Disney Closed for Christmas - For those that celebrate Christmas Only

[C.Ann]

I personally would never be in Disney World on Christmas Day - far too crowded for my tastes - however, I don't think it would be my choice to make for others..

 

[disney1990]

I can remember back when I was a teenager and there were BLUE laws. You would walk into a drugstore and certain items were roped off because they were not essentials. Made no sense to me, the store was open, why not just sell what you have.

No, not everybody can be off for holidays. Lots and lots of people work in "essential" jobs. My DH, before he retired from the phone company, worked many holidays because telephones service can go out on any day. Yes, there are jobs that people have to work, toll collectors, hospital workers, etc.

I do disagree with the statement that people take a job at Disney knowing that they will be required to work on holidays. Most people take those jobs because they "need" a job, and those jobs just happen to need people to work everyday of the year so they learn to live with those job conditions.

I love going to Disney on Christmas and we celebrate Christmas. But, if Disney were closed for the day, we would just go another day. It wouldn't bother me one way or the other.

 

[goofyernmost]

Not everyone celebrates Christmas and some of those that do do not celebrate CHRISTmas. What one deems unneccessary, may not be to someone else, so no I wouldn't suport forceful closure of places on Christmas Day.

No, not everyone celebrates Christmas.

Fire fighters, cops, doctors, nurses, military, and dispatchers, too? I've worked many holidays and I was married to a cop for many years. For me, it's just a day. A day that I can recreate any day of the year.

No, I don't think it should be closed. If someone has a real issue with working holidays, then they shouldn't take a job where it's understood they'll be working holidays.

Exactly. Christmas is a holiday that is recognized by a minority of the worlds population. We tend to forget that when we all get wrapped up in self righteous thoughts. If a person feels that they shouldn't be at a place like Disney on the holiday, simple, don't go! As stated, many occupations require people on staff over every holiday. Not a big deal at all.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

I have worked for Starbucks for 6 years now. When I started as a Store Manager in 2003, our region (NC) was closed on Christmas Day. I had at that time NEVER worked a job on Christmas day, nor would I. Since then, upper management has made the decision for several stores in our state to be open, including mine. We are one of 2 stores open on Christmas day in my city. The positive to this is that working that day is completely voluntary. Paid time is time and a half, and tips are exclusive for that day, not combined with the other days of the week. All stores in the city post a sign up sheet around mid-November and I choose from whoever volunteers to staff my store. As of now I have 4 from my store and 2 from another, which is plenty for the reduced hours.

When I hire now, I make sure people know that we are open 365. However, when I was hired we were not. And as long as I hire people who are willing to work it, then those of us who don't want to will never have to make the decision. See, everybody happy!

 

[Mickey's Minion]

Since Christmas is strictly a Christian religious holiday, I would only support it if the high holy days of other religions were given the same courtesy. So, all food and drink establishments should be closed from dawn to dusk for the duration of Ramadan, closure during the high holy days of the Jewish faith, the muslim faith, hindu, and the list goes on.

Disney is an international destination, bringing in many different cultures and religions from around the world. It is a bit egotistical of those who believe in Christmas (and I do) to want just their holiday closed.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

OP, is see you added "for those who celebrate Christmas" to your thread title.

Trying to sway the poll?

 

[profdsny]

I suspect that there are a whole lot of folks who work at WDW, and other places, who are very happy to work that day for a number of reasons. I can't say about Disney, but a lot of places pay time and a half, or more, for the holiday, and have more volunteers than they need.
Also at WDW, many workers, for whatever reason, are there without families. Nothing is worse on Christmas day than sitting around by yourself with no one around. For them, working that day is a blessing, if you will.
Also, honestly, there are also a lot of folks who want nothing to do with their family on holidays.
I think the idea that companies are only open for the money is an unfair statement across the board. If you think it should be closed, fine, just don't go there that day.

 

[Jennasis]

Gag me. Nobody is FORCED to work on Christmas. If an employee objects to working on any particular day that the business is open, they can switch with an employee who does not celebrate that holiday or find a new job. If neither of those two options work for you, you can just work...like doctors, nurses, police officers, milittaary folks etc...

Many MANY people don't celebrate Christmas. So I don't understand the need for Disney to be closed to those people.

 

[Buckalew11]

OP, is see you added "for those who celebrate Christmas" to your thread title.

Trying to sway the poll?

Actually, I kinda took it to mean the opposite. The title was changed about 10 mins into the thread. And I felt like they were asking, "Ok, for Christians who think the holiday is too commericalized, what about WDW? How would you feel if it closed for the holiday (that is too commericialized in many christians viewpoint).
I might be wrong but that was the way I read the question. No swaying. Just asking.

I suspect that there are a whole lot of folks who work at WDW, and other places, who are very happy to work that day for a number of reasons. I can't say about Disney, but a lot of places pay time and a half, or more, for the holiday, and have more volunteers than they need.
Also at WDW, many workers, for whatever reason, are there without families. Nothing is worse on Christmas day than sitting around by yourself with no one around. For them, working that day is a blessing, if you will.
Also, honestly, there are also a lot of folks who want nothing to do with their family on holidays.
I think the idea that companies are only open for the money is an unfair statement across the board. If you think it should be closed, fine, just don't go there that day.

Like I said, I would think spreading Disney magic on Christmas day might actually be a nice way to spend the holiday. That might be looking on the bright side of a Disney job, but that's my take on it. If I had to cut hair on Christmas Day, I think I could actually enjoy that day of work. Usually the month of Dec. is a fun time at work (busy and stressful, but fun).

 

[Acklander]

I grew up with a family that worked in the hospitality industry, and am currently working in the hospitality industry. It's pretty much a given that you work holidays. Growing up we celebrated Christmas on Christmas night, and Thanksgiving the day after. We developed our own traditions based on that and find it just as rewarding as doing it on the actual day. The company that I currently work for, gives you the option of working on Thanksgiving/Christmas/New years eve/ new years day. They usually go by seniority and you pick which 2 you want to work. It's a pretty fair system, and most of us like working the holidays because we make more money during that time.
While I personally wouldn't want to go to Disney on Christmas day (way too busy!!!!) I wouldn't expect them to close for the day.

 

[marypoppinswannabe]

There are some people who have no family and would welcome the interaction they would get from the resort guests on Christmas day or they may choose not to celebrate Christmas and don't care.

I don't think they should close their doors. I think they should give the employees the option. And those who do work, should get time and half or doubletime...

Or, maybe close the parks at 2pm. But have the restaraunts at the resorts stay open until 7pm and then open them at 7am the next day. Then open the parks at noon on Christmas day. This would be a win-win situation. People get to spend time with their families, but Disney would still be profitable. (not that any of us doubt that they aren't profitable the other 364 days of the year...)

 

[pigletgirl]

Well if disney is closed for christmas, then so should the grocery stores, movie theatres, walmart, ect.

It is just another day if you aren't celebrating christmas. It all depends upon your traditions and beliefs.

 

[mhsjax]

Exactly. Christmas is a holiday that is recognized by a minority of the worlds population. We tend to forget that when we all get wrapped up in self righteous thoughts. If a person feels that they shouldn't be at a place like Disney on the holiday, simple, don't go! As stated, many occupations require people on staff over every holiday. Not a big deal at all.

It isn't a big deal until your kids keep asking why daddy has to work every Christmas. Yes it has to be done sometimes, but don't say it isn't a big deal, because to a lot of us, it is a big deal.

 

[Acklander]

It isn't a big deal until your kids keep asking why daddy has to work every Christmas. Yes it has to be done sometimes, but don't say it isn't a big deal, because to a lot of us, it is a big deal.

As I said in an earlier post, I grew up with parents that had to work every major holiday. While we did our celebration at odd times, it never felt odd to us - we had our own traditions and it made the holiday just as special and magical as for those who celebrated at the traditional time. Santa still visited, and we still had a family meal. Maybe it wasn't a big deal to us because our parents never thought of it as a hardship and didn't make a big deal about it. It never crossed my mind to ask "why Daddy has to work every Christmas" just like it never crossed my mind to ask "Why does Daddy have to work". It was, what it was.
If it truly is that big of a deal to your family that someone has to work on holidays, then you should work in a field (and there are many out there) that traditionally takes Christmas day off.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Okay, whoever said that Christmas is solely a Christian holiday, I beg to disagree. I'm certainly not Christian and I celebrate Christmas. Therefore, I feel like I can post in this thread.

No, there's no particular benefit to closing any place on Christmas day, except perhaps to those people who both (a) choose to work there and (b) feel that working on Christmas day is wrong. They are a minority. Meanwhile, as others have pointed out, there are a lot of families that want to take advantage of certain services (such as an open WDW) on Christmas day. I often think of my Jewish friends who refer to Christmas day as "National Jews Go To The Movies Day". I'm glad there are people working movie theatres to make their otherwise random day off work better.

 

[disney1990]

OP, is see you added "for those who celebrate Christmas" to your thread title.

Trying to sway the poll?

That was always part of the original question. I added the word "Disney" when I edited the title so that people knew in advance what I was talking about.

 

[goofyernmost]

It isn't a big deal until your kids keep asking why daddy has to work every Christmas. Yes it has to be done sometimes, but don't say it isn't a big deal, because to a lot of us, it is a big deal.

Simple answer for the kiddies..."because you like to eat". That's why all of us work. It is what it is. I am christian but never have I thought that because of that I MUST have Christmas Day off. As I said, not a big deal.

 

[luvsJack]

Well if disney is closed for christmas, then so should the grocery stores, movie theatres, walmart, ect.

It is just another day if you aren't celebrating christmas. It all depends upon your traditions and beliefs.

All of those places are closed on Christmas day around here--well, except the theater and it doesn't open until late in the afternoon.

 

[monkey68]

I don't understand why only people should answer if they celebrate Christmas, but I don't celebrate Christmas, and I'm going to answer anyway. Why are the theme park workers more deserving of a day off than all the other resort workers that will have to be there on Christmas? If you want to argue it isn't fair that Disney is open on Christmas, that it's not a neccessity, well, you don't need to be in the resorts at all on Christmas. You could very well spend the holiday at home.

And what about all those millions of people that don't celebrate Christmas? Should we just sit at home and twiddle our thumbs? Sure, the movies are usually open, but my local theater has bed bugs, so I'm kinda avoiding them for now. But it wouldn't be fair to the millions of other people that come to Disney at that time because they're on vacation to not be able to go to the parks that day because it's a holiday they don't celebrate.

 

[golfgal]

Since Christmas is strictly a Christian religious holiday, I would only support it if the high holy days of other religions were given the same courtesy. So, all food and drink establishments should be closed from dawn to dusk for the duration of Ramadan, closure during the high holy days of the Jewish faith, the muslim faith, hindu, and the list goes on.

Disney is an international destination, bringing in many different cultures and religions from around the world. It is a bit egotistical of those who believe in Christmas (and I do) to want just their holiday closed.

According to the US Census bureau 80% of all adults identified themselves as "Christian", 13% did not identify themselves as any "faith" leaving 7% that have identified themselves as non-Christian. Now, being a country where majority rules, it is fair to expect that Christian holidays be observed and non-Christian ones not. A fair compromise is that for non-Christians they be offered time off to celebrate whatever in compensation for having Christmas for everyone else off. Personally I am sick and tired of not being able to celebrate Christmas because 7% of the people don't like it.