It’s August! Halloween season is just weeks away now, but I’m soaking up the last bits of summer for as long as I can (even if all the stores have moved on to back to school & all things Halloween!). July brought some new characters, openings and closures, and some major progress on the cast member wage front. Let’s take a look back at this month at the Disneyland Resort.
CAST MEMBER WAGE PROTESTS
In the midst of union contract negotiations, Disneyland employees began protesting and authorized a cast member strike earlier this month. The union represents 14,000 employees in all kinds of roles, from custodial to ride operators to candy makers.
Source: CBS News
Thankfully, a few days ago the union ratified a contract with the resort that will give cast members a much deserved pay increase – over 30% for many who are the “front lines” of guest experiences.
Here were the official comments from both parties. First, the cast member union:
By ratifying these contracts, Disney cast members have secured historic raises and policies and protections that reflect their role as magic makers in the Disney parks,” the Disney Workers Rising Bargaining Committee said in a statement. “For months hard-working cast members have stood together at the bargaining table and in the parks to ensure Disney recognized what they bring to the theme park experience, and these contracts are a concrete and direct result of this tireless work.
And then, the response from the Disneyland Resort:
We are pleased that our cast members approved the new agreements, which, along with all we offer as part of our employment experience, demonstrate how much we value and respect them and our profound commitment to their overall well-being.
Let’s hope cast members continue to receive more compensation (and appreciation!) for their hard work at the resort. If you ever have a positive cast member experience during your trip, be sure to either stop by City Hall or shout them out on social media so they get some recognition from their team lead!
DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE VISIT AVENGERS CAMPUS
Starting this month (and for a vague “limited time”) there are some new characters roaming Avengers Campus: Deadpool and Wolverine.
Source: Disney Parks Blog
In addition to the usual meet and greets, they’re also leading periodic story time sessions with guests. Here’s a great video from Fresh Baked Disney of the very first show, in case you can’t catch it in person:
HAUNTED MANSION REOPENS
After a super long refurbishment project (the exterior queue is still not complete), the Haunted Mansion is finally back open in its holiday form.
Source: Laughing Place
While work continues on the gardens, the mansion will operate with a virtual queue. You can join the queue through the Disneyland App.
OTHER UPDATES
To celebrate the Disneyland Resort’s 69th birthday, Anaheim residents can cash in on a special ticket deal. From Aug 5 – Sep 26, residents can purchase a 1-day, 1-park ticket for $69 (with a reservation).
And finally, Critter Country is now completely closed off as construction wraps up on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. You can see the amount of construction in the land if you take a ride on the Disneyland Railroad. We still don’t have an opening date yet…but it’s definitely getting closer!
Source: MiceChat
I’m really happy for the cast members to finally have their pay rise. Everything goes up in costs, from interest rates on mortgages to items we buy at the supermarket (and those water and energy bills!) Income streams have to keep up with cost of living rises – something I had to fight for with my fellow workers in local government a number of times (prior to retirement!)
I am too. They work so hard and Orange County is an extremely expensive place to live. So thankful for people like you who fight for workers to get paid what they deserve!