials once a month per Cast Member,” Lartigue says in a post on Facebook as you can see below:

Are you or a fellow cast member you know in need of groceries during this difficult time? Cast Member Pantry makes it…
Posted by Cast Member Pantry on Saturday, July 25, 2020

“To be able to give back to them and to help out our fellow cast is really special,” said Lartigue, who has been collecting food since March.

Disney workers who want to visit the pantry to pick up food will need to schedule an appointment and can do so by sending an email to castmemberpantry@gmail.com. The pantry is doing appointment times in 15-minute increments to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Even though the pantry is just for Disney workers, others can still help. People have shown their support by donating money and non-perishable food.

October 3, 2020
Disneyland Resort Cast Members Annual Canoe Races Tradition Returns

After a two-year hiatus to accommodate work on the Rivers of America, the annual Cast Member Canoe Races have returned! Nearly 70 teams from around the Walt Disney Company rising early for the pre-park opening dash around the river participated in the event.

The canoe races began in 1963 when a challenge was set forth between the Frontierland cast and Adventureland cast, igniting a tradition that has spread to the Walt Disney World Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort, Disneyland Resort Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.

Being a cast member at the Disneyland Resort is a special experience with a long and rich history of traditions and exclusive opportunities that are unlike anything else. However, ask any cast member who’s worked here for several decades what the must-do cast-exclusive event is, and nearly all will tell you without hesitation, it’s the Canoe Races.

“This brings the cast together in a way no other event can,” said Cast Activities Program Manager Rick Henson, who began his Disney career as a merchandise host at the Disneyland Hotel 37 years ago, and has helped oversee the Canoe Races for the last 16 years. “I’ve had cast members tell me how they heard about the races before they started working here, and it was so special once they became a cast member to be able to form a team. I’m honored to be the person who gets to put on these races and keep the tradition alive.”

While Canoe Races represent the long legacy of cast traditions, newer cast-exclusive opportunities that promote wellness and healthy living have also become popular annual events, including Sunrise Yoga at Sleeping Beauty Castle and the Cast Member, Friends and Family 5K, which took place Saturday, July 14.

Tim Sullivan is the Fitness Program Manager in charge of coordinating the early morning run through the parks, and says these events serve as a kind of family reunion for cast members.

“We have so many cast members that have been working here for a number of years,” says Tim, who himself is a 22-year Disneyland Resort veteran, starting his career as a Jungle Cruise Skipper. “It’s so fun to see them run into each other and talk about where they are now in their professional Disney careers, introduce their families and reminisce about their time together working in the parks. This place means a lot to so many of us, and to be able to have these events in the park, before or after hours is really special.”

Cast members pride themselves on creating happiness – for the guests and for each other – and having opportunities to enjoy the Disneyland Resort in unique and exclusive ways is one longstanding tradition that will always be a special part of being a cast member.

July 18, 2018
Unions at Disneyland Are Putting ‘Living Wage Ordinance’ On Anaheim Ballot

Unions representing Disneyland have band together in an effort to gather enough signatures to put a ballot measure before Anaheim voters that would require Disneyland to pay the resort workers a “living wage.”

The coalition is made up of 11 labor unions and they have been pushing for higher wages at Disneyland Resort and nearby hotels. They says they plan to present a petition with about 20,000 signatures to the Anaheim city clerk’s office this morning.

The measure would end up on the November ballot if enough signatures are verified and would ask voters to require Disney and other large Anaheim employers that accept city subsidies to pay workers a minimum of $15 an hour starting Jan. 1, 2019. Salaries would then rise $1 an hour every Jan. 1 through 2022. Once the wages reach $18 an hour, annual raises would then be based on the cost of living.

The petition drive was launched by a coalition of employee unions shortly after a survey — that found that 73% of Disney employees who were questioned said they don’t earn enough to pay for such basic expenses as rent, food and gas — was released in February. It also found that 11% of resort employees have been homeless or have not had a place of their own in the last two years.

The survey was conducted by the Economic Roundtable, a nonprofit research organization in Los Angeles, and the Urban & Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental College.

To qualify for the November ballot, the unions needed to collect the signatures of 10%, or 13,150, of the voters in Anaheim. The coalition of unions says it deployed at least 50 volunteers each day since April 12 to collect the 20,000 signatures.

Disney officials have said that the average annual pay for hourly workers at the resort is $37,000, which calculates to about $17.80 an hour.

May 1, 2018
Disney World is Hiring 3,500 Workers And Offering Signing Bonuses Up To $3,000
Central Florida is the hub for tourism in Florida and with the opening of Toy Story Land coming this summer along numerous other additions to the parks which aren’t far behind, Disney World is in need of some more Cast Members. The company will be hosting job fairs for a variety of positions within the Walt Disney World Resort as they hope to hire around 3,500 workers.

The company is looking for “full-time, part-time and seasonal roles within housekeeping, transportation, lifeguard, food and beverage and many more.” a release stated. Full-time cast member hires will be offered a $3,000 hiring bonus for select positions along with benefits including medical, dental, vision and paid time off.

Multiple other positions qualify for bonuses as well and most of them have been increased from what the company offered last year. Culinary chefs can get a $3,000 bonus while both full-time or part-time housekeepers hired at Disney World’s resorts this year can get a hiring bonus of $1,250. Full-time or part-time lifeguards this year can get a $1000 hiring bonus and seasonal lifeguards get a $500 bonus. Bus drivers can get a $500 hiring bonus just like last year. The bonuses are given after training periods and 30 days on the job.

There’s was a culinary job fair at ESPN Wide World of Sports today, April 23, but Disney will continue holding its annual spring hiring events through May.

Candidates searching online can apply at Disney’s Big Spring Hiring Event by going to DisneyCareers. Here is a list of upcoming spring job fairs Disney World will be holding in preparation for the resort’s summer season:
- Housekeeping Hiring Days & Job Fair – Housekeeping Hiring Days are held every Monday-Friday throughout April and May from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; and on Wednesday, May 9, a housekeeping job fair will be held from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. – all at the Walt Disney World Resort Casting Center. Disney workers will be available to answer questions, help with the application process and conduct interviews on the spot.
- Lifeguard Job Fairs – On Saturday, April 21, at Mickey’s Retreat; and Wednesday, May 2, at Typhoon Lagoon, candidates age 16 years or older will interview and complete onsite swim tests for an opportunity to become part of the Disney team.
- Culinary Job Fair – On Monday, April 23, at ESPN Wide World of Sports, qualified candidates can learn about available culinary roles, meet with chefs and interview with recruiters.
- Bus Driver Online Job Fair – Held online through May 31, candidates interested in joining a team that’s always on the move can apply for available part-time and full-time roles.
April 23, 2018
Disneyland Resort Cast Members Prepare for Pixar Fest

The biggest Pixar celebration ever to come to Disney Parks is right around the corner! This week, cast members who work at Disney parks and hotels at the Disneyland Resort had the opportunity to jump into the Pixar spirit with a preview of what’s to come.

Dedicated teams of cast members and Imagineers have been busy preparing to bring beloved stories from Pixar Animation Studios to life for guests.

To get ready for Pixar Fest, cast members participated in special roadshows to learn more about the celebration, as well as preview some tasty treats (Pixar Fest Celebration Cake, anyone?).

There were even some fun Pixar “best buddy” socks to take home! Everyone got into the spirit, including our custodial cast, with an impromptu street art display of favorite Pixar characters.

Don’t miss Pixar Fest and the return of Pixar Play Parade, beginning April 13 at Disneyland park.

April 12, 2018
Walt Disney World Cast Members VoluntEAR with Toys for Tots

Walt Disney World doesn’t just provide entertainment to countless guests in the park and resorts, but they also give back to the community. Cast Members went to infinity and beyond to help some 26,000 children in the community this holiday season through the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program.

Saturday, they packed up a few distinctly Disney vehicles from their Minnie Van service and delivered THOUSANDS of toys to help pack the shelves of the Toys for Tots distribution warehouse. They brought donated games, dolls, plush animals and other surprises. During the past month, Cast Members have donated more than 25,000 toys—that’s more than three tons!—to this program.

And in the coming weeks, Disney VoluntEARS will help the Marines sort and distribute the toys to deserving families, a continuation of nearly seven decades of support to the program that dates back to Walt Disney himself.

December 10, 2017
VIDEO: Galaxy’s Edge Construction Milestone Celebrated at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Recently, thousands of Disney cast members excited to see Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge coming to life at Disney’s Hollywood Studios celebrated a major construction milestone with the signing of a support beam that’ll top out the new land.

Look closely and you’ll see that cast members and Imagineers put their mark on theme park history by drawing artistic pictures and writing messages on the beam that’ll eventually be part of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – a 14-acre remote outpost that will transport guests to a galaxy far, far away.

As regular readers know, beam signings are part of a longtime construction tradition at Disney Parks. We’ve shared updates on beam signings for expansions like Pandora – The World of Avatar, plus the Disneyland park site of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be opening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disneyland park in 2019. The new land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is just one element of the multi-year transformation of the park, which also includes Toy Story Land, set to open in the summer of 2018.

December 7, 2017