I 100%agree with her. We owned 5 DVC contracts and visited Disney several times a year, we have sold off all but 1 small contract due to all the chances the past 2 years. Common people can afford it any longer.
Of course she’s right!!! There’s no question and anyone who asks that is living in fantasyland or dead. Disney has been spiraling downward for a number of years and now they’ve begun plunging to the bottom. They’re reaching new lows basically every day. Just for the record, in case you’re wondering, I’m know as that Disney head gal bc I USED to eat, breathe, sleep, walk and talk Disney!! Sadly, those days are behind me now, gone forever. Why?! I’ts bc Disney no longer values its guests, they used to treasure their guests and their customer service was second to none. They used to treat each and every guest as though they were a king or a queen and they could seemingly not do enough for us. They went above and beyond and they knew that we were the reason they were there and they treasured that and appreciated it and it showed. However, my last trip down there emphasis on last, was in February and March of 2017. I experienced countless problems of a serious nature throughout my entire trip. It was a disaster and they weren’t just little tiny things like oh I think someone looked at me cross-eyed or I think someone didn’t say hello to me. Nothing like that- they were things like I was refused service and the woman was looking right at me and she refused. I went and reported it to the supervisor and came back to give her a chance because I felt like well you know we all might space for just a minute or something maybe there was a reason, but she fully admitted right to my face that she intentionally didn’t wait on me and she either couldn’t or wouldn’t tell me why. I have to use a power wheelchair and I was refused bus service while they loaded five to six buses in front of me and I kept being told they had to get people home there was a woman in an ecv behind me who was stuck in the same quicksand if you will we’re people too just because we need to use a device to get around it doesn’t mean we’re not people I bet everybody knows somebody that needs or would need an ecv when they go to Disney but we were treated as though we weren’t even people. I also was treated very wrongly when I went to Cape May Cafe buffet. I have food allergies and I talked to my server about it and she kind of reluctantly brought out the chef to talk to me he couldn’t even tell me what dishes my ingredient was in he was guessing I said don’t you have a book with all that yeah in the back someplace but he couldn’t be bothered. again, trying to give every benefit of the doubt, I spoke to the manager after my meal, and she essentially called me a liar and that wasn’t what happened. I explained that I eat there every time my vacation in Disney World and that I expected to not return and she showed absolutely no reaction whatsoever not like I’m sorry that you feel that way not oh would you please give us another chance not like is there something I can do to help make this right absolutely zero she did not care one iota. So I had to guess whether things were safe or not.
There’s a whole lot more but I’m going to stop it here but it’s extremely sad that I won’t be returning to Disney and that’s a big thing because in my adult life it’s the only, only place I choose to vacation or I should say used to chose, to vacation.
As a former castmember, I agree with everything Ms. Disney said. Most of my friends have to work two or even three jobs in addition to working for Disney just to make ends meet. Personally oh, I wish Ms. Disney would work her way into a position of power so she could enact the positive changes she wants to see within the company. Honestly, the company needs someone from the family who actually cares about Walt’s legacy and the cast members if the company has any hope of returning to its former glory.
That’s true but I don’t think there’s any reason for you to jump on these other people for complaining about the decline in the Disney product. That’s a reflection of the same thing, extremely poor leadership by viciously self-serving men.
People if you visit the parks frequently you will witness what’s transpiring. They are simply cutting attractions that require large #’s of cast members and replacing them with shows that require significantly less cast members. Hollywood studios Fantasmic is still closed! The experience is falling off a cliff. The park passes are increasing, free fast passes have been replaced by cost add on genie passes. It’s a money grab and Cheap Pak is behind it. Basically drive up revenue to increase stock prices so board members can make millions while families can’t afford the parks anymore!!
Even though this article is about raising awareness for the cast members, Nancy EM’s story shows the lack of empathy that is invading the Disney name over the past few years under this money grubbing CEO, Bob Chapek. If more and more people realize this is how they are going to be treated in the once most hospitable place on Earth, then they may just save their money and put a hurt in the shareholders most valuable idea, their bank account.
Abigail Disney is supposed to be the granddaughter of Roy Disney and the grand-neice of Walt Disney. Or were you referring to someone else not being related?
She is Roy O Disney’s daughter. Roy’s father, and Walt created the Walt Disney Company together. She is also a shareholder. Her surname is on the sign, so she has a legitimate interest in ensuring Walt’s vision and both Roys’ efforts to ensure the company’s longevity. Something to consider as Walt Disney Co nears its 100th year in 2023. Iger got a $68MM *bonus* while refusing to pay cast members a min of $15/hr. Most reasonable people find that outrageous. No job in the world deserves a bonus of $68MM for one year. Meanwhile, Chapek’s pay doubled this year to $32MM. The justification offered: no substantial raise during last year’s pandemic while the parks were closed. Chapek was still being paid…were cast members also offered/given a commensurate bump once the parks reopened? (No.) The company took the “oppty” of the pandemic to revamp programs to benefit shareholders (which all C-suite staff are), at the literal expense of consumers and cast members, while simultaneously reducing products, services, quality. Meanwhile, they had huge growth because of Disney+ using mostly existing content that they owned. If you enjoy being nickled and dimed to death, and manipulated into thinking it’s a good thing to increase the wealth gap, keep voting yes with what’s left in your wallet. It’s a hard pass for this fan. Abigail Disney and the tens of thousands of people petitioning for the removal of Bob Chapek understand the gravity of this shift. Walt Disney wouldn’t want to endorse this behavior with his name. Profits are great, but greed isn’t.
I was at WDW in October and people on scooters and in wheelchairs got priority on buses. They did have to have some wait since there were no more room for them after four other scooters were put on the bus. As far as food allergies goes, my niece is a Vegan and the chef on more than one occasion came out and talk to her in different restaurants and all were very accommodating. Cast members are human and yes some times they get burned out but for the most part they do a very good job and work their tails off.
Former Disneyland cast member in merchandise here, 1977-1986. Working conditions, pay, and benefits gave been on a downward escalator since the strike in 1986. I see it when i go to the park. Less cast members means longer lines/wait times, in-park restaurants closed early, and fewer cast members in the shops. In the 90s, I once had to wait 45 minutes in the Market Place on Main Street for a cup of hot chocolate. I now choose to visit Knott’s Berry Farm instead. Disneyland is a past memory. What it has been replace with is just a dark shadow of the past.
Then Why doesn’t she step in and do something about it?Disney was once shining star where everybody was encouraged to reach. Has now transformed into a dismal light Fading Into the Everlasting Darkness. She talked a big game but is she going to do something about it? Or she just going to go let the corporate morons in charge continue to tear the company that her family built apart
She doesn’t have any legal authority over the company, so raising public awareness, as she is doing, is the biggest “something” she can do about it. And go her! She even made a documentary that’s premiering at Sundance, which is a huge deal.
All she can do is talk about it in public like she’s doing now. She has zero power. She is just the daughter of the guy who had the power and he died long ago.
The Cast Members are the ones that keep Disney running. It’s obvious the Executives don’t see it that way. They just want to deepen their pockets at the expense of the CM’s.
Maybe they need to be visited by Walt’s ghost and the spirits of Good Will.
Abigail Disney is as close as we are going to get to a Roy E. Disney fighting the good fight (unfortunately? she is not a member of the Walt Disney Co. Board, but as a member of the Disney Family who has shares, she is doing what she can to bring to the attention just how toxic the Walt Disney Company has become!)
Please try to understand that there truly isn’t a Member of the Disney Family with enough power (this includes the Children of Ron Miller and Diane Disney Miller) because that ended when Roy E. Disney passed away.
If you love Walt Disney? If you don’t like the direction the Walt Disney Company is going under Bob Chapek? Then you should support the efforts by Abigail Disney to disclose just how evil things are at the House of Mouse!
Of course she is related , her father was Roy E Disney and grandfather was Roy O Disney that makes her Walt Disneys Great Niece. She is an activist who has given away millions of her own money to help others. What percentage of your paycheck goes to those less fortunate than yourself. Bob Chapek just recieved his 32.5 million dollar salary, while former face and costume charater workers are not being brought back and they have casting calls for new cast members for those rolls as they can pay the new cm a lower wage.
Well said. That is her namesake and it means everything to her. Those were Disney’s dreams, not just some CEOs bonus. It isn’t right what they are turning Disney into. It definitely is not how Walt or Roy would’ve wanted it or treated his employees like. It’s slowly turning to dust.
Sell your Disney stock. Then join the nearly 100,000 other angry Disney fans and sign the petition to fire Bob Chapek on change.org Disney’s power and success was built on its reputation. This matters. Every single piece of bad press matters. Every dollar the stock drops matters. Every signature on the petition matters. There’s power in numbers especially if those numbers ultimately cost Disney money.
How the Hell did Disney ever fall into the hands of the Hollywood Jew? Remind you, I’m not a racist and I’m certainly not saying this about all Jews… Just the godless ones that run Hollywood. The biggest curse the world has ever had. On the other hand, there are Jews who are the greatest blessing that the world has ever had, such as the apostles, and those who tell the truth such as Ben Shapiro, Mark Levin, and Ben Stein. And of course there are the apostles you turn the world upside down for good. But that’s not what’s taking over Disney. What’s happened there has been nothing less than a total disaster. I don’t think Walt expected to die as soon as he did and I don’t think they had a good transition plan.
Bob, anytime someone has to say “Remind you, I’m not a racist” more often than not means they’re racist but are unwilling to self examine and grow. I agree with calling out those for their greed, but if you think greed is strictly a “Hollywood Jew” issue than you’re still listening to bs propaganda Goebbels conjured up over 80 years ago. Greed has nothing to do with ethnicity or creed, and any, ANY, attempt to place it on one fosters unwarranted hate. Again, calling out corporate greed and holding those in charge accountable is one of the battles of our age, but using it as a soapbox to parrot sociopathic hate is wrong and sad. And pretending to not be anti-semitic by calling out jewish conservative “truth sayers” is a straw man argument. Sorry if this comes across as preachy, but damn man, that was some horrible stuff to read.
I agree 100% with her. They do not treat the cast members they way they used to. The pay stinks, cast members barely survive in supporting their selves. They are also getting less perks for working there, which was one of the things that made up for lack of pay. It’s very sad and I hope things will turn around for everyone.
I am glad she is doing this. I say every time they raise prices the cast members should get a raise! The people at the top are way over compensated while, the rank and file struggle. It is not only Disney. Too many other companies want to monopolize employees time without providing full time employment and benefits.
I also agree with Abigail. She is good to stand up to the woeful board of Disney, but they have no shame it seems. Just a load of Greedy so and so’s, that crap on their employees.
Hopefully she will do another documentary on the state of the parks and how they have killed the magic and experience of going to their theme parks. Sadly not a pretty picture.
Costs have gone through the roof, the quality has gone downhill and what you get for your money – So Not Worth It anymore.
Abigail, I am a former castmember of 10 years with TWDC and WDW. Your father and Walt built an incredible legacy and you should fight to maintain it. They made many sacrifices and not for money but for creating something wonderful and magical and seeing salaries on the Bob’s yesterday. They are pulling in almost 100 million combined.That is the first place to start cutting.
It’s bad enough that they’re treating us (the customers) like a bottomless pit of money and acceptance, what with their overpriced lodging, merch, food and now the maddening inconvenience of Genie “plus” (more like minus). But the fact that they are treating the lifeblood of the parks as chattel is just sick. How can they be so ungrateful to the people who give their lives to make our time at the parks awesome? Many people complain about rude and unhelpful cast members– uh, we can voice our opinion about how much things suck right now without taking it out on them. These people have no control over even how much they’re paid. They’re dealing with the decisions of the corporate wretches every day of their lives. Don’t just campaign to make things better for us. Demand that the cast members get a way better deal, which is much more important. I am 100+% behind Abigail Disney and I want her in charge.
It’s a business, like any other business. They have shareholders demanding profits, they don’t have the time or energy to be your friend and care. There is no magic only fantasy and not the good kind. Greed is what drives most people and corporations.
It sounds like Abigail Disney is trying to retain the ethical values and vision of Disney that the Disney Company should embrace. The atrocious conditions and employee structuring that workers have to deal with are ridiculous. How do you keep employees smiling at the “happiest place on earth” when the management is making life difficult for them. They are at the front lines of making Disneyland and Disney World a “magical” experience for the guests.
I would like to see cast members removed from the reservation requirement for park entry. Being able to sign people in was one of the main perks for cast members. The reservation requirement has ruined this perk.
I agree, worked at Disney world for 10 years, they will tell you cast members are the #1 reason people go to the parks but they don’t treat or pay them like it. While Mr iger is giving himself a 30 million dollar raise I’ve seen family’s living out of a crappy hotel because they can’t afford a decent place to live but they’ll make over a million a year just in parking.
As a former castmember, I agree with everything Ms. Disney said. Most of my friends have to work two or even three jobs in addition to working for Disney just to make ends meet. Personally oh, I wish Ms. Disney would work her way into a position of power so she could enact the positive changes she wants to see within the company. Honestly, the company needs someone from the family who actually cares about Walt’s legacy and the cast members if the company has any hope of returning to its former glory.
What’s not to agree with? Workers being under contracted with minimal benefits should be outlawed. Chapel gets $14 million & showing the worst of corporate greed.
Former Disneyland cast member in merchandise here, 1977-1986. Working conditions, pay, and benefits gave been on a downward escalator since the strike in 1986. I see it when i go to the park. Less cast members means longer lines/wait times, in-park restaurants closed early, and fewer cast members in the shops. In the 90s, I once had to wait 45 minutes in the Market Place on Main Street for a cup of hot chocolate. I now choose to visit Knott’s Berry Farm instead. Disneyland is a past memory. What it has been replace with is just a dark shadow of the past.
I’ve said for Years that NO job is worth a multimillion dollar salary but CEO’s just keep making more and more and pay the front line workers less and less. I “retired” from my 2nd job as a front line worker in a retail store for a National chain. After 5 1/2 years I was making $8.50/hour, who knows what that CEO was making? Front line workers were not allowed to work over 32 hrs/week so as to avoid receiving any benefits
The “Corporate” folks would make all sorts of policy changes with NO CLUE how those changes affected the customers and FL Workers. Heaven forbid Corporate should actually visit stores and ask front line workers how this or that works! Usually they made changes that made things worse.
Front line workers ARE the face of a company and when they get less and less, it’s difficult to keep that face happy.
My husband and I have been Disney fans for many many years and are quickly losing enthusiasm for ever going back as we read about the nickel & dime changes that are being made. Actually we might not be able to afford to go any more. It must be extremely difficult for the front line cast members to deal with customers regarding the increased costs to just about EVERYTHING and the elimination of little perks, decreased food portions at restaurants, etc.
Hang in there Abigail! Keep up the good fight! I’m sure Walt is turning in his grave, this is Not how he wanted his parks to operate.
Comments for Abigail Disney Calls Out Bob Chapek For Taking Advantage of Cast Members
Deb Hall
I 100%agree with her. We owned 5 DVC contracts and visited Disney several times a year, we have sold off all but 1 small contract due to all the chances the past 2 years. Common people can afford it any longer.
Nancy Em
Of course she’s right!!! There’s no question and anyone who asks that is living in fantasyland or dead. Disney has been spiraling downward for a number of years and now they’ve begun plunging to the bottom. They’re reaching new lows basically every day. Just for the record, in case you’re wondering, I’m know as that Disney head gal bc I USED to eat, breathe, sleep, walk and talk Disney!! Sadly, those days are behind me now, gone forever. Why?! I’ts bc Disney no longer values its guests, they used to treasure their guests and their customer service was second to none. They used to treat each and every guest as though they were a king or a queen and they could seemingly not do enough for us. They went above and beyond and they knew that we were the reason they were there and they treasured that and appreciated it and it showed. However, my last trip down there emphasis on last, was in February and March of 2017. I experienced countless problems of a serious nature throughout my entire trip. It was a disaster and they weren’t just little tiny things like oh I think someone looked at me cross-eyed or I think someone didn’t say hello to me. Nothing like that- they were things like I was refused service and the woman was looking right at me and she refused. I went and reported it to the supervisor and came back to give her a chance because I felt like well you know we all might space for just a minute or something maybe there was a reason, but she fully admitted right to my face that she intentionally didn’t wait on me and she either couldn’t or wouldn’t tell me why. I have to use a power wheelchair and I was refused bus service while they loaded five to six buses in front of me and I kept being told they had to get people home there was a woman in an ecv behind me who was stuck in the same quicksand if you will we’re people too just because we need to use a device to get around it doesn’t mean we’re not people I bet everybody knows somebody that needs or would need an ecv when they go to Disney but we were treated as though we weren’t even people. I also was treated very wrongly when I went to Cape May Cafe buffet. I have food allergies and I talked to my server about it and she kind of reluctantly brought out the chef to talk to me he couldn’t even tell me what dishes my ingredient was in he was guessing I said don’t you have a book with all that yeah in the back someplace but he couldn’t be bothered. again, trying to give every benefit of the doubt, I spoke to the manager after my meal, and she essentially called me a liar and that wasn’t what happened. I explained that I eat there every time my vacation in Disney World and that I expected to not return and she showed absolutely no reaction whatsoever not like I’m sorry that you feel that way not oh would you please give us another chance not like is there something I can do to help make this right absolutely zero she did not care one iota. So I had to guess whether things were safe or not.
There’s a whole lot more but I’m going to stop it here but it’s extremely sad that I won’t be returning to Disney and that’s a big thing because in my adult life it’s the only, only place I choose to vacation or I should say used to chose, to vacation.
Teddy Gingerich
This article is about the Cast Members and how they are treated, not how you haven’t been treated like a queen.
Tiger
Yeah I mean it’s about the plight of cast members and trying to get by but sadly some people here are making it about themselves.
MarcMarc L Disney
As a former castmember, I agree with everything Ms. Disney said. Most of my friends have to work two or even three jobs in addition to working for Disney just to make ends meet. Personally oh, I wish Ms. Disney would work her way into a position of power so she could enact the positive changes she wants to see within the company. Honestly, the company needs someone from the family who actually cares about Walt’s legacy and the cast members if the company has any hope of returning to its former glory.
Lou
That’s true but I don’t think there’s any reason for you to jump on these other people for complaining about the decline in the Disney product. That’s a reflection of the same thing, extremely poor leadership by viciously self-serving men.
Gary
People if you visit the parks frequently you will witness what’s transpiring. They are simply cutting attractions that require large #’s of cast members and replacing them with shows that require significantly less cast members. Hollywood studios Fantasmic is still closed! The experience is falling off a cliff. The park passes are increasing, free fast passes have been replaced by cost add on genie passes. It’s a money grab and Cheap Pak is behind it. Basically drive up revenue to increase stock prices so board members can make millions while families can’t afford the parks anymore!!
Michael
Even though this article is about raising awareness for the cast members, Nancy EM’s story shows the lack of empathy that is invading the Disney name over the past few years under this money grubbing CEO, Bob Chapek. If more and more people realize this is how they are going to be treated in the once most hospitable place on Earth, then they may just save their money and put a hurt in the shareholders most valuable idea, their bank account.
Rubenben
I bet you’re a cast member. What a ****head.
Jane
Nice! I thought this was a free world. She needed to vent. You could have kept scrolling and not said anything but it is easy to bully a victim.
DarylT
NO she isn’t. She isn’t even related. SHe is just a rich hippy who knows nothing how business works. What she needs to do is go away and shut up.
Rodger
Abigail Disney is supposed to be the granddaughter of Roy Disney and the grand-neice of Walt Disney. Or were you referring to someone else not being related?
CEO I/O
She is Roy O Disney’s daughter. Roy’s father, and Walt created the Walt Disney Company together. She is also a shareholder. Her surname is on the sign, so she has a legitimate interest in ensuring Walt’s vision and both Roys’ efforts to ensure the company’s longevity. Something to consider as Walt Disney Co nears its 100th year in 2023. Iger got a $68MM *bonus* while refusing to pay cast members a min of $15/hr. Most reasonable people find that outrageous. No job in the world deserves a bonus of $68MM for one year. Meanwhile, Chapek’s pay doubled this year to $32MM. The justification offered: no substantial raise during last year’s pandemic while the parks were closed. Chapek was still being paid…were cast members also offered/given a commensurate bump once the parks reopened? (No.) The company took the “oppty” of the pandemic to revamp programs to benefit shareholders (which all C-suite staff are), at the literal expense of consumers and cast members, while simultaneously reducing products, services, quality. Meanwhile, they had huge growth because of Disney+ using mostly existing content that they owned. If you enjoy being nickled and dimed to death, and manipulated into thinking it’s a good thing to increase the wealth gap, keep voting yes with what’s left in your wallet. It’s a hard pass for this fan. Abigail Disney and the tens of thousands of people petitioning for the removal of Bob Chapek understand the gravity of this shift. Walt Disney wouldn’t want to endorse this behavior with his name. Profits are great, but greed isn’t.
Mack
I was at WDW in October and people on scooters and in wheelchairs got priority on buses. They did have to have some wait since there were no more room for them after four other scooters were put on the bus. As far as food allergies goes, my niece is a Vegan and the chef on more than one occasion came out and talk to her in different restaurants and all were very accommodating. Cast members are human and yes some times they get burned out but for the most part they do a very good job and work their tails off.
Pamela
Former Disneyland cast member in merchandise here, 1977-1986. Working conditions, pay, and benefits gave been on a downward escalator since the strike in 1986. I see it when i go to the park. Less cast members means longer lines/wait times, in-park restaurants closed early, and fewer cast members in the shops. In the 90s, I once had to wait 45 minutes in the Market Place on Main Street for a cup of hot chocolate. I now choose to visit Knott’s Berry Farm instead. Disneyland is a past memory. What it has been replace with is just a dark shadow of the past.
W
Then Why doesn’t she step in and do something about it?Disney was once shining star where everybody was encouraged to reach. Has now transformed into a dismal light Fading Into the Everlasting Darkness. She talked a big game but is she going to do something about it? Or she just going to go let the corporate morons in charge continue to tear the company that her family built apart
David
She doesn’t have any legal authority over the company, so raising public awareness, as she is doing, is the biggest “something” she can do about it. And go her! She even made a documentary that’s premiering at Sundance, which is a huge deal.
Tiger
All she can do is talk about it in public like she’s doing now. She has zero power. She is just the daughter of the guy who had the power and he died long ago.
Tom
The Cast Members are the ones that keep Disney running. It’s obvious the Executives don’t see it that way. They just want to deepen their pockets at the expense of the CM’s.
Maybe they need to be visited by Walt’s ghost and the spirits of Good Will.
CJ
Abigail Disney is as close as we are going to get to a Roy E. Disney fighting the good fight (unfortunately? she is not a member of the Walt Disney Co. Board, but as a member of the Disney Family who has shares, she is doing what she can to bring to the attention just how toxic the Walt Disney Company has become!)
Please try to understand that there truly isn’t a Member of the Disney Family with enough power (this includes the Children of Ron Miller and Diane Disney Miller) because that ended when Roy E. Disney passed away.
If you love Walt Disney? If you don’t like the direction the Walt Disney Company is going under Bob Chapek? Then you should support the efforts by Abigail Disney to disclose just how evil things are at the House of Mouse!
DarylT
NO she isn’t. She isn’t even related. SHe is just a rich hippy who knows nothing how business works. What she needs to do is go away and shut up.
Bernard
“ What she needs to do is go away and shut up.”
Why should she?
AP
Of course she is related , her father was Roy E Disney and grandfather was Roy O Disney that makes her Walt Disneys Great Niece. She is an activist who has given away millions of her own money to help others. What percentage of your paycheck goes to those less fortunate than yourself. Bob Chapek just recieved his 32.5 million dollar salary, while former face and costume charater workers are not being brought back and they have casting calls for new cast members for those rolls as they can pay the new cm a lower wage.
DisneyLifer
Well said. That is her namesake and it means everything to her. Those were Disney’s dreams, not just some CEOs bonus. It isn’t right what they are turning Disney into. It definitely is not how Walt or Roy would’ve wanted it or treated his employees like. It’s slowly turning to dust.
RayLee
Sell your Disney stock. Then join the nearly 100,000 other angry Disney fans and sign the petition to fire Bob Chapek on change.org Disney’s power and success was built on its reputation. This matters. Every single piece of bad press matters. Every dollar the stock drops matters. Every signature on the petition matters. There’s power in numbers especially if those numbers ultimately cost Disney money.
Bob
How the Hell did Disney ever fall into the hands of the Hollywood Jew? Remind you, I’m not a racist and I’m certainly not saying this about all Jews… Just the godless ones that run Hollywood. The biggest curse the world has ever had. On the other hand, there are Jews who are the greatest blessing that the world has ever had, such as the apostles, and those who tell the truth such as Ben Shapiro, Mark Levin, and Ben Stein. And of course there are the apostles you turn the world upside down for good. But that’s not what’s taking over Disney. What’s happened there has been nothing less than a total disaster. I don’t think Walt expected to die as soon as he did and I don’t think they had a good transition plan.
Tony
Bob, anytime someone has to say “Remind you, I’m not a racist” more often than not means they’re racist but are unwilling to self examine and grow. I agree with calling out those for their greed, but if you think greed is strictly a “Hollywood Jew” issue than you’re still listening to bs propaganda Goebbels conjured up over 80 years ago. Greed has nothing to do with ethnicity or creed, and any, ANY, attempt to place it on one fosters unwarranted hate. Again, calling out corporate greed and holding those in charge accountable is one of the battles of our age, but using it as a soapbox to parrot sociopathic hate is wrong and sad. And pretending to not be anti-semitic by calling out jewish conservative “truth sayers” is a straw man argument. Sorry if this comes across as preachy, but damn man, that was some horrible stuff to read.
Beth
I agree 100% with her. They do not treat the cast members they way they used to. The pay stinks, cast members barely survive in supporting their selves. They are also getting less perks for working there, which was one of the things that made up for lack of pay. It’s very sad and I hope things will turn around for everyone.
Tom
I am glad she is doing this. I say every time they raise prices the cast members should get a raise! The people at the top are way over compensated while, the rank and file struggle. It is not only Disney. Too many other companies want to monopolize employees time without providing full time employment and benefits.
Julian H
I also agree with Abigail. She is good to stand up to the woeful board of Disney, but they have no shame it seems. Just a load of Greedy so and so’s, that crap on their employees.
Hopefully she will do another documentary on the state of the parks and how they have killed the magic and experience of going to their theme parks. Sadly not a pretty picture.
Costs have gone through the roof, the quality has gone downhill and what you get for your money – So Not Worth It anymore.
Ernie
Abigail, I am a former castmember of 10 years with TWDC and WDW. Your father and Walt built an incredible legacy and you should fight to maintain it. They made many sacrifices and not for money but for creating something wonderful and magical and seeing salaries on the Bob’s yesterday. They are pulling in almost 100 million combined.That is the first place to start cutting.
Phoebe L Ho
It’s bad enough that they’re treating us (the customers) like a bottomless pit of money and acceptance, what with their overpriced lodging, merch, food and now the maddening inconvenience of Genie “plus” (more like minus). But the fact that they are treating the lifeblood of the parks as chattel is just sick. How can they be so ungrateful to the people who give their lives to make our time at the parks awesome? Many people complain about rude and unhelpful cast members– uh, we can voice our opinion about how much things suck right now without taking it out on them. These people have no control over even how much they’re paid. They’re dealing with the decisions of the corporate wretches every day of their lives. Don’t just campaign to make things better for us. Demand that the cast members get a way better deal, which is much more important. I am 100+% behind Abigail Disney and I want her in charge.
Tim C
It’s a business, like any other business. They have shareholders demanding profits, they don’t have the time or energy to be your friend and care. There is no magic only fantasy and not the good kind. Greed is what drives most people and corporations.
Bonnie W.H.
It sounds like Abigail Disney is trying to retain the ethical values and vision of Disney that the Disney Company should embrace. The atrocious conditions and employee structuring that workers have to deal with are ridiculous. How do you keep employees smiling at the “happiest place on earth” when the management is making life difficult for them. They are at the front lines of making Disneyland and Disney World a “magical” experience for the guests.
Steve
I would like to see cast members removed from the reservation requirement for park entry. Being able to sign people in was one of the main perks for cast members. The reservation requirement has ruined this perk.
Debra
Agree with her 100%
Jason
I agree, worked at Disney world for 10 years, they will tell you cast members are the #1 reason people go to the parks but they don’t treat or pay them like it. While Mr iger is giving himself a 30 million dollar raise I’ve seen family’s living out of a crappy hotel because they can’t afford a decent place to live but they’ll make over a million a year just in parking.
Marc
As a former castmember, I agree with everything Ms. Disney said. Most of my friends have to work two or even three jobs in addition to working for Disney just to make ends meet. Personally oh, I wish Ms. Disney would work her way into a position of power so she could enact the positive changes she wants to see within the company. Honestly, the company needs someone from the family who actually cares about Walt’s legacy and the cast members if the company has any hope of returning to its former glory.
Steve
Her father was Roy E Disney btw… if Roy O had been her father, she’d be like 90 years old.
Shmitty
This is what we need!!! More Disney’s back in Disney!!!
Belle
I agree with her 100%
Michael
What’s not to agree with? Workers being under contracted with minimal benefits should be outlawed. Chapel gets $14 million & showing the worst of corporate greed.
Pamela
Former Disneyland cast member in merchandise here, 1977-1986. Working conditions, pay, and benefits gave been on a downward escalator since the strike in 1986. I see it when i go to the park. Less cast members means longer lines/wait times, in-park restaurants closed early, and fewer cast members in the shops. In the 90s, I once had to wait 45 minutes in the Market Place on Main Street for a cup of hot chocolate. I now choose to visit Knott’s Berry Farm instead. Disneyland is a past memory. What it has been replace with is just a dark shadow of the past.
JeffW
I totally agree with her. The company is no longer what it used to be…I think a petition should go out asking for her to take over instead of Bob C.
Alison
I totally agree, Go Abigail!
I’ve said for Years that NO job is worth a multimillion dollar salary but CEO’s just keep making more and more and pay the front line workers less and less. I “retired” from my 2nd job as a front line worker in a retail store for a National chain. After 5 1/2 years I was making $8.50/hour, who knows what that CEO was making? Front line workers were not allowed to work over 32 hrs/week so as to avoid receiving any benefits
The “Corporate” folks would make all sorts of policy changes with NO CLUE how those changes affected the customers and FL Workers. Heaven forbid Corporate should actually visit stores and ask front line workers how this or that works! Usually they made changes that made things worse.
Front line workers ARE the face of a company and when they get less and less, it’s difficult to keep that face happy.
My husband and I have been Disney fans for many many years and are quickly losing enthusiasm for ever going back as we read about the nickel & dime changes that are being made. Actually we might not be able to afford to go any more. It must be extremely difficult for the front line cast members to deal with customers regarding the increased costs to just about EVERYTHING and the elimination of little perks, decreased food portions at restaurants, etc.
Hang in there Abigail! Keep up the good fight! I’m sure Walt is turning in his grave, this is Not how he wanted his parks to operate.
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