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 .

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 !! Bobby I. would never do that !!

 

[Just Beachy]

Careful there. Ftwildernessguy is pretty tight with Bobby.

 

[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.

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!

 

[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!

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! 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! WIC=Powdered Eggs & Milk.

Are you make'm fun of me ?

 

[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]

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! 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....