WDW Rumor

[des1954]

A neighbor of mine works in the floral department of WDW and told me an ugly rumor yesterday.

She said WDW is getting ready to lay-off 400-500 hourly employees and is considering the possibility of shutting down one of the Port Olean resorts and one All-Star resort. She assumes the resort shut down's would take out the 400-500 employees.

Are there any CM's on the board who have heard the same thing?

[Gatordad]

There's been talks of cuts, I heard management buyouts..... The good thing, is that those who go to the parks will continue to get fleeced by high prices.

[Born 2 Fish]

WOW,,that would be a shame :sad2: .

I am not try'n to sound like a jerk, BUT, I've been serious since Bob I. took over that he is dismanteling WDW one bite at a time,,I still firmly bekieve this.
With the economy the way it is, I can believe that it surely has hit Disney too, (possible lay-offs & room closings). But some how, in my mind, I think this would be the perfect time for Disney to do some thing to help,,like give some deep pocket discounts to bring people in. You know , the kind of discounts to keep people working even if Disney doesn't make any $$. BUT WHAT AM I SAYING !! :scared1: Bobby I. would never do that !!

[Just Beachy]

Careful there. Ftwildernessguy is pretty tight with Bobby. :rolleyes1

[Rhonda]

Yes, it's true. Actually they just laid off 450 workers on Friday. :(

[des1954]

Did they close the resorts, Rhonda?

After 9/11 Disney closed POFQ for about 2 years due to lack of attendance and guests. That's when FtW became a destination of choice. Before 9/11, you could get ressies at FtW about 2 weeks out from when you wanted to go - including holidays and weekends. I wonder if we'll ever see FtW like that again?

[Born 2 Fish]

Here is a good site to keep up on Disney news and they have an almost daily newsletter.

http://www.mickeynews.com/News/

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I just read one of the articles on the website that was posted. If its true that they have 62,000 employees in Central Florida alone, then losing 450 of them will really not be obvious to the guests. That's not even 1% of the work force. :confused3

The sentence with the number of employees read oddly to me so I'm unclear if its 62,000 total, which makes more sense, or 62,000 just in Central FLA.

[ntsammy5]

I've been reading that the resorts and the parks are really crowded - because of the 4/3 deal and other specials that are being run - Touring plans has increased the crowd predictor a lot based on recent experience with crowds - even Disney is surprised by attendance. having said that though, spending is way down - people are going but not spending as much money.

Whoever lives close needs to go and let me know if the parks are really crowded. We're going in May and I don't want any surprises! :lmao:

[ntsammy5]

Yes, it's true. Actually they just laid off 450 workers on Friday. :(

Hey - are you over the initial rush from Free Dining?

http://www.newsday.com/iphone/orl-bk-disney-world-layoffs-032620090,0,940605.story

[des1954]

I've been reading that the resorts and the parks are really crowded - because of the 4/3 deal and other specials that are being run - Touring plans has increased the crowd predictor a lot based on recent experience with crowds - even Disney is surprised by attendance. having said that though, spending is way down - people are going but not spending as much money.

Whoever lives close needs to go and let me know if the parks are really crowded. We're going in May and I don't want any surprises! :lmao:

Ummmm...... I live close, and the parks are crowded.

I don't know how to say this without sounding "snobbish", but, a lot of people I see at the MK look like they live in old trailers surrounded by rusted out vehicles, and receive food stamps. Maybe Disney has this "secret deal" for people on welfare: "Trade your food stamps for a free day at the MK." Then....they take all those food stamps and buy the supplies for the Trail's End Buffet! :eek: :confused3 WIC=Powdered Eggs & Milk.

[des1954]

The sentence with the number of employees read oddly to me so I'm unclear if its 62,000 total, which makes more sense, or 62,000 just in Central FLA.

No, you read it correctly. WDW employs approximately 62,000 people in Central Florida. But, keep in mind that the majority of those jobs are at entry level pay or just a few steps above entry level pay. For an example, a bus driver's starting pay is $10.25/hr and they have to obtain a CDL license in order to drive. Disney will train for the CDL license & pay for the test.

WDW is reported to be the 3rd largest employer in the US, after the US Gov't and US Post Office.

[ntsammy5]

Actually Disney is #43 on the list as of 2006. Walmart is #1. Doesn't include the government though.

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2007/performers/companies/by_employees/index.html

[Born 2 Fish]

Ummmm...... I live close, and the parks are crowded.

I don't know how to say this without sounding "snobbish", but, a lot of people I see at the MK look like they live in old trailers surrounded by rusted out vehicles, and receive food stamps. Maybe Disney has this "secret deal" for people on welfare: "Trade your food stamps for a free day at the MK." Then....they take all those food stamps and buy the supplies for the Trail's End Buffet! :eek: :confused3 WIC=Powdered Eggs & Milk.


Are you make'm fun of me ?






:lmao:

[ftwildernessguy]

Bobby does not like layoffs. Bobby is not really happy, but sometimes things have to be done to maintain the overall health of the company. Considering the closing of some fairly large companies locally and large layoffs nationwide, this is a fairly small layoff. Bobby is on his second Kungaloosh and would like the camping board to lay off him for a while.

[Born 2 Fish]

:lmao: ok

[Tigger1966]

Ummmm...... I live close, and the parks are crowded.

I don't know how to say this without sounding "snobbish", but, a lot of people I see at the MK look like they live in old trailers surrounded by rusted out vehicles, and receive food stamps. Maybe Disney has this "secret deal" for people on welfare: "Trade your food stamps for a free day at the MK." Then....they take all those food stamps and buy the supplies for the Trail's End Buffet! :eek: :confused3 WIC=Powdered Eggs & Milk.

No it can't be as bad as Holliday World here in Southern IN.
When we were there last summer on DW company picknick there was a guy behind me in line who looked like he just crawled out from under a greasy truck and smelled like he hadn't bathed in a month. Real nice on a hot July day. By the way HW lines don't have AC like the ones at DW.

[ntsammy5]

Bobby doesn't have it anywhere near as bad as Ricky does (Rick Wagoner).

[Gatordad]

or Porter Waggoner

[Just Beachy]

or Porter Waggoner

especially since he's on the other side of the sod....:scared1:

[Gatordad]

i know, can you imagine being dead and fired?

[BRDof3]

i know, can you imagine being dead and fired?

Gives a whole new meaning to the term "severance package" huh?

[ftwildernessguy]

I wish the crappy boss I have would fire me.

[clkelley]

I wish the crappy boss I have would fire me.

Well, if you can't talk yourself into that, you have a real problem!!!! :lmao::rotfl2::rotfl::happytv:

[BRDof3]

I wish the crappy boss I have would fire me.

You work for a fish?

[Rhonda]

Hey - are you over the initial rush from Free Dining?



Whew! It's been really busy!! Everyone wants to take advantage of free dining! I can't blame them -- it is a great deal! I like it because it gives me a chance to eat at some of the nicer restaurants that I wouldn't normally be able to afford! :)

[ntsammy5]

I wish the crappy boss I have would fire me.

Yeah, I understand he's a real cretin - a total loser.

Hmmmmmm - aren't you self employed?

Never mind.

[61292cna]

Well, if you can't talk yourself into that, you have a real problem!!!! :lmao::rotfl2::rotfl::happytv:

I know the feeling. We would be much better off if husband was laid off instead of working just enogh hours for no unemployment, but not enough for the bills!!! :rolleyes1

[homebrew2]

Ummmm...... I live close, and the parks are crowded.

I don't know how to say this without sounding "snobbish", but, a lot of people I see at the MK look like they live in old trailers surrounded by rusted out vehicles, and receive food stamps. Maybe Disney has this "secret deal" for people on welfare: "Trade your food stamps for a free day at the MK." Then....they take all those food stamps and buy the supplies for the Trail's End Buffet! :eek: :confused3 WIC=Powdered Eggs & Milk.

HEY! HEY! HEY! I resemble that remark:furious: That
was probably me you saw:thumbsup2

My next door neighbor works at Port Orleans and told me they are at 92%
capacity, and he and his wife are working more than they want to. He says
they have laid some off and just dumped the work on the remainder.

And Al....Yes...the parks have been crowded...but not too bad.

[ftwildernessguy]

Whew! It's been really busy!! Everyone wants to take advantage of free dining! I can't blame them -- it is a great deal! I like it because it gives me a chance to eat at some of the nicer restaurants that I wouldn't normally be able to afford! :)

Why am I not surprised that Americans are lining up to pay full rates for rooms in order to eat large quantities of bad food under the assumption that it's free? And to make it even more appealling, they get to plan their whole day around where they are going to eat that day, and worry at the end if they have used all of the snack credits! No offense, Rhonda.

[ntsammy5]

No offense, Rhonda.

Offense taken!!!!!


We did free dining a couple of years ago when we were down for a wedding and it was too much food - we paid to have Debbie registered in the room so we could get her dining credits too. Gad - that was a lot of food - it was a better deal then because they hadn't dumbed down the menus and appetizer and tip were both included.....

We're doing it in May and we had trouble finding places we wanted to eat that we've never been to before - impossible task. Raglan Road was one I really wanted to try along with Cape May (done that before though) Bomas and Chef Mickey (been there too). Probably the last time we'll do DDP - it's just too much food. We've got 7 reservations and we pretty much got what we wanted. Others are Capn Jacks (been there too) Kona, Teppan Edo.

You're right about quality - it's spotty now. Pushing too many people through too quickly.

[ntsammy5]

Hey Jim -- did I hear you were in Buffalo????? Next time let me know and maybe we can hook up. :drinking1

[ftwildernessguy]

Hey Jim -- did I hear you were in Buffalo????? Next time let me know and maybe we can hook up. :drinking1

Yeah, it was a whirlwind trip to see the outlaws, so my time was occupied, but I'd like to get together next time (and spend less time with the outlaws). Did you ever eat beef on weck at Schwabl's? My wife and I used to go there all the time when we were going together and I saw it's still there at Center and Union in West Seneca. Man, I can't believe how built up it has gotten over on Mile Strip road near the stadium - where the heck did all those stores and restaurants come from?

[ntsammy5]

Man, I can't believe how built up it has gotten over on Mile Strip road near the stadium - where the heck did all those stores and restaurants come from?

Never ate at Schwabl's before - at least not that I remember. Yeah the place is built up - maybe when the Bills move to Toronto all the stores will follow!

[Gatordad]

HEY! take it to email.

[des1954]

HEY! take it to email.

The official "self-appointed moderator" is BACK!!:thumbsup2

[ftwildernessguy]

HEY! take it to email.

Did somebody say something?

[We4mickey]

lol

[61292cna]

Fun times All ?

[stacktester]

Saw this in our local paper.

http://www.news4jax.com/news/19095367/detail.html

[Tiggntaz]

Saw this in our local paper.

http://www.news4jax.com/news/19095367/detail.html


Man it is 8am and you are at the Fort reading the local paper online?????

What since I checked out out yesterday you have not been up drinking beer at night? :confused3