Cast Member Explains Deterioration in Park Experience, Holds Disney Responsible

A former cast member took to Reddit to explain to fellow guests why many have been noticing a change in CM behavior.

Cast members are the heart of the Disney experience. Any Disney fan would agree with this sentiment. Whether it’s meeting your favorite Disney character, favorite Disney Princess, or even enjoying an interaction with the cast member who is serving you your meal or simply assisting you on a ride, all fans know what it’s like to have a cast member make your Disney Park trip more magical.

However, many fans and guests have noted in recent times that cost members have seemingly changed their attitude towards park visitors.

The cast member explained why cast members seem more reserved, depleted, or less enthused than in years past: “For the most part, Disney is stuffing the park with as many Disney College Program participants as they can. (I was one.) We earn less than a full or part time employees, and because it is classified as an “internship” they aren’t required to give any benefits. CPs are overworked, underpaid, and exhausted.”

The former cast member added, “I was often given shifts that ended at 11 to midnight, with my next day starting between 8-9. After rent, my most recent paycheck was a little over $30. Once when I was sick with bronchitis and sinusitis I didn’t get paid for 2 weeks because I owed backrent. So consider all that, and then attempting to come into work and create magic – it was EXTREMELY difficult.”

It’s not the first time that cast members have alleged that Disney is mistreating them. In the past cast members have reported that the Walt Disney Company is lying about how it treats its employees.

Further, this insight from the former cast member also gives credence to the arguments made by the unions and unionized cast members who have been fighting for a living wage for years.

Many fans in the comments were incredibly sympathetic to the former CM’s insight.

One commented, “This is the dark side of Disney that many fans refuse to acknowledge. Disney profits off cheap labor.” 

Another added, “Instead of helping those kids out with affordable housing, and some level of decent benefits, they’ve purposely created a system where those kids are exploited/forced to work every waking hour they can just to cover their expenses.”

The fan continued, “The rent being charged for 4-6 kids crammed into small shared rooms far exceeds typical rent for the area. Disney could leverage their size and purchasing power to offer an affordable option without much expense to the company, but they’ve chosen not to.” 

The shocking reality is that oftentimes, cast members have shared that Disney would even prefer if guests “forgot” that CMs are human. These serious allegations against the Walt Disney Company raise important questions about the treatment of Disney cast members at a Disney theme park.

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