News Round Up 2017

[Flyerjab]

View attachment 279090

I think that it would be really neat if they opened up that side street off of Main Street, as well as the bypass becoming permanent. I don't know if it is possible as I have no idea what backstage stuff is in there. But that would give MSUSA the feel of 2 full blocks to walk through. I think that it would also frame out real nice and give people a chance to approach the theater from the front.

 

[Flyerjab]

You forgot a new resort, resort expansion, and skyliner

The resort expansion work has been and is pretty significant. Consider: the new DVC and restaurant at the WL, major expansion at Coronado Springs, refurbishment of the more common areas of CBR, as well as the addition of the Riviera DVC resort, as well as the 360 Star Wars resort. And now, of course, there is the popular rumor of the possible new resort being built at the front of Epcot. Wasn't there also a rumor about another resort being built near Bay Lake?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

https://m.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/a...wer-is-all-but-confirmed-at-walt-disney-world

Not the most reputable source...but the numbers of Star Wars rooms in it peaked my curiousity

This is quoting that same "The Disney Blog" article from August. Anyone have any idea where they got the number of 400 rooms for the SW hotel?

 

[rteetz]

This is quoting that same "The Disney Blog" article from August. Anyone have any idea where they got the number of 400 rooms for the SW hotel?

No clue. I have not seen a room number for the SW hotel yet.

 

[Flyerjab]

Jesse and Rex being readied for transport into Toy Story Land.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Walt Disney World and Services Trade Council Union Extend Contract to Dec. 31

Walt Disney World and the Services Trade Council Union have been unable to come to an agreement regarding the hourly wage paid to Cast Members.

The two parties have been in wage negotiations since August of 2017 and have just agreed to extend the current contract through December 1, 2017, and to resume negotiations on November 28.

The Services Trade Council Union represents approximately 38,000 Disney Cast Members and is seeking a gradual pay increase to achieve a wage of $15 per hour.

In a statement, Disney has said:

“All of our Cast Members earn nearly $2 more an hour than Florida’s minimum wage—and on average, our full-time STCU Cast earn over $13 an hour, including overtime and premiums. We agree our Cast Members deserve a raise, which is why we’ve offered an increase of up to 5 percent over the next two years for most existing Cast Members.”

Hundreds of Disney union workers held a rally for higher wages last week.

 

[dlavender]

5 percent over the next two years for most existing Cast Members

Wow, is that a whopping 2.5% per year? Let's at least give them a cost of living 3% annually.

Ok. Very small rant over.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Wow, is that a whopping 2.5% per year? Let's at least give them a cost of living 3% annually.

Ok. Very small rant over.

I suppose they would argue that a lot of places aren't even given that - I know I am looking at a net negative to my take home come next year (just as one data point)

 

[Brocktoon]

I suppose they would argue that a lot of places aren't even given that - I know I am looking at a net negative to my take home come next year (just as one data point)

You beat me to it ... I know plenty of people (including myself) that have worked for Fortune 100 companies and the average yearly increase has been ~ 2 - 2.5 % ... and that's even if there was an increase as yearly salary freezes have become the norm for many places. Note that this may not pertain as much to private companies, but for public companies controlling wages is an easy way to hit the yearly numbers and keep the shareholders happy

 

[Roxyfire]

Bought cash...actually used the disney visa and then wrote a check...

But if I remember correctly, the interest rate wasn't spectacular on financing...disney MUST have rigged where they get a piece.

I wouldn't be surprised if there's some sort of Finance Reserve Split situation going on there (like with vehicle purchases) but it all depends on if the law allows it. That, I have no idea about.

 

[rafiki]

TV's "Benson" and the voice of Rafiki has passed away.

http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/robert-guillaume-dead-dies-benson-1202598171/

I've been mostly a lurker on these boards --- for almost as long as rteetz has been alive --- and this thread is one of the few that I regularly read now (great job by my fellow Wisconsinite!). But given my user name, I have special cause to note Robert Guillaume's passing. Back when the the DIS first started and there were only hundreds of members, everyone picked Disney characters as their user names. (I had an earlier one that was lost in one of the first website updates.) Of course, that couldn't last given the limited supply. But I always found the Rafiki character somewhat unique in the Disney world, and Lion King was the favorite movie of one of my daughters. Guillaume voiced the role perfectly. I'd give my Rafiki avatar a black armband if I knew how.

 

[Phicinfan]

I know all these projects will take time and, yes, we could argue that some of this construction is overdo, but we now have in construction at the same time:
- Toy Story Land
- Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
- Mickey's Runaway Railroad Ride
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Ratatouille
- This MK Theather
- plus stuff at Disney Springs (new restaurant, NBA experience) and tons of road work

That is a lot at once!

At not too long from now you will have Tron start as well in MK, then the update to the speedway.

 

[Capang]

Wow, is that a whopping 2.5% per year? Let's at least give them a cost of living 3% annually.

Ok. Very small rant over.

I work on education and hold multiple of degrees at various levels. I make less than a 1% raise each year. Granted that's less than the state average but still many districts make raises less than Disney is offering their service employees. Lots of service workers would kill to have that kind of raise.

Eta I'm not trying to say they don't deserve it. I'm sure they do as the level of service is pretty dang good. Just trying to put it in perspective.

 

[Roxyfire]

I work on education and hold multiple of degrees at various levels. I make less than a 1% raise each year. Granted that's less than the state average but still many districts make raises less than Disney is offering their service employees. Lots of service workers would kill to have that kind of raise.

Eta I'm not trying to say they don't deserve it. I'm sure they do as the level of service is pretty dang good. Just trying to put it in perspective.

It "sounds" like a lot but if they earn "on average $2 more an hour than minimum wage in FL" then that means they earn around $10 to maybe $11 at most and the others earn $13 on average. So the lowest end gets a whopping 25 cents. The others get 32 more cents. Yes I know, that adds up across an organization but still, these are real people. I wonder how much just one of Bob's bonuses would help people.

 

[piglet1979]

Wow, is that a whopping 2.5% per year? Let's at least give them a cost of living 3% annually.

Ok. Very small rant over.

I would have loved the 2.5% raise. My company did not give out raises this year. In fact I am just happy to have a job as a few employees were laid off and a few took early retirement.

 

[Tigger's ally]

View attachment 279284

Jesse and Rex being readied for transport into Toy Story Land.

If they can move Rex in without those Jenga blocks falling, they are better movers than I..

 

[Tigger's ally]

I've been mostly a lurker on these boards --- for almost as long as rteetz has been alive --- and this thread is one of the few that I regularly read now (great job by my fellow Wisconsinite!). But given my user name, I have special cause to note Robert Guillaume's passing. Back when the the DIS first started and there were only hundreds of members, everyone picked Disney characters as their user names. (I had an earlier one that was lost in one of the first website updates.) Of course, that couldn't last given the limited supply. But I always found the Rafiki character somewhat unique in the Disney world, and Lion King was the favorite movie of one of my daughters. Guillaume voiced the role perfectly. I'd give my Rafiki avatar a black armband if I knew how.

Lurk less, post more! A person can say what they want about Disney, but whoever picks their voices for their animated movies is a genius. RG was wonderful as Rafiki, and I bet it was a job that he totally enjoyed.

 

[dlavender]

I work on education and hold multiple of degrees at various levels. I make less than a 1% raise each year. Granted that's less than the state average but still many districts make raises less than Disney is offering their service employees. Lots of service workers would kill to have that kind of raise.

Eta I'm not trying to say they don't deserve it. I'm sure they do as the level of service is pretty dang good. Just trying to put it in perspective.

I don't know how many would kill for an extra 20 cents an hour......

I think for some they are comparing apples and oranges here.

I don't get the logic in not getting a raise when you are at a certain level and equating that with why someone who makes $10 an hour should be happy with a quarter an hour......

I just want them to at least get $.30 an hour more.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I wouldn't be surprised if there's some sort of Finance Reserve Split situation going on there (like with vehicle purchases) but it all depends on if the law allows it. That, I have no idea about.

It's Florida...I have little doubt that's legal...

 

[lockedoutlogic]

This is quoting that same "The Disney Blog" article from August. Anyone have any idea where they got the number of 400 rooms for the SW hotel?

They probably made it up...but the interesting part is they hint at a "buildout" to 1000 rooms...that would mean they aren't abandoning their pricing structure...

...but it's probably made up.