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Disney Cast Members to Go On Strike In June – Here’s What to Expect

cast member strike disneyland paris
Credit: DLP Report

It’s been a wild year for Disney.

From lawsuits and layoffs to movie flops and “woke” criticism, the Walt Disney Company has been the center of multiple headline stories. The Disney100 celebration is in full swing at Disney Parks across the world, but the focus has been on Disney’s woes.

Now, a disagreement about pay and benefits is leading hundreds of Disney Park Cast Members to strike in June, leading to disruptions and cancelations at the theme parks.

castle disneyland paris

Credit: Disney Tips

In the ongoing feud between Disney and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Disney CEO Bob Iger has affirmed that The Walt Disney Company is being punished for free speech amid controversial lawsuits and a presidential campaign.

But now, attention has been directed away from the Walt Disney World Resort in Central Florida to Disneyland Paris in France, which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary.

Disneyland Paris Cast Members arrived today, June 3, in Central Plaza for a third day of strikes and demonstrations after Disney has so far ignored their demands. Hotel, maintenance, security, and theme park employees all participated, following previous demonstrations by 200 employees on May 10, and 500 strikers on May 23.

The European strike comes just weeks after Disney Cast Members at Walt Disney World reached a new deal with Disney regarding higher wages. Over 500 Cast Members showed up today to protest their disagreements with Disney’s pay and benefits.

disneyland paris strike cast members

Credit: DLP Report

Not surprisingly, attraction wait times reached four times higher than usual during the strike, leading to disappointed Guests at the popular Disneyland Paris Park.

The Cast Members’ strike, organized by Disneyland Paris Union UNSA, led to several parades officially getting canceled by Disney Park management. The “Dream…and Shine Brighter” parade was canceled this morning as Cast Members staged a sit-down on Main Street, U.S.A.

Guests can expect rides, shows, and more to continue to be disrupted as the strike continues. The Disneyland Paris Resort sent out a warning message to Guests visiting the Park on the days of the strike, informing them about the possibility of numerous disruptions in the Disney Paris theme parks:

“Important Information. Due to a planned strike, certain shows or activities may be disrupted or even cancelled on Saturday 3 June. 

Information on showtimes will be updated in real-time on our official Disneyland Paris mobile app on the day. 

We apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding. We wish you a magical day at Disneyland Paris.”

disneyland paris message strikes

Credit: Disney

Due to the Cast Member strike action, Disneyland Paris is implementing flexible terms for current bookings. Guests may postpone their visit to a later date, dated tickets may be rescheduled or refunded, and non-dated ticket registrations can be moved back as late as 10:00 a.m. on Saturday.

We’re not sure when the Cast Member strikes will end, but we have learned that Disneyland Paris Guests can expect future strikes and disruption starting June 6 that will be renewed on a daily basis:

Disneyland Paris Cast Members and Unions have decided to go on a new strike starting Tuesday June 6, renewed on a daily basis, letting Disneyland Paris know the ball is in their court.

Expect entertainment cancellations, demonstrations and disruptions to general operations.

In an interesting move, Disney Cast Members distributed flyers in six different languages to Guests at the France Disney Park.

The flyers were handed out during their demonstration, apologizing and encouraging Guests to go to City Hall if they wanted a refund for their Disney vacation:

Cast Members are giving out flyers in 6 languages to Guests during their demonstration, apologizing and encouraging them to go to City Hall if they’d like a refund:

What’s the Disneyland Paris strike about?

Disneyland Paris employees are on strike to demand higher wages. Cast Members for the Disneyland Paris Resort are demanding a monthly wage increase of €200, increased mileage allowances, and more flexible scheduling. They’ve stated that their wages have not kept up with the rate of inflation.

Forbes reports that one striking Disney Cast Member told Le Parisien that union members had attempted to meet with Disney management earlier in the morning, but were turned away.

The fact that strikes called for by the unions are scheduled is a surprising development. Previous demonstrations had been spontaneous, but these strikes have been officially planned by the unions, indicating the demands are very serious.

If Disneyland Paris Cast Members and The Walt Disney Company fail to come to an agreement, Disneyland Paris Guests may see future upheaval and cancelations at the theme parks in the future. Who knows if these kinds of Cast Member strikes will be seen at Walt Disney World, Disneyland in California, or Parks across the world.

Disneyland Paris consists of two theme parks (Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios Park), seven Resort hotels, and a shopping and dining district known as Disney Village. It was previously known as Euro Disney when it opened back in 1992.

About Melissa Cannioto

Melissa is an author, adventurer, and chatterbox, who has worked at Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris, and Adventures by Disney! A British native, she has traveled the world seeking new experiences, and now resides in Florida with her husband, an Air Force pilot. Find her children's book at @bear.hug.book