Disneyland Cast Members Are Fighting to Save Their Broken Bodies

[@mako9673]

I was just there... and the prices for tickets are INSANE. They should be able to pay performers appropriately and protect their health.

[@LexYeen]

Ah, but you see, that would make the line marked "Profit" go up less fast.

[@AmateurHistorian999]

@@LexYeen And that's a crime against the Great and Powerful Wizard of Capitalism.

[@AmateurHistorian999]

How much are the tickets?

[@crusadurus]

@@LexYeen Exactly, they easily CAN pay workers well enough, they just choose not to and our people haven't the power to stop them.

[@sleepio23]

Parade performers START at $24 an hour to do a 25 minute parade and get 4 hours of pay for it. They also get incredible health benefits that the company pays for. Dont buy into their BS.

[@bardnightingale]

Disney should be ashamed. They make enough money to ensure their workers have excellent benefits and are better cared for.

[@annien.1727]

That's all going to change. Disney's workers WILL have excellent benefits and they WILL be better cared for. Nelson Peltz and I are going to make that happen. Disney is going to change for the better, we're going to work hard to make it so.

[@kchaukraa2771]

@@annien.1727you work alongside the billionaire Nelson peltz? Why would he care about Disney?

[@annien.1727]

@kchaukraa2771 I didn't say I literally work alongside Nelson Peltz. I don't even know him personally. However, we both share the same feeling. He cares about Walt's legacy, and everything he stood for. He wants to preserve it. I also want to preserve Walt's legacy and honor his memory. So I was thinking that if we joined forces and worked together, we could be able to save Disney from Iger.

[@luv2charlie]

I literally stopped going to Disneyland due to abusive policies like these! I grew up in a family with a union employed bread winner and most of my career I have been union. Companies that don't support unions lose my money!

[@annien.1727]

@luv2charlie Well, you'll definitely be going to Disneyland again once Nelson Peltz and I have changed things there for the better. Listen WELL! Disneyland WILL be the Happiest Place on Earth again! Nelson Peltz and I are going to make that happen! Nobody will ever be injured or abused there ever again! You'll be giving money to Disney because Disney WILL be supporting unions! We're going to see to it that they do! That's a promise!

[@juliannemarie657]

as someone with a permanent life long disability from a guest interaction (while i was making $10 an hour lol) i cannot commend you all enough for being brave enough, collected, informed, and persistent enough to share your love so deeply and create a proper safe situation. love you all! (esp. Mai Vo!)

[@princessmarlena1359]

I’m sorry to hear that, what did they do to you?

[@ltkm9734]

What happened??

[@Audioobscure]

?

[@alisalaska1786]

Really there should be a lawsuit for you all, it sounds like

[@juliannemarie657]

I am legally unable to disclose full details of my health situation but thank you all for your concern. as currently, most "parade performer"/ characters have signed a contract that is very tight legally. there isn't much room for action, thus the desire for a union (: (edited for clarity)

[@kaseywahl]

Interesting how all of the most profitable companies are the worst places to work. Almost like there's a common factor between those two things. Greed.

[@jaguartony]

The burgeoisie

[@HildaCorners]

This is not quite true ... I'm a web designer at a massive mega-corporation. They are an excellent company to work for - good pay, incredible benefits, and I have never had a better boss. But ... I don't like their product, believe they are charging their customers too much, and even though the employee discount is good, I go out of my way to not use them. If I had a voice, I'd speak up ... but being one out of 200,000 employees takes my voice away. So instead, I do good with my salary and take advantage of every benefit I can.

[@Craxin01]

Greed destroys everything.

[@LexYeen]

​@@HildaCornersUnionize your workplace. It's not illegal to discuss compensation with your coworkers.

[@sharpaycutie2]

@@HildaCornersI don’t believe in company benefits . That’s how they shackle you to their company. I belive in fair pay . That will make me able to take care of my other expenses like car , dental, health bills ect. Unions can be corrupted too.

[@mizzbehavin827]

I can verify that the dangers to cast members, is 100% true. Way back in the day, I was a cast member at D. Land...the heads were rather heavy. After 6 years, my C spine started calcification due to the added weight, and I developed osteoarthritis, with bulging disks. Disney didn't care. I'm now, permanently disabled, and have developed scoliosis.

[@princessmarlena1359]

My sympathies. I especially despise guests who think it’s amusing to hit, kick, trip, or inappropriately touch costumed characters (face or mascot).

[@snowmiaow]

Sorry that happened.

[@GabrielleTollerson]

that's so sad!!! I hope you're doing ok though even so!! 😞

[@MarcelloBranca]

Fuck 😮😢😮😢😢

[@BlckgalAnointed]

I'm so sorry, I pray Jesus heals you ❤

[@justaguy2182]

Whenever I go out to Disney, number 1 rule in my brain is to always be respectful of the people who are making my day possible. Chances are that they can barely afford food if at all, so the least you can do is not make their jobs more painful than they already are. I 100% support unions against Disney, fight for your rights, you guys.

[@brokensystembrokentrust-bsbt]

Unions dont help anyone except make Union Leaders rich and if you dont like working these then quit and work someplace else. No one is forcing them to work there!

[@lotrleilani]

This is the worst argument that I have heard way to many times. Many do quit and end up coming back because they can't find another job that pays or treats people better. When I worked there someone I knew was going to school to become an electrical engineer, got their degree and quit. 2 years later she was back in the same costuming apartment because she couldn't find a better job, so the job market is forcing them to work there.

[@Kyle_The_Mighty]

@@brokensystembrokentrust-bsbt Every stat about unions shows that union workers get paid more, have better benefits, and better protections, but random KZbinr commenter says they don't help so I guess I'll go back to licking the CEOs boots. Thanks for the heads up

[@scottsnyder4004]

@@Kyle_The_Mighty i work at the resort and wish i could drop the union. exactly what he said is my thoughts as well. they just received a 4 dollar raise an hour without a union.

[@brokensystembrokentrust-bsbt]

@@lotrleilani This is the worst argument that I have ever heard. They can find HUNDREDS of other Jobs! No one is forcing them to work there, theyre losers!

[@cuttwice3905]

These costumes sound like OSHA violations.

[@hallucinati]

Agreed.

[@princessmarlena1359]

At least they aren’t Springlock suits. 😉 But yeah, they are very dangerous. Mascot style costumes are especially bad, those are hot, have terrible visibility and hearing, and have major tripping hazards. I knew a guy who was once a certain tiger character at a Disney park who told me this.

[@fightingidiocy7724]

your face is an osha violation.

[@appliedengineering4001]

Lighted costumes back in the day were very dangerous. Things are a lot safer today with LED technology. But back in the 70s and 80s, lighted costumes were made mostly with incandescent fairylights powered by sealed lead-acid(SLA) batteries. Not only were these SLA batteries very heavy and had to be carefully place on the body for weight distribution. But if you wanted more running time, witch was not very long to begin with. You needed to add more batteries, thus adding more weight. Although most people might argue that fairylights don't get very hot, that maybe true for an individual bulb. but have a lot of them together and they can get very hot. But the real danger was the shorting out of the wires from all the flexing and movement of the costume. if one of those wire were to short out, it would heat up red hot like the wire in your toaster and can burn you badly of set the costume on fire.

[@neverxnice3577]

@@appliedengineering4001that's a fear i had as a kid, because my dad had often warned me not to touch the bulb in his car, so my first trip to disney it came to mind. Glad to have that fear reconfirmed 😭 the scene from that 2000's willy wonka movie where the carousel thing caught fire also relates to that fear.

[@Dorky-Corky]

I did the college internship at WDW back in 2006. I was a character attendant. One night I was working Extra Magic Hours at Mickey's County Fair in the Judge's Tent. My Mickey was the only one there, so we left the door open for people to come in and see him. A group of overly enthusiastic college guys came rushing in, and before me or my Mickey knew what was happening, one ran for Mickey and clotheslined her just under the bottom of the head. Yes, my Mickey was a 5ft tall little slip of a gal. The edge of the head slammed into her throat and she ended up with a bruised esophagus. Another time, I ended up developing laryngitis from so many damp cold mornings being out and constantly having to be "On" and sociable with guests and speak loud enough to be heard by everyone. Management didn't believe me at first, then didn't want to make accommodations for me, they were fully prepared to make me spend the week or two I was voiceless without work or pay. And finally very reluctantly assigned me temporary work in the kitchens and costume departments at Animal Kingdom. But before that, they made it a point to tell me it was my own fault I got laryngitis, and that it wouldn't have happened "if [I] hadn't been yelling at guests." Disney is the Happiest Place on Earth...so long as you don’t work there.

[@Kelloggsmokesalot]

😂Facts! ✨ I worked at Disneyland, Disneyland Hotel and Downtown Disney from 1996-2003. I got fired and they escorted me out while watching me undress out of costume in the locker room! They escorted me off the property to the parking lot. I was also told I was banned 🚫 for 6 months from being a Park Guest. I could go on and on about the BS I endured

[@theGingerAutist]

Laryngitis ganggg! Got that too and couldn’t talk either. I worked at Everest and Kali though, in 2019. Awful.

[@WilmaWestenberg]

@@Kelloggsmokesalotomg why? 😮

[@tiffanywitherspoonoleole633]

Yep CP Disney World 2007. I was quick service/food and beverage in Magic Kingdom. I was there from the end of May to July 3rd...I was supposed to leave January 3rd. I almost couldn't talk because I was constantly talking taking orders. I had a 60 hour week one time. I barely got to the parks to play because I was just exhausted. I got sick, just so tired and feeling blah. The doctors there didn't figure it out. So I went home...turns out it was just allergies! But hey I was happy to not be working for the mouse anymore. I'm glad that's all I went through. These other stories I've been reading just make me mad and sad.

[@dvdv8197]

"It's really really hard to make magic when you're unhappy inside." That really really makes a lot of sense. 😪 CHANGE HAS TO HAPPEN!! 🙏🙏😤😤

[@Mike__B]

Yet these people still go back, it's like they're in an abusive relationship sure he hits me but the Mouse really does love me and I love him.

[@annien.1727]

@@Mike__B 😡That's total NONSENSE! Nobody is in an abusive relationship with the Mouse! Mickey is NOT an abuser at all! He doesn't abuse anyone! Mickey genuinely loves everyone! He loves seeing them smile when they're having fun for real! He hates it when he sees people getting hurt like that. Iger's the real heartless one. He doesn't care about Disney's fans, unlike Mickey who's doing everything to stop Iger's follies.

[@sleepio23]

Every one of these kids is a miserable left wing liberal. They are miserable at all times because the media controls them. It has nothing to do with work.

[@sierrathebarbie]

Mickey isn't a real person, chill out 😂 We are obviously talking about the man behind Disney now and not the actors or cast members. If anything, Mickey is a part of the people who are being abused ​@@annien.1727

[@Dman425]

I’m confused. Are these people bound by law to work these kinds of jobs? That is what I thought

[@paulpease8254]

Wow. I actually briefly dated a woman who apparently got a settlement from Disneyland after a guest broke her neck by pulling on her costume.

[@bajes328]

what the fuck that's cursed

[@wen6519]

Holly mother. I just. I am so so sorry.

[@swissarmyknight4306]

DO NOT MESS WITH THE STAFF. They are working people, not toys.

[@rebeccaspratling2865]

Omg!😞

[@princessmarlena1359]

My sympathies. I really despise the parents who think it’s cute when their kids assault the costumed mascot characters. That’s not funny, and it teaches them bad lessons. It’s bad enough when kids do it, but even worse when adults do it.

[@WillowEtain]

It is absolutely shameful that corporations making billions treat all of their employees so poorly. They expect employees to sacrifice themselves for next to nothing for them while making bags and bags of money for the company.

[@longfellow5276]

Yup. AMERICA!

[@Matterhorny]

That’s how they make their billions

[@annien.1727]

@@longfellow5276 NOT just America. Other countries are just like that.

[@dioxideuniversal]

neofeudalism

[@rebeccaspratling2865]

They only care about their shareholders. Employees and customers can kick rocks as far as they are concerned.

[@johnnyringo8453]

Former Dept. 384 cast member here. One of the best jobs i ever had , I made life long friends. But came with a price, neck and back injuries. Always wish we had a union back when i worked.

[@redredmane5544]

Unions are POINTLESS, Johnny!!! They quickly get paid off!!! Everybody's happy, .... except for those who need proper representation!!!

[@noname1247]

They deserve better. These people are dream-employees who love their job like Spongebob but their bosses are worse than Mr. Krabs.

[@unstableanimations]

Mr. Krabs at LEAST will only sell his employees for seventy five cents. Give him that at least. Oh, he also learns he wanted SpongeBob safe and sound in the end.

[@jjuniper479]

True it's so sad 😢

[@redredmane5544]

A LOT worse than Mr. Krabs !!!

[@mbrow]

I'm a Southern Californian who was a child in the 1960s, so Disneyland has always been in my heart. Even today, as a senior, I get giddy and silly when going to the parks. Disneyland truly IS magic, but that is a direct result of the countless cast members who work their rears off to always present a smile and never break character. While I shudder at today's ticket prices, which are obscene even for So Cal residents, these cast members absolutely deserve employment protections and a living wage. Orange County is crazy expensive, housing-wise. Why can't some of those billions in profit go toward lower-rent housing for cast members? Why can't some of these billions go toward sufficient disability coverage? Why can't Imagineers/costume designers come up with costumes that provide the complete illusion without injury? I hope that you all are able to unionize. The Disney Resorts are nothing without all of you.

[@year3thousandmusic]

My husband worked at disney world- I told him to quit after 2 weeks because the type of old pressure washer he had to use for 10 HOUR SHIFTS (because they refused to upgrade and buy new ones) he developed trigger finger and his fingers were going numb! If he wouldnt have left I know he wouldnt be able to use his hands! How sick for a company making this much money!!!

[@aegisofhonor]

what upsets me is they charge such a huge amount to go to these parks and the workers get paid only a fraction more then they did when a ticket was $50.

[@MandiMcmurrey]

This and lack of money is why i never cared to go to disney. The less they pay you the more they take advantage of you. When they are forced to give you a raise via federal minimum wage raise your made to feel like shit because no other employee that makes more than the federal minimum will get a raise that year so those employees treat you badly too

[@86LukeM]

Reminds me of my ex-sister in law. She was a tough woman. But she said her first day working as a server at Disneyland made her cry. A lady acted like such a massive bitch to her, it made her cry. As I told her "sounds like the happiest place on earth, except for the employees.."

[@annien.1727]

Sorry to hear about that. The woman should know better than to treat her like that. And at Disneyland, of all places, jeez. She may be a guest at Disneyland, but she should treat your ex-sister-in-law with the utmost respect.

[@86LukeM]

@@annien.1727 sad reality people are assholes. I forgot to mention, the "cast members" always have to smile. Which is also why I brought up the happiest place on earth, except employees. I know from my perspective as a gig worker and jobs in auto repair... people don't know better in mass. The ones that do know better are unicorns. A lot of people are entitled and don't show gratitude. I know for me I try to be kind. I actually helped a lady clean up her restaurant. I am just a Grubhub driver. But I still needed to be done. Oh how it was nice to make her day. Most won't do as much as stack their dishes. Even as I write this watched a guy at a habit burger grill walk off with an online/delivery order. People are assholes.

[@annien.1727]

@@86LukeM I know. That's why I'm planning to change all of that. Even though I'm a HUGE fan of Disney, it pains me to see how the employees are being treated like that. The guests have to know that they also have to show respect to the people working at Disney. I plan to do everything in my power to make the Happiest Place on Earth happy for even the employees themselves.

[@yellowblanka6058]

@@annien.1727Unless you have a few billion laying around to buy a controlling stake in Disney or know how to change human nature, I don’t see how you plan to do that.

[@Alley-dw2fl]

Many don't realize how badly service workers get treated. Just because a business claims to be the happiest place on earth can't stop that.

[@DavidNunezPNW]

I worked for Disneyland in the character department and let me tell you it's so much worse job safety wise. They can let you go for just about anything and people often disappeared and we never heard from them again. So sad and I'm so happy this is actually happening!

[@Temulon]

"They can let you go for just about anything and people often disappeared and we never heard from them again" This has happened at every job I've ever worked, it's called getting fired. They don't need a reason to fire you and you don't need a reason to quit.

[@Guineaface1987]

I must say, working conditions are different in the UK. It's much harder to let go of staff. There's usually months of procedures and meetings in place before you get near to being let go. It's generally only temporary contracts where you can lose your job with immediate effect

[@DavidNunezPNW]

@@Guineaface1987 hopefully we can have those type of protections here in the USA.

[@AK-jt9gx]

I feel like we could fix ALL of this if we, as a society, just decided not to tolerate adults behaving rudely to service workers anymore. The 90% of normal, polite customers can still get normal, polite service. But the 10% of rude people get told they have to shape up rather than getting apologized to, and the 1% who reach the level of verbally or physically abusive are simply removed from premises immediately. If we as a society didn’t force service workers to tolerate these people, then these people would stop.

[@RachaelCollins-]

Convenience store work, retail.. And on. People who CARE about People. Sure, we are going to use technology. Robotics are very Good! Humans up where we belong.❤

[@STho205]

So will you be on the Purge Committee to remove the 10% you metric as rude. What will be the venue once your committee has identified the rude customers: Maybe welding them in their homes? How bout a Hunger Games venue at Frontier Land after hours? Better yet, do it at peak hours and let the courteous customers bet on who will go down first or last.

[@jonny777bike]

And today it’s gotten so much worse.

[@CS..8]

Even at schools. I’ve been learning the hard way with this and how much is actually allowed from horrendous kids because the school is afraid of being sued from horrendous parents. It ALL needs a rehaul…

[@level3xfactor]

Even if every park guest was an absolute angel, that doesn't change how terribly the company treat's the employees.

[@Jus10video]

As an admitted Disney adult and huge Disneyland fan, this hurts. I appreciate the work the cast members put in to make the parks special. It’s all about them.

[@Kyle_The_Mighty]

yeah, I'm a fan of the parks, but also a huge lifelong Marvel and Star Wars fan so it's really tough loving the product and the workers who make it while hating the company that runs it

[@andrewc1199]

Whenever I go to Disney World (Or any theme park, for that matter), I'm always nice to the employees.

[@midoribudd2757]

I was not a performer but gained a severe back injury on my college program for Disney World. I was working in strollers and while we were trained on "proper procedures" it did not help us with receiving well over 800 strollers and wheelchairs a day that need to be stacked. Needless to say I am still living with this injury today. I had to leave my program early and felt like I had nobody to turn to in my time of need. Disney did not care about me.

[@ronniek4478]

Let the executives work for a week doing the same job as cast members under the same conditions, and they might have an attitude change. Front line cast members and performers are the ones who can make a Disneyland visit so memorable, and they should be paid and treated accordingly. Welcome to corporate America folks where executive salaries and the bottom line and record profits are all that matters. It's gotta change.

[@Marge719]

It will change, this is sure

[@miasparks167]

In the end, the rich people in charge will ultimately do as they’ve done. They’ll larp as working class cause they know at the end of the week they escape the poverty.

[@miasparks167]

In the end, the rich people in charge will ultimately do as they’ve done. They’ll larp as working class cause they know at the end of the week they escape the poverty and say if they can do it others can

[@woolfel]

no surprise a soulless CEO creates a shity place to work.

[@AmateurHistorian999]

From some of the comments here, it sounds like the Disneys were the original soulless CEOs.

[@annien.1727]

@@AmateurHistorian999 😡No, they WEREN'T! Walt Disney was the original CEO, but he was NOT soulless! Not at all! Walt Disney was a blessed angel compared to the CEO of today!

[@annien.1727]

😡Hey! You watch what you say! Walt Disney was NOT soulless, and the Disneyland he created was NOT s****y! Iger's the soulless one here, NOT Walt! Also, Iger's days as CEO are numbered. He WILL be replaced by someone who actually cares about Disney and its employees!

[@sleepio23]

Parade performers START at $24 an hour to do a 25 minute parade and get 4 hours of pay for it. They also get incredible health benefits that the company pays for. Dont buy into their BS

[@LearnCompositionOnline]

lol

[@bloodzilla.]

Im just a lifelong Disney/Disneyland fan, but the character actors have always been my favorite thing about going. I back them unionizing 1000% because they MORE than deserve it a million times over!

[@pattiprosperoella3244]

A FULL IMMEDIATE walkout is in order. See how fast your phones ring.

[@bobsmith-wg9fz]

and disney will have those jobs restaffed in less than a week and trained...these are not positions that needs a year of training or experience to do

[@sleepio23]

Parade performers START at $24 an hour to do a 25 minute parade and get 4 hours of pay for it. They also get incredible health benefits that the company pays for. Dont buy into their BS

[@FlannelHobbit]

​@@bobsmith-wg9fz That's fundamentally untrue. You can't replace that many performers that quickly, there's no labor pool for that. Furthermore many of these positions require a specific skill set or look in order for the character to be believable as authentic.

[@scottabc72]

A strike without a union to back you up by rallying community support and helping with lost wages is an act of desperation. Better to get the union in, negotiate a decent contract if possible and go on strike if the company refuses to negotiate fairly

[@ninabeena83]

@@FlannelHobbityou would be surprised how many people are itching to work for the mouse and would be more than willing to fill those roles. Consider that it’s a global company, it wouldn’t even take them a week to move on with an entirely new cast base as far as performers go.

[@jenniferc569]

I used to work for hunger bear, I burn my arm with hot boiling water, one of my leads was ready to take me to CFA but the other lead said no, stay and no one took me to CFA at all. I was on the clock and none of them helped me while my arm was cooked, thankfully it's first degree but I was unable to drive home alone with one arm, my route has lots of strong turns. Hunger bear is still one of toxic and hostile environment. They make new ppl feel miserable and make you feel that you don't belong. I transferred out of there as soon as I can. They normalized this toxic behavior. They think they are superior, a lot of them are two faces but very few nice ppl. My new department is welcoming, genuine and passionate which is totally different from foods. I am not exaggerating. Attractions actually makes you feel like you have a purpose and I praise my trainer for bringing back magic and happiness I never thought would come back to me. That restaurant broke me, I used to be perky, optimistic and happy and didn't care what others think. I am trying my best to get back to my old self but praying to be stronger and more positive. Disneyland really need to work on management and who they hire.

[@gianni_hello]

I'm genuinely curious when you worked at Hungry Bear. I used to work with a guy who, I believe, is one of the leads there currently and he sounds like he could fit under one of your descriptions. (You don't have to disclose any names, but give me a wink 😉 if he's got a common first name and a last name that nearly spells out "idiot")

[@scottsnyder4004]

i'm not sure i would have let you go for a mild sunburn either.

[@jenniferc569]

@scottsnyder4004 dude, I wasn't let go. Unfortunately, food accidents are common in fast-paced restaurants. It really depends on who's running the show. I transferred out of that shithole. Oh that mild sunburn that you mentioned, it was literally cooking me, my own personal boiling oven, I couldn't even move my arm nor drive by myself. I was lucky enough to able to move it at all, if I didn't put cold running water for long periods of time. If you never experienced this, you wouldn't know the extent of the pain and results. If you never worked in foods, be thankful for ppl who still work in foods worldwide and be there to give you the food that you paid for.

[@jenniferc569]

@scottsnyder4004 also please be kind to others in other places who worked in customer service, they're human beings who worked day to day jobs trying to provide for their families. Be mindful and respect others. Place yourself in their shoes and imagine what they go through. Have a good day 😊

[@bluedressable]

I worked at Disney World in Orlando. The union didn’t do anything for us. Most were friends with management and sided with management. A few people in my area I worked at were SA and they fired the victim for speaking out. The abusers still work there! This was back in 2018 and I would NEVER recommend working for such a disgusting company. The toxicity comes straight from management and paying union dues is stupid because everything they advocated for us, just hurt us. When they ‘raised the wage’, Disney management just hired more temporary college and international students and cut the hours of FT and PT cast members. They increased the price of park admission and offered less to guests.

[@jigglyjuwwlz8470]

Ppl can manipulate the union and use it to SA ppl and get away with it. I no from experience.

[@songindarkness]

That’s not a problem with unions not being good, that’s a problem with this particular union. Unions are often the only recourse if a company does not have fair treatment of workers. Fight not just for unions but better unions.

[@michellehawkins1027]

I was waiting for them to show other cast members as well not just performers. I worked in the wheelchair and stroller area in Magic Kingdom and can not tell you how many bruises I and other cast members have on our legs and shins from when we ask guests to not just leave strollers in the walkway at the end of the night and point them in the direction where they should return them. So many people rudely and not lightly will literally push the stroller at you. All because they don't want to walk it to the return area,also getting cussed out when we run out of electric wheelchairs.🤦‍♀

[@LCF_85]

As an ex-DLP performer I really empathize with this cause and the performers in the video. We were protected by strong French employment laws so had it better at DLP I feel. I hope this union for Disneyland cast members is able to come to fruition 🤞

[@Jaelynne17]

I remember working for the Disney College program in Orlando many years ago. We worked long hours each day in the Florida heat… all for $6.25 an hour. Out of that 6.25 an hour, $70 of it was taken out weekly to cover the rent you owed to be living in Disney owned apartments with 5 other people…. And if you were from out of town, you HAD to live there. Here’s the real kicker. Of the $6.25 an hour made, Disney only paid us .50 cents an hour. The freaking federal government subsidized the rest. So, not only was Disney basically getting free labor to run their parks, they were also taking the money from our paychecks to cover their Disney owned apartments. So not only were we working long hours, but Disney was taking that money that we did make from working, away.

[@Marge719]

O goodness, this is evil 😢

[@jamie1602]

@@Marge719 You wanna know what's screwed up? My local amusement park does this, but advertises to anyone not in the US while lying that they'll make more money. Same style program. They stuff eight people in a two bedroom apartment that isn't some kind of a compound and tends to have more of your drug dealers, people out on parole, etc. Capitalism is evil.

[@DreamyyArt]

Okay no this is fucking horrible

[@Jaelynne17]

@@Marge719 It was absolutely horrible. I broke my contract early and left… went back to school. These giant companies are evil.

[@Jaelynne17]

@@DreamyyArt It was awful! I was lucky to have money to buy food.

[@abracadaverous]

What is it that Bob Iger does that's thousands of times more valuable than the people who work their bodies to ribbons in grueling heat over long shifts while they somehow manage to keep a smile on?

[@HigherQualityUploads]

Disney World especially should be providing on-property housing for employees. Their land is so vast, they have more than enough room for it.

[@DisMindy5767]

I believe they do for the college program at least. But yes, they should on both places.

[@TayWoode]

I worked at Disneyland Paris on attractions and you had to stand all the time, not even allowed to sip water when it was hot or wear sunglasses, yet I remember in Florida they were sat down at consoles. I was on star tours which inside was mainly Ultraviolet light in the loading area which made us all get headaches I went back for a visit recently and it’s got a lot better, cast members seated at consoles, allowed to drink water and wear sunglasses, and all the boarding areas have gates so people don’t run on to the tracks like they tried to before

[@heyitsnibbs9650]

damaged vocal chords from constant loud spieling, injured by the Attractions, by Guests.. the list goes on

[@potterinhe11]

My mother and I both decided not to return to Disneyland, it isn't worth the price of admission. I am heartbroken being there, seeing the plastic smiles on everyone's faces and knowing the brutality that goes on behind closed doors. The supposed happiest place on earth is nothing more than a facade, behind which the happiness of the working class is sifoned away to playcate those who are there to escape from their own misfortunate workplaces. No industry is in more desperate need of en mass unionization than the collaborative arts, including film, animation, and video games.

[@annien.1727]

😠You stop right there, pal!✋The Happiest Place on Earth is NOT a facade at all! Walt Disney NEVER intended it to be that way. It's all Iger's fault that this is happening. Why even be heartbroken about it when positive changes are going to happen at Disney? You and your mother WILL return to Disneyland because I'm changing things there for the better! You'd better believe it, because I'm not joking here! There WON'T be any more plastic smiles on everyone's faces OR brutality that goes on behind closed doors! The smiles there will be REAL as the whole Disney industry is going to change for the better by yours truly. The workers will be paid highly and treated fairly. I'm going to make that happen.

[@somebodyidk2]

@@annien.1727 why are you threatening them

[@annien.1727]

@somebodyidk2 I'm not. I'm making a promise to them. A genuine heartfelt promise to make things at Disney right again. I hate threats, anyway.

[@potterinhe11]

@@annien.1727 That's exactly what I wanted to hear! Keep fighting the good fight.

[@annien.1727]

@@potterinhe11 I will! Thank you! I promise you, I'll do everything in my power to make Disney good again!

[@truecrimespree9868]

I had expressed so much concern for the students doing internships and the employees when my daughter got a back condition when working in baking, being made to lift well over 50lbs and penalized for going to urgent care. I watched from the sidelines watching has staff got hurt with no advocacy. I support you all 100%

[@BriefNerdOriginal]

The magic of making money by exploiting workers. Living the dream.

[@chalronbjork4766]

At Disney World, if you talk to staff who work at Tomorrowland Speedway, some will tell you about the high carbon monoxide levels (they have been tested and are unsafe). Cast members who start out there typically ask for a change a few months in. Others have required ongoing coughing, getting sick regularly, headaches and even voice changes. Source: friend who worked there.

[@Nigelrathbone1]

They need to revise the welcome sign to read, "Happiest place on earth...unless you work here."

[@Blueberryyymuffin]

Or go there…

[@princessmarlena1359]

“The Crappiest Place On Earth, especially for employees.”

[@WolfGan0178]

I feel this, I never worked for Disney but I worked for a large retailer. I LOVED my job, I loved the customers, I loved my coworkers, but the company didn't compensate us for our work, and treated us like crap. Ultimately I had to leave because of it.

[@archer-f]

Remember when unions had a bad rap? Now they're a necessity just to be able to live.

[@DearOldMom]

They were originally formed because they were needed in order to live .

[@aymanhawari2589]

Alot of unions are mafia In fact. The Starbucks by my house is union. I avoid it because The coffee sucks, the hours now suck and the union is making dues not the person. Maybe the got better hours but that's it

[@taylorcarnell362]

You must be confused. I used to work at Starbucks and attempted to unionize my store in a very red state. Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful. However, the stores are open less hours because of union busting. It’s corporate’s fault. I quit because my manager was giving me 4 hours a week. No one is paying union dues until a contract is negotiated. And as far as the coffee sucking goes, poor training and shitty ingredients tend to be hard to make coffee with. The machines I worked with regularly burned espresso shots. There’s nothing mafia about it, this isn’t the sopranos.

[@rpstgag]

​@@aymanhawari2589 Unions are mafia? So what does that make the corporations that commit organized wage theft, pay political bribes, break laws with impunity, and totally disregard workers' humanity?

[@Novusod]

Unions still have a bad rap. But some corporations are just straight up evil and deserve a union.

[@georginatoland]

Theme parks, circuses, rodeos. Dangerous careers that absolutely require more safety and regulation.

[@haute03]

Agreed, but I feel like the entertainment industry in general needs more safety and regulation.

[@dvdv8197]

In solidarity with all Workers, fairytale inspired or not! 👍👏🔥🔥

[@kaibae4791]

This is what happens when companies are incentivized for profit above all else - the model in the US under capitalism. Fortunately, this group is finally able to vote to form a union and I expect it will pass - most other departments at Disneyland have long been unionized. There is no doubt that Anaheim and Southern California has an extremely high cost of living. It shouldn't be difficult to pay your cast, not just a living but a thriving wage and take care of them if they are injured on a job. Having to commute for 3 hours just to find an affordable place to live on top of that work schedule is simply unacceptable. Pay your cast - this group especially is who your guests are paying very good money to come to see!

[@aimeeinkling]

I had a roommate who was Minnie Mouse. She told us (me and the other roommates) horror stories about how she was treated.

[@softwaifu]

I've been a mascot and character actor, its no joke 💔 People are always shocked to learn how much the costumes weigh...

[@deee71194]

It’s so nonsensical because many people like the folks in this video clearly want to work for Disney and it would be so easy and beneficial for the higher ups to simply value and respect them

[@Praisethesunson]

Easy doesn't mean profits for people who don't need them.

[@matthewsanchez7953]

Value and respect cost money and make the Master's graph line not go up as fast.

[@deee71194]

@@matthewsanchez7953I realize that but it would still go up and arguably more if you have employees making a better experience which is why it’s nonsensical

[@DreamyyArt]

​@@deee71194 yep, they'd take action if something like lawsuits pour in or the truth comes out publicly

[@charleskimson2288]

I hope they unionize. They deserve better.

[@user-rx7pd1xv4k]

I don't have my glasses on so I read "better" as "butter." I was like yeah, they should make enough to afford butter! ;)

[@dao8805]

????? How about doing a story about how food shelves and food banks really work? A lot of people, even food shelf workers, mistakenly belief that large corporations kindly donate their products to food shelves (via the big regional food banks for redistribution to local food shelves) out of the goodness of their hearts. In reality, what happens is that the Farm Bill provides for an "enhanced" fed tax credit equal to cost + 50% of retail value for items "donated" to food banks. This form of tax credit means the corporate food suppliers actually are getting paid (just like the former child tax credits issued checks) amounts that are probably pretty close to what they would get by selling their products to retailers. The bonus for these corporations is that this is a profitable way to unload products that do not sell and that are close to the sell-by date or even significantly beyond the sell-by date. Some corporations even package products specifically to go to food banks which are heavily processed and filled with cheap unhealthy ingredients no one would choose from a grocery store shelf. Because corporations in this country have a mandate to increase shareholder wealth above all else, unless these companies are actually making a profit from "donating" products, they could actually be sued by their own shareholders. That is why they make sure that every "donation" benefits their bottom line and that is why food shelves are full of unhealthy, heavily processed products with inferior ingredients that contribute to chronic health problems like diabetes, obesity and heart disease, and many are also past their sell-by dates. Let's stop pretending these corporate food giants are being nice to the food insecure and expose what that they are making money off of the most vulnerable members of our population.

[@kellycampbell6289]

Thank you. I didn't know any of this.

[@stelity]

You're going off topic. Food Banks also accept fresh produce donations that aren't at its prime or is oddly shaped. Some distributors do abuse government funding to purchase food by sending garbage for PURCHASED items, but donated product is always not as fresh as the stuff you see in the supermarket. Food Bank of NYC purchases their food from vendors that they choose.

[@dao8805]

@@stelity I am not going off topic; the channel asked for suggestions for stories to cover so I offered one. You obviiously missed the point of my post. Please reread it and try again.

[@dahliaserrato1706]

The fact that Disneyworld in FL is unionized but Disneyland CA is NOT, is positively wild to me. I really hope this gets seen. I think attendees would absolutely agree that staff deserves fair compensation.

[@joniskibo5910]

Unions are WORTH Haveing ❤

[@ngf5077]

100% I’m sick and tired of skilled workers taking more than their fair share of payroll. We need a system like Denmark where wages are more equatable

[@GenerationX1984]

​@@ngf5077The words 'skilled' is pretty subjective too. Writers are skilled, Hollywood just doesn't pay them hardly anything. It takes a good command of the English language, proper manuscript formating, and an imagination to write movies.

[@JoanCouncil]

Not when they become political pawns

[@johnstacy6921]

I would argue they’re a necessity under Capitalism.

[@user-gz4ve8mw9l]

Except when they end up gatekeeping and not being inclusive. All the IBEW where I'm located you can't get into without connections and other absurd qualifications. Its an apprenticeship for completely green people looking to learn a trade. Either let every able bodied person in who is willing to learn or replace it with a union that will. This is a pattern I'm ever increasingly noticing with lots of trades unfortunately.

[@Guineaface1987]

These members of staff deserve better. You work their butts off to make the visits wonderful for the public. I hope they manage to get a union pushed through soon. It's the very least they deserve

[@jiffyb333]

Incredibly brave work they are doing! Here's hoping they are able to get justice for all of the indignities done to them.

[@jhonshephard921]

3:50 you forget that while those costumes look "bad" they also seem to look a lot more comfy back when walt was around.

[@ooshiikurai]

I didn’t realize it but Disney workers probably get the whole “but it’s for the kids” bull that teachers get whenever we suggest our job is a job.

[@DonJulio4649]

Told someone once. Unions are a necessary evil. We wouldn't need them if companies actually treated their employees right. But that's rarely the case and small union due every month is a small payment considering you'll get safer work condition and better benefits/pay.

[@nami1540]

IDK who told you Americans that unions are bad. Unions are what make work decent and safe in all other countries. For example at VW, unions passed a rule that all working weeks now only contain 35h of work at full pay. They also make sure that you can't be fired right away when something goes wrong

[@TheOfficialTarynTots]

We all go to Disney for a joyful vacation and it hurts to know the people making our trip so special and suffering in pain.

[@annien.1727]

That's all going to change. Nobody is going to suffer in pain while you and your family on a joyful vacation at Disney. Listen well. The people making your trip so special will NOT suffer in pain anymore. They'll be working happily and healthily. I'm going to make sure of that. I'm going to do everything in my power to make everyone's lives easier.

[@brianorozco1074]

@@annien.1727 What exactly are you going to do to fix it?

[@TheOfficialTarynTots]

@@annien.1727 That sounds nice but how are you going to do that? Are you going to help them unionize?

[@scottsnyder4004]

most really are not in pain. most are working the easiest job they'll ever have in their life. if all this was the overwhelming majority, they wouldn't be able to hire more than 34,000 cast members. most think, man, i make 24 bucks an hour to stand here and talk to guests.

[@melneils9106]

The truth always comes out. I'm an IATSE union member. Become union strong and you'll get what's owed to you. I actually didn't know the actors at Disneyland weren't unionized already! It's about time! You've got support so keep going!!! 💪🏼✨️🎆

[@MCat360]

I used to love Disney so much. I took my daughter there when she was 9 years old. She cried actual tears of joy when the fireworks display started on our first night there. Over the years I’ve come to learn the truth about Disney. It’s all a lie. The actors are treated like puppets on a string with no thought or consideration for their emotional, mental or physical well-being. I’ll never attend any Disney park again.

[@LifeofMaximizing]

Thank you for the amazing coverage as always ya’ll, love getting to hear the first hand experience from the workers. Makes a huge difference ✊

[@Cholulasmom]

Disney should provide dorms for some of these younger cast members

[@Kyle_The_Mighty]

In Florida they did, and I wish I could remember the name of it because I would tell you to google it for some of the stories. They were basically just uncontrolled orgies

[@userOmi-sensei]

Coca Cola donate a place for free in Orlando. WDW employees have to paid a rent in that place that was supposed to be a free staying. That place is infamous for wild sex party and bad behavior.

[@NickGrowsVeg]

When I looked into it, what I found was apartment sharing in a behaviorally strict environment with curfews, etc. I haven't heard about the Coca Cola place. You'll find all sorts everywhere.

[@marleyvandenbosch1306]

This is insane. Thanks for sharing! Unions are the best hope you guys get it sorted out, you definitely deserve it

[@tenshi.kurama]

You would think that a company that makes that much money couldn't make their own costumes safe over time.

[@gmarc1955]

I was a character in the 70’s… To be honest, when a “guest “ hit, punched, kicked , abused us we dealt with those on our own. Yes, we kicked and punched back. In fact during our summer assignments “ be honest when we had a contest…, the best deck of a guest would win a lobster and steak dinner…. I personally was stabbed , taken down by adults and had major surgery due nut jobs roaming the park….

[@wesleytwiggs7687]

Stabbed with what?

[@jellyrcw12]

Stabbed?!

[@jamsquan9415]

this is very hard to believe

[@rebeccaspratling2865]

Wtf? I've never been to Disney and I don't have desire to go but I imagine the opposite of that happening at such a place. It just goes to show how horrible the human species can be. Were they drunk? Does Disney serve alcohol there?

[@wesleytwiggs7687]

@@rebeccaspratling2865 can’t wait for this dude to reply. I feel like he said that without thinking and didn’t expect people to ask him about it.

[@moelovesit]

I left the company because of an injury 5 years ago. Worked in parades and characters and I was heavily ridiculed and discouraged from even attempting to spark any idea of unionizing prior to parting ways. To this day I am in pain daily both physically and mentally. I gave my all for the mouse only to be used and spit out and placed on a no rehire the second I no longer served a purpose. Breaks my heart writing this out. May the battle be fair and cast members be given what we deserve. #onceacastmemberalwaysacastmember

[@princessmarlena1359]

It’s an outrage. Disney makes tremendous profits, but treats its workers like dirt. I know many ex employees of Disney who were security, maintenance, ride operators, and performers (characters, dancers, etc.) The horror stories they’ve told me about management, coworkers, guests, safety hazards, injuries, and human rights violations are appalling. There was a cast member dying in the hospital from sepsis, he had put in an application for medical LOA, but it was rejected due to a typo. So that cast member was fired for NCNS. Another time they had to stop the ride and detain a guest for trying to steal Madame Leota’s crystal ball 🔮 in the Haunted Mansion. There have been other incidents such as the guy in the Pluto costume who tripped while in front of a parade float and got run over as a result.

[@brianorozco1074]

That sounds terrible, also I heard about the cast member that got crushed to death in between the wall and the rotating seating thing in Carousel of Progress

[@princessmarlena1359]

@@brianorozco1074 Oh yeah, Deborah Gale Stone. Poor girl.

[@DarkPrincessOfLight]

I had no idea any of this was going on ! Thank youuu for sharing this

[@sleepio23]

Parade performers START at $24 an hour to do a 25 minute parade and get 4 hours of pay for it. They also get incredible health benefits that the company pays for. Sounds awful doesn’t it???

[@jeffbecker1125]

Most of the parade performers are not full time CM’s so they don’t have health insurance! Good try though!🤡

[@jeffbecker1125]

@@sleepio23 just me again, sweetheart! I’ve been with Disney for 25 years as well! Entertainment since 2004 , starting in parades from 04’-09’ and then moving to characters.At that time, we did 4 hours for a one day parade during non peak Monday-Thursday and 6 hours Friday- Sunday. We were never offered benefits because we were working under 32-40 hours per week! 24 hours was never a thing then and I don’t think it is now since every other department in the resort needs to be full time hours that are worked to receive benefits! Let ME know if you need to be educated on anything else, sweetheart!😊

[@michealhenry5556]

Uncle Walt himself was a slave driver. Most of the Warner Brothers animators were ex Disney who left for better pay and working conditions.

[@annien.1727]

😡That's STUPID. Uncle Walt himself was NO slave driver! Calling him that is pretty extreme. Sure, he can be strict and demanding, but he wanted everyone to do their very best. He knows he's not perfect, but he's NO slave driver at all!

[@aritragupta4182]

I think you're referring to the strike that the company faced around 1940. Yes, he was hard on workers then but the company was struggling and deep in debt then. In contrast to the profitable company it is now.

[@eleanormartinez8274]

And many of the Disney animators had to get side jobs just to pay their bills. For example, Ralph Hulett went into illustrating Christmas cards. Years of low pay and poor working conditions brought on the bitter 1941 strike by Disney animators. Incredibly, in 1947, Disney testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee, where he branded Herbert Sorrell, David Hilberman and William Pomerance, former animators and labor union organizers, as communist agitators. Being named like this was the kiss of death for anyone in the industry; people lost their jobs, homes and many never recovered from this (some committed suicide). Disney stated that the 1941 strike led by them was part of an organized communist effort to gain influence in Hollywood. Sadly, the mistreatment of workers is a Disney tradition.

[@annien.1727]

@@eleanormartinez8274 🙄No, it's NOT a tradition. It's pretty laughable to think that it is. It's because of the effects of Covid and current poor management that employees are suffering. But that's all going to change. I plan to turn things around at Disney and improve everything there. I'm not kidding when I say this. Disney has got to make improvements if workers are to stop getting hurt.

[@SweatyPotatoChip]

​@@annien.1727 so the ex employees that committed suicide, lost their homes, and couldn't work in the industry anymore due to being blacklisted in Hollywood, which affected then because of the strike in 1941, was due to COVID? Seems logical...

[@ThugByChoice]

Thank you for shedding light on this.

[@haggielady]

Disney Florida may be unionized but they still haven't been paid a living wage. Ever.

[@LexYeen]

Yup. Florida is _Florida_ about unions, and ol' boy Walt himself was known to cuddle up with union-busters. This isn't _new,_ just newly _documented._

[@jennifereddleman6656]

Then they have the right to leave and find another job. Simple as that.

[@davidmanix3592]

Yeah! Just pick yourself up by your nonexistent bootstraps, and go forth and find another low paying, almost without benefits, one week vacation only, job in Florida and be estaticaly happy about that you may not be able to pay rent, utilities, vehicle insurance, and even healthy food selections. I mean really! The gall of these Disney employees to expect injury free work or at least adjustments to costumes and conditions to avoid mishaps. Such unmerited expectations to actually think you should have at least a 12 hour turn around. I mean .....really! Are they not tough enough to get by on 4 hours of rest! The sheer effrontery of expecting enough time to sleep between shifts, better than just barely adequate wages to be able to pay bills and save money for the future, and 4 week vacations to rest and enjoy time free of labor?!?! To what is the world coming?!?!.

[@Dman425]

What marketable skills require you to work at a Disney park?

[@comfortabledoug85]

@@Dman425 Being able to interact with people who have an incredibly undeserved sense of entitlement and who see you as little more than slave labor, all while having a smile on your face while politely telling them to fuck off is not an easy feat. Most people would not be able to hack what Cast Members have to put up with on a daily basis.

[@jonathan9995_]

The cast make the magic Disney and the fur and face performers make the special moments for your guests and create the memories that bring them back and create your most loyal guests. Isn't that worth respecting and protecting even just for the money it makes you let alone to show your respect for some lovely talented caring people?

[@sgsummerisle]

I wasn't literally in entertainment, but I was a Jungle Cruise Skipper so it was somewhat similar. I got heat exhaustion several times and my voice was so wrecked for the eight years I worked there that I couldn't even sing. Jungle was and still is my dream job, but not being able to just sing when I wanted to sing brought me to tears several times. On top of that, about halfway into my time there, the company decided to mitigate injury they would put up posters about taking care of your voice and not getting heat illnesses. The problem? The things suggested were impossible for us to do. Like taking frequent breaks in the shade. They said not to be in the sun for more than 15 minutes at a time, but we were left to unload boats in the sun for hours at a time sometimes. They said to drink lots of water, but we weren't allowed to drink water onstage or have water bottles on the boats. I don't remember what they said about vocal health, but I remember thinking that those were unfeasible, too. We had a union and I think if I made a stink about it I could have gotten somewhere, but I didn't have the self esteem or courage to do it. I was always just on the edge when it came to "points" (how they mark your absences) but so many of those days off were due to illness from these unsafe conditions.

[@willowtdog6449]

These people are the ones doing the work of making Disney parks such a beautiful experience for so many people, especially kids. It’s absolutely disgusting that we allow them to be treated like this!

[@Crypt0c_unt]

The fact they haven’t unionized speaks volumes - just like Amazon- in their training videos they literally tell people to tattletale to management if people are trying to unionize and try to insinuate that it’s bad for the company… yea it’s soooo bad to demand a fair wage and safe working conditions

[@nixthelapin9869]

I grew up near Anaheim, so my parents took us a lot. One awesome experience I had with a character cast member was when I was like 5 or 6: I was dressed up as Cinderella so my mom and I were in line to get a picture with her. We got to the front not too long after she arrived, but when we tried to go up for our turn, parents just kept scrambling after her and trying to push us out of the way with zero respect for the line. So what does this Cinderella do? She takes my hand and just… walks away (with my mom following behind lol). She took us to a secluded spot (one of the off trails by the ponds I think?) and my mom got a picture of us! (My mom brought her own camera so we didn’t need the professional one). I don’t remember much of it, so this story is relayed by my mom to go with the picture we got, but it’s one of my favorites! She’d had enough of those parents’ bs and made a nice experience for me. These people deserve more than what Disney gives them or how so many entitled guests treat them :( Separate experience: I’ve actually been in a couple parades at Disney. Not as an employee- I was in my middle school and high school’s color yard teams and being a local school we got to perform there. For people who have not been to Disneyland, you should know that a lot of the walkways/roads have rails for the trolleys, and stepping in them, especially while performing can really catch you off guard and *hurt*. Not to mention how crowded small the parade area actually is because of the crowd. Not a fun experience.

[@ArticioFox]

Thank you to every cast member for everything you all do. You all deserve so much more and so much better. Fighting with all of you in full. The way you guys are treated by disney and by some assorted guests is atrocious..

[@JustMePamela]

Unions will stand beside you and fight for your best interests! They'll also help you receive better wages!

[@coop5329]

We need unions to stand up against the corporate profiteers. However, union management can be every bit as bad as the corporations; I've seen it personally. They will also get to that point where the people at the top only care about the money going into their pockets. Don't think there are any saints there either. Human greed seems to pervert anyone.

[@Rishro29]

​@@coop5329 yeah I see the same at the nursing home I work at. Most of the nurses and staff hate being part of the union. They control their wages so we can't pay them MORE. The recreation assistant makes chump change, I truly don't know how he lives off how little he makes. And we can't give him more money because the union decides what he should make. That's just one example. Forced benefits that they take out of their pay, is another. Unfortunately it's not as simple as union = good

[@AmateurHistorian999]

@@coop5329 With the current resurgence of unions, I hope there are people thinking creatively about how to curb bad union leadership too.

[@scottsnyder4004]

that's what is supposed to happen, i'm finding out first hand right now, our union sucks. these cast members didn't even have a union and just received a 4 dollar raise per hour, on par or close with other lines of business who received raises recently.

[@noirefit5954]

I was friends with characters for a few years. I now have permanent herniated disks that also affects my knees and feet. I loved my job but it wasn’t worth the damage. I haven’t done that type of work since my early 20s. I’m about to be 30. The pain is daily

[@Bludgeoned2DEATH2]

Bruh you’re telling me the Disney at Florida is unionized but not the Cali one? That’s honestly the most shocking part of all.

[@LexYeen]

They're both getting a raw deal, though - Florida is _Florida_ about unions, after all.

[@mikaylasiragusa6555]

I’ll be surprised if Disney didn’t fire these people after this was made. It’s time for people to start talking about how Disney treats their cast members.

[@Kyle_The_Mighty]

I was thinking the same thing. They're risking their jobs here

[@cloudsmari]

i don’t understand why courtney, whose parents (especially her mother) already had really bad working conditions & experiences, would go ahead and work for the exact same company. i do believe her that the working conditions are bad, but just can’t grasp why she would go there as well…

[@ben-me9jy]

Thank you for your work and your sacrifice I appreciate it Lord willing you’ll get unionized!

[@sinthoras1917]

marvelous title, sad topic, solidarity to the workers

[@califoodventure]

GLAD YOU GUYS ARE FIGHTING BACK 💯 WHEN I WORKED AT CENTRAL BAKERY COUNTLESS CAST MEMBERS WERE INJURED AND NUMBERS WERE NOT BEING REPORTED UNTIL SOME OF US FINALLY SPOKE OUT WITH OUR UNION AGAINST THE COMPANY. 💯

[@Blast2224]

Remember guys: The next time you see a bloated sweaty guest screaming at a Disney employee taking their picture, THAT Disney employee has to stay standing in the sunlight smiling like nothing happened. The guest gets to go wash down their high blood pressure with 67 grams of sugar and go hug Cinderella.

[@nichole8609]

I got hired to work as several characters back in 1994 for Universal Studios. There was one character I played that had a full, over-the-shoulder harness underneath. There were a few times when kids would grab a part of the costume that was attached to the harness that came close to pulling me backwards onto the cement. Had I not been working out in the employee gym, this could've permanently caused a spine injury. One of the costumes had been fitted for one specific person who was the main employee used for this character. I sometimes had to use this employee's custom fitted harness and after the end of the day, my back had sore spots because of the difference in body shape. There were, at the time, undercover agents that would report to higher-ups if they heard any entertainers discussing or planning to unionize. I truly loved doing that job but I also saw and witnessed entertainers being treated horribly by guests and managers.

[@DearOldMom]

Disney Inc is deplorable!

[@user-gz4ve8mw9l]

They always have been, corporations being criminal is nothing out of the ordinary.

[@LexYeen]

​@@user-gz4ve8mw9lyup. no corporation is anyone's friend - _especially_ if they make that thing you like.

[@annien.1727]

🙄No, it's NOT. It's Iger who's deplorable here! He and his cronies are the ones responsible for this mess, NOT Disney Inc.!

[@annien.1727]

@@user-gz4ve8mw9l 😡No, they NEVER were! Disney Inc. is NEVER criminal! They NEVER have been! Iger's the real criminal here! He's the one ruining everything! Disney Inc. deserves a better CEO.

[@ChandlerLawsonPlays]

I completely support this movement & want this union push to win! I love Disney, but I love it because of how the workers & how the entertainment makes me feel. They deserve compensation!

[@RachaelCollins-]

❤ I Live in Florida. And I really do understand. Stay Strong ! Use your talent of Natural Love for Yourself.

[@scottdavies8994]

This is a really interesting story and I'm disappointed the video is only 6+ min... Feels like this could be a 45min topic of conversation. As someone who was just in Disney World seeing the "magic" through the eyes of my 4yr old daughter, I wanted a lot more to this story... hopefully we get it!

[@stanford-nf4jk]

I worked at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, not far from Disneyland back when it was still owned by the Knott Family. It sucked then and it sucks even more now. Knott’s prided itself on “Family” but when my grandmother who helped raise me was on her deathbed said to me, “Sure you can go, but your job will be filled by the time you come back so goodbye, I guess.” And it’s true. There were so many people vying for a job there that my position would be filled we m days. I chose my grandmother, of course.

[@judyheller8814]

I am sorry. Hopefully you found something else

[@KxNOxUTA]

Thank you for doing this, because I do not want abusers to spoil good stories and worlds and magic and happy places, by being abusive against minorities, by being abusive against their staffs, by escaping accountability for the terrible injuries caused to any ppl (staffs, customers, pets, environment, you name it). It's not OK. It is particularly not OK, when the damn problems were very preventable or unpreventable problems had very healthy ways to be respectfully attended to in their aftermath. It's not OK. We have to draw all the boundaries starting from all small instances of abuse and root it out. The damage abusers cause to society while profiting of it is insurmountable and across all forms of resources. It's not alright!

[@dcj9329]

Why people still support Disney is beyond me.

[@Miaka61]

As a lifelong Disney fan now Adult. The Cast Member's make all the magic and to hear this is upsetting. I do love character interactions but always treat them with respect. It's saddening to hear how much they are mistreated, not respected, not paid enough, overworked and under appreciated by a company that has so much money. I'm 100% behind whatever cast members at Disneyland chose to do and will help, as much as possible as a non-cast member

[@Audioobscure]

My sister got seriously injured at Disney and got nothing. If it wasn't impossible to sue disney, everyone would

[@Lisa-sr9xn]

This is so sad! 😢 I hope they will start to treat and pay their employees better asap. 🍀

[@pauletteb6393]

Is there anything a non-cast member can do to help them out? A petition or anything?

[@felicia2398]

So glad they are speaking up and hopefully more will do this to shed light on Disney

[@lohphat]

OMG I know your parents! I worked in parades at DL 85-94 and did ELP 88-93. And yes, the Party Gras costumes would leave cuts. I loved my job but could care less about management once Eisner took over.

[@sleepio23]

And we weren’t whiny little bitches then. We sucked it up and performed anyway and had fun doing it. Because we knew we had the best job ever.

[@brianorozco1074]

@@sleepio23 So workers should've ignored the fact that they were treated badly and got hurt by the costumes, just because according to you, they had "the best job ever"?

[@lohphat]

@@sleepio23 We did but not to forfeit our long-term health. We all know people hit by floats or fell in costume and suffered a serious injury. Yet "the company" did their damnedest to get them off payroll and MAYBE a pittance "settlement" and an NDA to keep them from suing.

[@sleepio23]

@@lohphat That's part of the job. Don't like it? Go work at McDonalds. Disney entertainment is the EASIEST job to ever exist. But it's ok. Now that they have gone Equity, Disney will slash no less than 50% of all those positions. You wanted to be union, now you got it, and everything that comes with it. Mark this post and when you see how many positions are cut you can come back and tell me about all your friends who lost their jobs.

[@大城泉-c7d]

@@sleepio23we can all tell you have a very unhappy, lonely miserable life. Who talks to people like this?? jesus

[@nbtlv5090]

I love Disney so much and this story broke my heart! How can Disney prevent injuries? Make the character performers/dancers work less? Make the head and costume lighter to wear? Those stories about permanent physical and mental injuries break my heart😢😢

[@BeeGeey]

Disney should totally be able to afford to take care of their cast