Workers at Walt Disney World Resort could make history this fall. Patina Group employees have authorized a vote to strike over working conditions at several EPCOT restaurants, including the Italy World Showcase Pavilion locations. If approved, it would mark the first-ever strike inside a Walt Disney World theme park, and guests may witness picket lines during their visits.
At a press conference on August 26, UNITE HERE Local 737 and Patina Group workers stated that their employer “failed to make adequate progress in contract negotiations.” It’s important to note that Walt Disney World Resort is not involved in these discussions, as Patina Group restaurants are operated by a Delaware North subsidiary.
The potential strike affects three EPCOT restaurants: Tutto Italia Ristorante, Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar, and Via Napoli Ristorante E Pizzeria. According to the Disney World Food Alert website, if members vote “yes,” the strike could be authorized after the current contract expires on September 30, 2025.
Patina Group employees first unionized last year, highlighting what they described as “second-class working conditions” in the third-party restaurants around Walt Disney World Resort. They filed a formal complaint against the Delaware North-owned company in July, underscoring ongoing frustrations over workplace conditions.
Other Patina Group locations, such as Space 220 at EPCOT and several Disney Springs restaurants—including The Edison, Enzo's Hideaway, Maria and Enzo's, Morimoto Asia, and Pizza Ponte—are not part of the strike vote. The company notes “there is an active worker organizing effort” at these locations and advises Walt Disney World Resort guests to “stay alert for possible labor conflict.”
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As of now, the employees at the Italy World Showcase Pavilion restaurants have not yet voted to strike. While the outcome remains uncertain, guests visiting EPCOT after September 30 may encounter disruptions if the strike is authorized. Walt Disney World Resort has not publicly commented on the labor negotiations.
Have you ever dined at a Patina Group restaurant at EPCOT or Disney Springs? Disney Fanatic would love to hear about your experience in the comments!
