No Disney Fun for Orlando Workers as Poverty Nears 20%

[crazy4wdw]

From Bloomberg:

No Disney Fun for Orlando Workers as Poverty Nears 20%

By Toluse Olorunnipa Oct 8, 2014 5:01 AM ET

It costs a family of five about $1,500 for a four-day pass to the theme parks at Disney World near Orlando, Florida. It takes Weston Vlier, who drives a bus there, four weeks to earn that much.

“If nobody is able to help us out with food, we just don’t eat,” said the 42-year-old father of three who makes less than $25,000 per year. “I can’t even pay my rent this week.”

Vlier belongs to a growing class of working poor in Orlando, which has the lowest median pay among the 50 most-populous American metropolitan areas, according to U.S. Labor Department data. Three of the city’s largest employers, including Walt Disney Co. (DIS), increased starting pay this year. Even after Disney raised its minimum wage to $10 per hour, Vlier still lives below the federal poverty line.

Remainder of article here: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-10-08/no-disney-fun-for-orlando-workers-as-poverty-nears-20-.html

 

[Suger Mag]

From Bloomberg:


Remainder of article here: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-10-08/no-disney-fun-for-orlando-workers-as-poverty-nears-20-.html

why if you live/work in Orlando would you buy the full price 4 day ticket... doesn't matter if you are poverty level or not... a 4pk of florida resident seasonal annual passes will put you back $1356

 

[Rabid Nick]

why if you live/work in Orlando would you buy the full price 4 day ticket... doesn't matter if you are poverty level or not... a 4pk of florida resident seasonal annual passes will put you back $1356

Um. I don't think that's the point. Folks at the poverty level cannot afford Disney at all, let alone a four day pass or AP. Did you not read, "may not be able to eat, can't afford rent"?

 

[Suger Mag]

Um. I don't think that's the point. Folks at the poverty level cannot afford Disney at all, let alone a four day pass or AP. Did you not read, "may not be able to eat, can't afford rent"?

Umm... no need to be snarky. Did you not read etc.
Poverty is not new. Nor is it the responsibility of WDW (who according to the article raised their starting pay). Want to change poverty, then vote.

My actual point was that is is a odd choice to use a unrealistic ticket option to make their article seem more sensational.

 

[Minniesgal]

why if you live/work in Orlando would you buy the full price 4 day ticket... doesn't matter if you are poverty level or not... a 4pk of florida resident seasonal annual passes will put you back $1356

I think you kissed the point they were just comparing earnings to the cost

 

[beer dave]

Umm... no need to be snarky. Did you not read etc.

Wow there are poor people? Really? I never knew that they could not afford food and tickets to WDW.

Poverty is not new. Nor is it the responsibility of WDW. My actual point was that is is a odd choice to use a highly inflated and unrealistic ticket option to make their article seem more sensational.

Agreed, but I see how people misunderstood you... The article in my opinion is propaganda. If the man makes 25 k a year, he and his family are fed on food stamps. His medical bills are also probably covered. His kids get free lunch and breakfast at school. How much does his wife make? And his disney passes are free. So they can spend every evening at the parks for the cost of a bus ticket. I understand poverty is a huge problem in this country, but the article spins lies.

 

[Suger Mag]

Agreed, but I see how people misunderstood you... The article in my opinion is propaganda. If the man makes 25 k a year, he and his family are fed on food stamps. His medical bills are also probably covered. His kids get free lunch and breakfast at school. How much does his wife make? And his disney passes are free. So they can spend every evening at the parks for the cost of a bus ticket. I understand poverty is a huge problem in this country, but the article spins lies.

the folks I feel the most sorry for are the families who work SUPER hard... yet make JUST enough so they do not qualify for any assisitance, yet make so little that they cannot afford to do anything extra (or sometimes even the basics).

 

[Josh Hendy]

It's ridiculous to single out Disney as if somehow it's immoral to be a large, relatively successful company with thousands of employees. You could pick any industry you want and write a scary sounding story about how "it would take this low-level employee X days/weeks/years to be able to afford to by Y from the company where he works".

What if Disney raised everyone's wages? Then the price of tickets would go up. Then it would take just as long to earn enough to buy the ticket! Which is still a dumb comparison, since the employee can get into WDW for free and it isn't even an issue.

I don't read newspapers anymore, check out news sites online or watch the news on TV. I find it just too biased and ignorant. I do like to check out forums such as this, in whatever field I'm interested in, because you're not dependent on some editor's personal or corporate agenda. The crowd-sourcing aspect has the effect of providing a wonderful filter and balance to the news. In other words, if an article is good, people vote for it with their comments, if an article is lousy, they tell you right away, and if they're wrong then other people correct them immediately.

 

[Dznefreek]

And his disney passes are free.

There are limits on how much you can go with your family.
Employees may be everyday but friends and family are limited. It used to be you plus 3 once a month or so. I can't remember I haven't worked there in a long time . . . .

 

[cranbiz]

He must be driving for Mears. He is definitely not driving for TDO. TDO pays bus drivers more than $10 an hour.

When I started driving there back in 2007, I was a CR driver making $12.90 an hour to start. when I left there, I was almost $14 an hour.

As a FT driver, you could easily get 60 hours a week back then between scheduling and by the Extra Hours Hotline. Scheduling normally scheduled FT drivers for a minimum of 50 hours a week. Now I don't know for sure if the EHH still exists but I'll bet it does.

So a driver working 60 hours a week at $12.90 an hour, with the OT is making over $46K a year. A Disney driver working FT is not going to make only $25K a year unless he only works 40 hours a week and he's a new driver. As usual, Bloomberg has an agenda.

Is working 60 hours a week great, no but in Orlando, working in the tourism industry, it's not bad.

 

[MCC Retired]

An Adult FL Resident Mon-Fri Annual Park Hopper Pass is just under $200p/p (renewal ) just over $200 p/p ( new pass)
$800 for 4 Orlando area residents is certainly more affordable than previous posting $$$$.

Of course the blackout dates mid june-mid aug & major holidays , but those are days to avoid anyway , heat , crowds, etc.

However , once you enter the parks , that is when your costs , (except for a very few Annual Pass benefits) , escalate like everyone else.

 

[seashoreCM]

Po' foke don't need to be given frequent affordable access to Disney. But there are a number of things that society could help out with.

1. Not having to pay $2.50 to make a call from work to the car repair shop that might not necessarily hit the person you wanted to talk to, a call that the company could make for 35 cents. (May have been solved with the Obamaphone.)

2. Not having to pay a $25. fine for parking too long because the doctor's appointment started and therefore ended late or the store cashier queue took too long.

3, Affordable housing with easy low cost expeditious access to employment without owning/using a car and without having to dodge cars.

4. Access to banks so as not to have to pay fees to check cashing agencies.

5. Convenient and inexpensive grocery stores.

6. Not being responsible for school books or equipment damaged by bullies.

Disney hints: http://www.cockam.com/disney.htm

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1. Not having to pay $2.50 to make a call from work to the car repair shop that might not necessarily hit the person you wanted to talk to, a call that the company could make for 35 cents. (May have been solved with the Obamaphone.)
. . . cell phones are now free to anyone collecting govt aid
. . . thus, no toll fees

2. Not having to pay a $25. fine for parking too long because the doctor's appointment started and therefore ended late or the store cashier queue took too long.
. . . then patronize others

3, Affordable housing with easy low cost expeditious access to employment without owning/using a car and without having to dodge cars.
. . . in Orlando area, there is public transportation
. . . and, the taxes subsidize them dearly
. . . about time for folks to take responsibility
. . . and not live "off the dole"

4. Access to banks so as not to have to pay fees to check cashing agencies.
. . . most can access banks

5. Convenient and inexpensive grocery stores.
. . . how cheap is "inexpensive"?
. . . inner city stores, if available, are expensive due to crime, not just their preference
. . . not the store's fault if fast food is preferred over fresh veggies/meats

6. Not being responsible for school books or equipment damaged by bullies.
. . . call the cops or tell the school about bullies
. . . not the general public fault if kids don't speak up
. . . you can't fix it if you don't know about it