Disney Closed for Christmas - For those that celebrate Christmas Only

[disney1990]

Please don't turn this into a religious thread. I was simply asking if those people that celebrate Christmas would support Disney being closed in order for Cast Members to have the day off the celebrate with their family.

As others have pointed out, Disney doesn't close for other holidays, so why Christmas. Because the majority of people in the U.S. celebrate Christmas.

I know somebody said that where they live, stores are closed on Christmas Day. However, where I live, grocery stores, movie theaters, etc. are open.

As far as resorts are concerned, I didn't include those because if people are already on vacation, it would be impossible for them to check out on Christmas Day and recheck in the day after -- just not realistic.

 

[Squirlz]

I think it sounds ridiculous myself. Also there are people who enjoy doing their jobs on Christmas. I imagine many CMs feel this way.

 

[monkey68]

Please don't turn this into a religious thread. I was simply asking if those people that celebrate Christmas would support Disney being closed in order for Cast Members to have the day off the celebrate with their family.

As others have pointed out, Disney doesn't close for other holidays, so why Christmas. Because the majority of people in the U.S. celebrate Christmas.

I know somebody said that where they live, stores are closed on Christmas Day. However, where I live, grocery stores, movie theaters, etc. are open.

As far as resorts are concerned, I didn't include those because if people are already on vacation, it would be impossible for them to check out on Christmas Day and recheck in the day after -- just not realistic.

But then why should the Cast Members be off and not the resort workers? After all, it's all Disney, isn't it? So if people are already on vacation, then why close down the reason they came to where they are? And I would be willing to bet that the resort workers and restaurant workers would love to spend the holidays at home with their families as well, yet as you pointed out, it's not realistic. So why is the family love of cast members worth more than the resort workers?

I dunno, personally, I don't get the whole idea about the day. It's really just a day, who is to say that we know for sure Jesus was born on December 25? I'm willing to bet record keeping wasn't so good back then. So why is it so important to celebrate it on that particular day? If you have to work, you can just celebrate it on another day, make your own Christmas, work out a deal with Santa Claus... after all, he has to visit some people early or late because he'd never make it to EVERYONE'S house on Dec. 25 if he didn't save some for another time It just seems like some arbitrary day, what's really important is who you spend it with and the idea behind it, not the day you celebrate.

Just my $.02

 

[Nancyg56]

In many of the places some of you are mentioning there is usually the opportunity to switch off with someone who doesn't celebrate Christmas. Or in the example of a firefighter or a nurse, it can be a life or death situation needing someone to work.

At WDW, I would assume the size of the place and the need for x# of CM's to be there for the large number of guests would make it impossible for anyone to switch out working the holiday. A theme park is not a necessity as hospital and emergency personnel would be.

There are many businesses that are open on Christmas day, you just do not see theri faces. Have a problem with your CC? This folks who answer the phone are working. How about your cell phone or your cable? Yup...they are working too.

Theme parks are not a necessity but neither is MacDonald's, gas, customer service....and it is next to impossible to switch with someone who is willing to work.

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.

It is a big deal to anyone who needs to work on a day that they want to spend at home. To thoise folks who are not celebrating or who do not feel that they neeed to stay home, those folks count too. So when you take a job that is open on Holidays you need to understand that the chances are high you will work. The children need to understand that.

Please don't turn this into a religious thread. I was simply asking if those people that celebrate Christmas would support Disney being closed in order for Cast Members to have the day off the celebrate with their family.

As others have pointed out, Disney doesn't close for other holidays, so why Christmas. Because the majority of people in the U.S. celebrate Christmas.

It is also not reasonable to expect that Disney should close their doors ion order to accommodate a portion of their customers, especially when there are do many others who are not celebrating the religious aspect of that day. I celebrate Christmas but I never forget that there are others who do not and they are not really in the minority.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

I said no... for a couple of reasons.

Sooo many families travel to Disney parks for the Christmas/New Years holidays and may not e able to do so at other times of year.

And... I may celebrate Christmas, but there are a whole lot of people in the world who are not Christians.

Strictly my opinion and not intended to push my thoughts on anyone.

I pretty much agree with this.
Not everyone celebrates Christmas, and some would volunteer to work this day. Or, they can choose and split shifts that day. There'd be plenty who wouldn't mind going to work....

 

[Mrs.Toad]

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.

And I'm sick and tired of gross misrepresentations like this one.

I voted no in the poll, but it's really a non-issue for me. It's a business, they are going to do what they want and I don't really support or oppose ideas such as this. Around here, movie theaters, ski resorts and bowling alleys are open on Christmas day. A lot of people don't have big families, go to church the night before (or not at all) and don't require the entire day to celebrate. We have gone to the movies on Christmas afternoon several times, and we all know how crowded WDW and DL get on Christmas Day. Obviously the demand for entertainment on this holiday is there, and Disney isn't the only company willing to provide it.

On the other hand, there's a fast food place called Chick-fil-A that is closed every Sunday so employees can spend time with their families. That's their decision, I know not to try to go there on a Sunday, and I don't care that they do it, though I wouldn't make that decision for a business, myself.

 

[Jennasis]

Let's not forget that MANY people only get time off from work for the Christmas/New Year break and choose to spend that time at WDW.

 

[luvsJack]

And I'm sick and tired of gross misrepresentations like this one.



On the other hand, there's a fast food place called Chick-fil-A that is closed every Sunday so employees can spend time with their families. That's their decision, I know not to try to go there on a Sunday, and I don't care that they do it, though I wouldn't make that decision for a business, myself.

If what she posted is proved through the census, what makes it a misrepresentation?

And, as for Chik-fil-A, it seems to work for them as they are a very successful chain.



OP, I am thinking that what you are asking (and the reason you asked only those that celebrate Christmas) is: Since those of us who celebrate Christmas think of it as a family holiday that we all want to spend with our families (and a few vent about not being able to be home from work or having their family members home), would we support Disney closing for their employees to spend the day with their families?

Many of us tend to be a bit hypocritical about this. We want to be with our families for the day, but then we go to somewhere like wdw where someone else will have to work and be away from their family.



As for wdw being a "worldwide company" and should not close for a holiday that is not celebrated by everyone worldwide: hogwash.

Something tells me that if you did a full count of the CM's at WDW, the majority would love to be off on Christmas and do celebrate Christmas.

 

[Caradana]

Do the hourly workers there get time-and-a-half? I'm salaried, but if I weren't, time-and-a-half would abundantly help me get into the Christmas spirit.

 

[FireDancer]

I said no. Disney is a publicly traded business and their decisions should be based solely on financial criteria assuming no laws are broken. Closing on Christmas would have a negative effect on their earnings and from a fiscal responsibility point of view it would be an irresponsible choice.

If the consumer decided that it was wrong for Disney to be opened on Christmas they would not go. If the park attendance dropped low enough to create a substantial operating loss the fiscally responsible choice would be to close the parks. This gives the power ultimately to the consumer. Will this happen? Probably not because the park attendance has shown that the consumer wants Disney opened on Christmas.

In the end the consumer can dictate whether or not any business is opened by not going on Christmas. If the consumer is upset enough with a company to stop frequenting it all together because they are opened Christmas the earning would be effected enough to enact a change in Christmas employment policy. As it is businesses are opened because customers use them on Christmas. Please note this only applies to non-essential businesses as essential ones have different criteria in determining operating criteria.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

If what she posted is proved through the census, what makes it a misrepresentation?

I do not believe that she has actually been unable to celebrate Christmas because of non-Christians.

The poll really irrelevent.

 

[Acklander]

Personally I am sick and tired of not being able to celebrate Christmas because 7% of the people don't like it.

Who said you can't celebrate Christmas????

 

[love2disney]

Disney keeps its doors open coz people go that day. If a PPs census info is correct then 70% of those who go are also Christians. The days every1 thinks of celebrating Christmas at home Disney will have a holiday.

For many this is the only time kids are out of school and parents have a lighter workload at work and so can go to Disney.

Would you wait to go to an ER if u were sick so that the nurse enjoys Disney? Not listen to songs on a radio or watch TV. There are technicians there in every studio working for your entertainment. AAA has roadside assistance people that day so you wouldn't drive to give them a day off? Contrary to how it may seem USA does not shut down on Christmas day it just may seem that way coz stores we normally see open r closed. Janitorial staff and also many behind the scenes employees are at work. Many stores have their Christmas stuff marked down the day after and somewhere some1 is making it happen. So to just make disney close down is unfair.

 

[pigletgirl]

Not everyone who celebrates christmas is necessarily christian.....

 

[Poppinsme]

Many countries around the world celebrate Christmas on January 7th. This is because of the Julian Calender, under which December 25 falls on January 7th as measured by the standard Gregorian Calender(which we use). So we really should be celebrating on Jan. 7th.

The Puritans in America thought Christmas was an evil celebration by the Catholics. The Puritans banned it.
The edict by the Puritans was revoked in the late 1600s. Also Christmas was considered an English holiday and was not celebrated.
Christmas fell out of favor in the US until the middle 1800s.
In 1843 Charles Dickens wrote "A Christmas Carol". This saved Christmas.
"A Christmas Carol" popularized the phrase "Merry Christmas" and then lent itself to how we celebrate Christmas now, Family, Food, Games , Presents and a Generosity of Spirit.

I work at a Hospital and will be working this Christmas and weekend.

But for me I don't NEED a holiday(or organized religion) to tell me to honor Christ, I can do that every day of the year.

 

[FireDancer]

Many countries around the world celebrate Christmas on January 7th. This is because of the Julian Calender, under which December 25 falls on January 7th as measured by the standard Gregorian Calender(which we use). So we really should be celebrating on Jan. 7th.

The Puritans in America thought Christmas was an evil celebration by the Catholics. The Puritans banned it.
The edict by the Puritans was revoked in the late 1600s. Also Christmas was considered an English holiday and was not celebrated.
Christmas fell out of favor in the US until the middle 1800s.
In 1843 Charles Dickens wrote "A Christmas Carol". This saved Christmas.
"A Christmas Carol" popularized the phrase "Merry Christmas" and then lent itself to how we celebrate Christmas now, Family, Food, Games , Presents and a Generosity of Spirit.

I work at a Hospital and will be working this Christmas and weekend.

But for me I don't NEED a holiday(or organized religion) to tell me to honor Christ, I can do that every day of the year.

Did you watch the History of Christmas on the History Channel? They went over all of what you said and more. It was fascinating.

To expand on that, scholars are pretty sure that contextual evidence from the Bible and Dead Sea scrolls indicates Jesus would have been born in the spring, not December. They sited many reasons but among them was the historical accuracy of the census that Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem for and the fact that in that part of the word, at that time in history, shepherds wouldn't have been in the field in December to see a star anywhere.

The Christians assigned December 25th as the celebration of Jesus' birth to try and steal some thunder form the pagan winter solstice festival. Basically the church learned that completely doing away with many of these festivals was impossible because they were so ingrained in society so they tried to adapt them to Christianity the best they can. This is also why November 1 is a holy day, to try and do the same with the pagan Halloween festivities.

I'm sure the History Channel will replay the show, I think it is fascinating and you learn a lot.

Of course people can believe what they want to, that is the beauty of faith.

Ok, back to the topic at hand.

 

[NMAmy]

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.

And I'm tired of people acting like anyone is stopping them from celebrating Christmas. Have at it--say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays, refuse to work that day if you happen to work somewhere that it's required, don't patronize places like WDW or movie theaters, and celebrate however you'd like. It's this insistance that EVERYONE else must celebrate the same holiday in the same way or else there is some kind of anti-Christmas plot that I find mystifying.

 

[Nancyg56]

In the end the consumer can dictate whether or not any business is opened by not going on Christmas. If the consumer is upset enough with a company to stop frequenting it all together because they are opened Christmas the earning would be effected enough to enact a change in Christmas employment policy. As it is businesses are opened because customers use them on Christmas. Please note this only applies to non-essential businesses as essential ones have different criteria in determining operating criteria.

ITA. If there were enough people who stayed snug in their homes there would be no reason for WDW or any other theme park in Fl to open. We took the kids to FL years ago for Christmas and stayed in Daytona Beach until just before NYE where we celebrated in Disney. We were surprised to see that even back then everything but Cape Kennedy was open Christmas Day. We were told that Christmas was a busy day for restaurants, parks and tourism in general. This was over 20 years ago.

For us, we decided never to travel for Christmas again but I can see why there are many who choose to be away on the Holiday. Religious aspects aside, there are so many people who choose to go away in order to escape the stresses that they encounter during a Holiday.

Who said you can't celebrate Christmas????

I believe that what the poster meant was that Christmas should mean to everyone else what it means to her and therefore everyone should celebrate in the same manner.

Would you wait to go to an ER if u were sick so that the nurse enjoys Disney? Not listen to songs on a radio or watch TV. There are technicians there in every studio working for your entertainment. AAA has roadside assistance people that day so you wouldn't drive to give them a day off? Contrary to how it may seem USA does not shut down on Christmas day it just may seem that way coz stores we normally see open r closed. Janitorial staff and also many behind the scenes employees are at work. Many stores have their Christmas stuff marked down the day after and somewhere some1 is making it happen. So to just make disney close down is unfair.

These are the "unseen" support people who work every Holiday. My soin told me that he always signed up for 1/2 day on Christmas and would volunteer to work the day Christmas Eve so that Mom's could be home with their children but he resented that some thought he should just take the entire Holiday becasue he had not children. He wanted to be with us for part of the day. He works for a communication company and at that time was on the phones. People still call even though they are home with their families.

I worked for a call center and at that time we supported a credit card company. Yup, we worked every Holiday. Not everyone liked it but they took the job knowing that we were 24/7.

It is easy to present an idea to close companies on days that we deem as special but I imagine that anyone who wants a specific service that day would feel their call or their activity should be an exception to the rule. One cannot pick and choose what is important to another person.

I believe that it comes down to respecting that not everyone celebrates in the same way on any given Holiday. It is not right to insist that everyone conform to me and my religious belief or the way I celebrate on a religious Holiday. Christmas is special to me but if I took a job that was open that day I need to be prepared to work. It is a choice.

And I'm tired of people acting like anyone is stopping them from celebrating Christmas. Have at it--say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays, refuse to work that day if you happen to work somewhere that it's required, don't patronize places like WDW or movie theaters, and celebrate however you'd like. It's this insistance that EVERYONE else must celebrate the same holiday in the same way or else there is some kind of anti-Christmas plot that I find mystifying.

You said what I think. I know that this is a little OT but I am offended that there is a campaign to stop saying Happy Holidays. I am a practicing Catholic and will wish people a Merry Christmas but also will wish Happy Holidays. There are so many reasons to celebrate during this time of year and they are not all the birth of Christ. I find nothing wrong with people wanting to share the joy of the Season and choosing not to always wish Merry Christmas to everyone.

 

[GoldieSaysMeep]

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.

This is such a good point. Also, a lot of people who work at WDW are students who will be away from their family anyway. The interaction with people is sometimes a welcome change to just sitting around wishing they were home.

 

[golfgal]

I do not believe that she has actually been unable to celebrate Christmas because of non-Christians.

The poll really irrelevent.

Who said you can't celebrate Christmas????

How about all the schools that can't say Christmas Vacation, or have to have a "Winter Party" or can't have anything like Santa Clause in the school? How about when Target went so far as to not have anything with "Christmas" on in their stores. How about not being able to have Christmas Carols played anywhere in public buildings. Every year there is a huge outrage about SOMETHING to do with Christmas. Remember back when that airport got in trouble for having a Christmas Tree. THAT is what I am sick of.