Hi Ho... Hi Ho... Of to Chez Gerard We Go...

hey guys how r ya, not long now aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. so meet at 6pm in downstairs, then head off. yes there is 18 of us and whats all this bout a bar?? xxxx

 

Apparently we are meeting in the bar at Mad Hatter so we don't crowd the reception/foyer

 

this dinner thing has worked out really well, cos from what the 27th group have said there were about 25 people at the interview, and if 18 are going to our meal it could potentially be the majority of the interview! Which means we will all be really comfortable with one another.

 

Sweet. I'm not nervous at all about it! Maybe will be the morning of but we'll see. Can't wait now, almost at the end of my last shift at work before I travel down, just 45 mins left

 

LOL nice one, I just printed off all my travelling shite, now i need to find something to leave aside to wear!

 

Not long now looking forward to the meal, just printed off TGI's menu and have to say looks like It might have to be the "Jack Daniels Ribs" option for me, they look well nice

Just a note to people staying at The Wellington, if we meet at 6 at the reception or bar if there is one then we can go to TGI's together as dont have a clue how to get there :

Look 4ward 2 seein u all on Tuesday, adam 8)

 

They have a burger that has fried mozarella on it its awesome but not one u want a starter before!

 

Slightly worried as just read this article below from the Mickey News website really hope this doesnt affect us too much and that they still hire a substantial amount of people from the interviews???


"Walt Disney World has stepped up layoffs this week, as the company moves ahead with a broad, recession-forced restructuring of its management ranks.
Disney, which is Central Florida's largest employer, with about 62,000 "cast members," refused to say Thursday how many jobs it has eliminated. But one person familiar with some details of the cuts said he was given an estimate of 450.

The cuts have predominantly targeted salaried workers, rather than the hourly employees who make up the vast majority of the resort's work force. Employees say layoffs have occurred across Disney World's back-office functions, including entertainment, merchandise, finance, transportation, training, emergency management and theme-park operations.

Some workers who deal directly with guests have also been let go, including guest-service managers and managers in Disney Vacation Club's sales-preview center.

"It's property-wide," said Donna-Lynne Dalton, business agent for the Teamsters Local 385 union, which represents characters, laundry workers, parking attendants and ranch hands. She noted, however, that the job cuts have not affected unionized employees.

"I was told that they are going to be walking people out through Friday," she said. The Walt Disney Co.'s fiscal second quarter ends this week.

One former employee, who said he was laid off Wednesday after more than 10 years at Disney World, said he was personally familiar with about two dozen others who lost their jobs. Two others laid off this week said they personally knew about 20 others whose jobs were eliminated.

"We're not talking about one or two people. We're talking about 30 or 40 people in some areas," one of the laid-off employees said. All spoke on the condition they not be identified, for fear of losing their severance pay.

Some severance packages include one week's pay for every year with the company, which includes up to 60 days on paid administrative leave, during which the former employees can continue to receive benefits. An ex-employee said laid-off workers are also permitted to at least temporarily continue to purchase health insurance at company rates.

Disney announced last month that it would slash jobs across as its domestic resorts, as part of a sweeping reorganization aimed at combining functions between Disney World and Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif.

The layoffs follow voluntary buyouts that were offered to more than 600 park executives, including 313 in Orlando. Disney said recently that approximately 50 executives accepted the buyouts.

"We think these changes are essential to maintaining our leadership position in family tourism, and they reflect today's economic realities," Disney spokesman Mike Griffin said Thursday.

The layoffs and buyouts are part of deep cost cuts imposed across the Disney Co. in recent months, as the Burbank, Calif., media-and-entertainment giant suffers through the worst recession in decades. Company profit fell 32 percent during the first quarter, which ended Dec. 27.

Disney's theme parks are particularly vulnerable to downturns in consumer spending. The company has attempted to keep attendance afloat with deep discounts that are eroding profit margins.

Among those who have already departed or are scheduled to leave by the end of the month: Disney Cruise Line President Tom McAlpin, top chef and restaurant planner Dieter Hannig, and veteran spokesman Bill Warren.

The company has said it is trying to target cost cuts at its theme parks so that they do not hurt guests' experience. But one laid-off employee said the back-office cuts will inevitably affect front-line employees who deal directly with customers.

"The support from backstage to cast members affects that guest experience," he said. "They affect the cast member, the cast member's attitude, the cast member's ability to do their job."

Disney World has been laying off workers since last month. But former employees say the cuts accelerated this week and have been so widespread that one former worker described it as "a massacre."

The cuts could be timed to coincide with the end of the Disney Co.'s fiscal second quarter, which concludes Saturday. Disney will report its second-quarter earnings May 5".

 

I wouldn't worry about it too much, its at management level. I hope they are smart enough (which I think they are) to not let it affect guest experience. Like I went on DCL and the food was amazing..now they're letting go the head chef guy..I presume they've got enough world class chefs already?

 

Dan is correct, it clearly says that those on salaries are getting laid off. We would be hourly workers.
Unless they shut the restaurants or stores, or they decrease the size of the restaurant then i wouldnt worry.

 

one more shift to go before london and 3 nights sleep.

 

Ok Wellington people, lets meet at 6 in the reception and head off to the tube together! Ok? Proprerly excited now!!

25 people only? Wow!! So looking forward to meeting everyone now!!

 

DUDE! I cant believe how soooooooooon it is!

 

I KNOW! I don't think its really sunk in yet!!! Eeek 2 more sleeps til I get on the train ;D

 

It hasn't even remotely sunk in for me, i didn't remotely imagine that when i had to leave last time, one day id get the chance to try and go back.

 

Ive just been to get everything to finish off my suit. . shirt, tie and shoes, tried it on. . yeeeaahh i look swish =p. Cant wait now! Tomorrow im going to print off the rest of the documents i need and then im all set!

Ok so were meeting at 6pm in the foyer of the Wellington! Sounds good! Im excited for TGI's! I had my last shift at work for 2 weeks yesterday, saved up some tips for the meal and for being a general tourist! =D

 

So those of us not staying in a hotel just meet at TGI's covent garden for 6.45pm?

 

work finished for a week now wahoo. nice 14 hour shift with only a 20 minute break, I honestly don't know what to do about my feet their just throbbing with pain.

How is everybody?

 

hey guys, just thought i'd wish you all luck for the F2F in case i don't get to say it a tad nearer. just be yourselves, be positive, happy, smiley etc and i'm sure you'll do fab!

 

woo hoo finished my last shift at work today, just have all my documents to get sorted tommorrow and then it's LONDON BABY yeah!!!!

Cant wait 8)