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There’s an old Disney cartoon where Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck accidentally break Goofy. How? Not important for now. But the two of them know that they are in trouble. Instead of solving the problem immediately, Mickey and Donald put their hands in their pockets and slowly walk away, whistling. It is the quintessential kid answer to any problem: pretend it didn’t happen.
For the last month and a half, the Disney Company has been taking the Mickey Mouse approach to handling its Cast Members problems, whistling loud enough and hoping they will eventually disappear.
Cast Members on strike have taken Sleeping Beauty Castle: pic.twitter.com/cR2ptBvLaM
— DLP Report (@DLPReport) June 19, 2023
Related: Cast Members Clash With Security as Protests Get Violent
But this strategy doesn’t seem to be working. After taking some time off, Disneyland Paris Cast Members restarted their strikes inside the Park. The Strikes began in early May and were relatively peaceful but escalated in the last two weeks. With Cast Members striking, Disney’s Parades were canceled, but then Cast Members had a physical altercation with security forces brought in by Disney. Disney has also sent secret security forces into the crowds to monitor the strikes.
Earlier this month, Cast Members surrounded Sleeping Beauty Castle and caused the nighttime show to be canceled. Guests could be heard booing as they went to Town Hall to get their money back. So many Guests showed up for a refund that Disney had to close the Town Hall and instead had Guests send an email to request a refund.
So much private security around the demonstrations that it looks like the security staff is on strike 😆 pic.twitter.com/Rsi9TTTzch
— DLP Report (@DLPReport) June 19, 2023
Striking Cast Members held a virtual meeting with Disneyland Paris President Natacha Rafalski last week. When they left the meeting, the Cast Members called it “a trainwreck” and vowed to have an “explosive” response.
The striking workers are seeking a weekly pay raise of $215 U.S., improvements to the length of service bonus, and increased pay for working on Sundays. It should be noted that the Cast Members in France make more than their counterparts at the Walt Disney World Resort.
The Walt Disney Company has said it will not negotiate with the Cast Members until August, an agreed-upon time frame by both sides before this strike.
Video: Disneyland Paris Cast Members stage another day of strikes and demonstrations, as Disney continues to largely ignore their demands: pic.twitter.com/dSSNJSjk7I
— DLP Report (@DLPReport) June 19, 2023
Today’s strike began in Walt Disney Studios Theme Park and is snaking across the Parks, disrupting the day for Guests. The Cast Members have overtaken Sleeping Beauty Castle again, with no signs of leaving.
We will continue to update the Cast Member strike at Disney Fanatic.
