Budget Cuts Continue at Walt Disney World, Still No Statement from Disney
Despite Disney’s refusal to make comment, heavy budget cuts continue at the domestic parks. In just the last few days, there have been multiple reports of many understaffed positions at the parks, leading to longer lines at restaurants, shops and resort front desks. These reports come after WDWNT.com ran a story about possible labor cuts coming to the U.S. parks dues to the Shanghai Disneyland project being over time and budget, as well as continuing losses at Disneyland Resort Paris.
In addition, a spokesperson for the Actors’ Equity Association has now come out and stated that 10 of the 29 Streetmosphere performers at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will not have their contracts renewed. Nine of the performers are full-time, while one works part-time. The performers will conclude their run at the park in mid-April.
Upon visiting the Magic Kingdom this weekend, it was also made clear that the Fairy Godmother meet and greet has been cut as well. Some other meet and greets around the resort have also been cut lately, most noticeably Princess Aurora at Epcot. Others are rumored to be cut in the weeks ahead.
Rumors also indicate that TradNation, the new performing group at Epcot is being cut in April, but that could be unrelated to budgetary concerns.