Cast Co-op Opens To Help Struggling Theme Park Workers In Florida
Apr.28.2021
As Florida’s theme parks closed, reopened, and eventually began operating at reduced capacities to slow the spread of COVID-19, they laid off a number of cast members.
Fortunately, cast members are a resilient bunch who watch out for each other’s wellbeing. The Cast Member Pantry, for example, has offered food and other essential items to those who have had a difficult time making ends meet, a DisneyDining.com story explains. Another initiative was Cast Member Toy Box, which helped to make sure the children of laid-off cast members had Christmas presents.
Run 26.2 miles to get a cookie? Why not? One Orlando runner figured he needed a new challenge in the pandemic and wanted to raise awareness for a good cause.
After layoffs, Disneyland cast members band together to help each other
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Volunteers deliver food donations at Disneyland on December 21, 2020.Courtesy of Disney
Disney has taken some major financial hits in 2020: Disneyland’s extended closure and the temporary closures of its parks around the world has caused revenues in their Parks, Experiences, and Products division to decline 85% in April, May, and June. There was a $5 billion loss in the third quarter alone.
But if it’s been a bad year for Disney, it’s been a genuinely awful year for Disney’s Cast Members (its term for employees), who have been laid off by the tens of thousands.