World Economic Crisis

Friends

Regarding to the world economic crisis. This crisis also affects to our Tourism and Hospitality Industry. Lots of tour operators and hotels need to reduce the salary of their employees by 20-30% during this first quarter. Lots of factories need to lay off their workers. I also have heard from the news that some companies in USA also need to use those measurements to survive during this crisis period.

I asked my friend who live in US for a few years. She told me that economic in the U.S. is worse and worse, don't know how much Obama can change or improve the economic. The percentage of unemployed claim to government increase by 50% since last year (the unemployed people will ask for benefit from the government during their unemployment). Stock market crash, lots of business (even franchises) are closing down and lots of laid off plan are applied. People said this is the worst economic recession period in the U.S.

How about Disney? Do they still fine during this crisis period?

If we already be there and the economic keep getting worse, what will happen with us?

Any comment?

 

Disney are on a hiring freeze right now and have been for a while. Less places have been allocated for ICPs etc this year but summer is summer, they will still need extra cast.
Plus, we are cheaper than regular cast.

 

This is something that really concerns me.
Like here in Mexico the currency is falling every day, and the American Dollar is going higher and Higher, perhaps the price of the products is not going higher, but we see it on the banks, and I feel it on my economy, like I have to buy dollars or travelers checks for the first week(s) in Orlando so it's really hard to save and buy.
I Really hope that Obama finds a way to raise the American Economy.

 

It's going to be sad arriving in the states only because my money will all be cut nearly in half because of the dollar. Good thing i've had some training as a poor student

 

Someone did post on here a while back that Disney had made a lot of managers redundant, so yes I would say that they - like everyone - are feeling the effects. They will always need cultural representatives though, even if numbers go down.

 

Agreed. Disney seem to hire just the right amount of people they need for the International Programs so us lot should be unaffected.

They have let of a lot of people who are to do with the Disney Marketing and Imagineers.

I think they have also just released a load of US hired regular cast members as they do seem to have like 10 people cleaning the roads after a parade for example.

As the same time as all these cuts with cast members, firework shows and new attractions they've just announced they're going ahead on making Disneyland Shanghai for some reason.

 

I was there last year and between August and October when the crisis was becoming more and more evident we, as cast member, could really feel the difference!
Working in f&b where our income is made up by guests tips and this meant a huge difference in how much money we made.

For my friends in merchandising (paid by the hour) it meant deep cuts in the hours they worked, and considering how little they are paid by Disney, that really meant just getting enough to do the groceries, and making a lot of sacrifices in order to afford a trip or a night out....

I am sure that even Disney is being hit hard by this recession, meaning less guests and shorter and cheaper vacations.
It will take time to recover from this recession but it doesnt mean that this should prevent anybody from living their dream of going there, unless their dream is making tons of money....

 

Ouch, didn't even think they would consider cutting hours down but i guess it's down to Epcot opening hours. I know recently they've closed at 9.30 after illuminations.

From what i understand Disney are happy with Visitor numbers. They're getting about 35,000 in Magic Kingdom on a weekday which is about half full. Problem is that those people are not buying merchandise which like you said, means people are less likely to tip.

Soon as they're out of the recession i'm sure Disney will be hiring again

 

yes they did cut hours indeed. I had friends from merchandise who were working a 30hrs/week schedule and after taxes and rent had very little left for other things....

Epcot does close right after illuminations which is every night at 9pm

Being in f&w I was very aware of the discounts and incentive Disney gives in order to fill his hotels and park as much as possible, meaning free meals (Disney Dining) free park tickets and so on....
After all is better to break it even than losing money because your park and hotels are empty....

 

Exactly, i don't think they are loosing money right now but are breaking even.

I know they've cutting back everywhere they can from cutting Fantasmic to 2 or 3 nights a week, cutting 2 minutes from 'Wishes' and even stopped offering Full fat milk at restaurants that provide breakfasts. Only semi skimmed offered now

 

I don't think Shakespeare could have put it more eloquently, Matt ;D The title of this whole topic makes me want to dig a hole to Australia and put my head in it.

 

Thank you so much for lots of comments and so terribly sorry if this topic annoys some of your dream.

But I would like to talk about fact. So we can reach dream with some fact preparation and not get much hurt after that.

Disney is my dream as well. I kept waiting for nearly 2 years for the acceptation. A call from Disney on last September brighten my day and dream even though the crisis was happen at that time but it seem still too far to my dream. But after New Year, I (who is currently working in tourism industry) has lots of effects from this crisis. Some of my friends, who are working in hospitality industry, are forced to take leave without pay and work only 5 days per month during January. The company that I am now working just announce that the company turnover is now minus 25% and need to apply salary deduction measurements very soon if the result of turnover still being minus for 2 more months. (Please note that this company is top 5 big tour operator in my country and also suffer from the crisis.). That is why I'm so worry about our future.

I sent a message to ask a recruiting staff of Disney regarding to this topic. Her answer make me quite sure that we will not be kicked off during the contract. But I think our situation will be like NAMMYIT said (they did cut working hours to be only around 30 hr/week)

Let's say our wage is at around 7-8$ per hour before tax. (non tipped position)
30 hour/week x 7$ = 210$/week before tax (Anyone know the tax rate in Florida?)
210$ - 100$ rent/week = 110$

We will have only 100$ left each week (14.2$/day) for groceries, party, personal entertainment e.g. movies, books, trip to somewhere, etc...

It is good that we can reach our dream with Disney and with 14.2$/day we can still survive with some food but no entertainment. No entertainment is a bit sad part.

Hopefully, Mr.Obama can help to improve economic situation.

GIVE A FINGER CROSS

Mr.Walt Disney, please do me a favor to give all of us a magic, like it can be done as always.

 

that's depressing math! haha. At least we can just go to the parks everyday - it's free! (we just can't buy anything!!)

 

Hey it's much better to confront the problem than bury your head in the sand, even if Matt and I would very much like to do that ;D As for the bit I just quoted... well we're gonna be working 5 days/week whatever (if they cut the shifts down rather than the days, which would make sense) so we're only gonna really have 2 days to actually spend the money hehe! And groceries can probably be got for $30, $10 if you're totally careful. So that leaves $90 to spend on your days off

None of us are going out there to seek our fortune, and there are plenty of things to do with little/no money (like the parks, Mickey's retreat, the pool in the complexes, a car share to a beach, window shopping, just having a nice relaxing film day with your room mates... the list goes on!) The whole "go and see America at the end of the year" thing might be something that is affected badly, but at the end of the day we have our whole lives to do that

 

i was hoping by july 28th the whole thing will have subsided a bit, but i get the impression it could last a few years (what happened in the previous uk recession? like in the 70s/80s)

 

Thank you so much Helen. Your message make me feel better.

I'm quite worry about this as I need to leave my current job to follow my dream and take some risk. So ....only keep thinking about this...and tension cover all of my mood.

You are right, Kate. At least we can enjoy exploring the theme park for free but on duty, right? hehehehehe

How about Louisa and Stu? They are already there, right? Any news from them? Maybe they can tell us the update situation.

As per name list of 2009 CRP from Matt - Jess and Sarah need to be there on 17 Feb 2009. So maybe they can send us the update news....

Hope to get good news ;D

GIVE FINGER CROSS

Have A Magical Day

 

You'd have to be super frugal to survive on £6-7 for the week, less than £1 a day, the cost of milk and cereal for breakfast alone takes a significant portion of this. Saying this though, as a custodial ICP last summer I managed perfectly well on my salary of roughly $150, saving a bit each week despite going out to places, to end up roughly breaking even when you add the cost of the flight over there (less of an issue for CRP). Whatever happens you'll have a magical time - its fantastic over there.

 

Yes you shouldnt worry if this of going to Disney is your dream like it was for me.
It took me almost 3 years to get there and if I went back i'd do it all over again even with all the problems and difficulties I encountered along the way....

during my time there I was amazed on how my friends from merchandise could enjoy themselves even with so little money they had. They were a very tight knit group and they spent their evenings having dinners together, going to movies while during the day they could sunbathe in the pool, go to the parks for free and do so many things that didnt cost a single penny....
At the end of the day is friendship what makes it all worth...is the good time you spend with your friends and the relationships you create that will last a lifetime (thank you facebook


I think that in the 2nd semester of this year things will get a LITTLE better, and surely the new president is working really hard to make things better....but we cannot have unrealistic expectations on Obama....he's not a prince charming on his white horse who came to rescue the economy with a magic wand.....
unlike 9/11 when the crisis was mainly psychological this crisis is structural and it will take years to fully recover from this.
but this doesnt mean that Disney should not focus on the long term putting big projects in the oven like new rides, new shows, new parks (Disneyland Shanghai) and even new ships for the Disney cruise line (expected in 2011 and 2012)
As soon as the recession ends people will search for new way to spend and be entertained, and Disney willl be ready as always to open its gate once again!!!

 

what?! he's NOT a prince charming?
hehe but seriously, i do have a lot of faith in him. he seems like the guy who'll give a fairly realistic target for getting through this, and then manage to do it in half! i hope so anyway

as cherry says, just keep our fingers crossed and all that jazz!