Why Some Disney World Employees Say the Magic Is Gone at Work

The state minimum wage in Florida is currently $13 an hour, nearly twice the federal minimum wage of $7.25, which has not increased since 2009. Florida’s minimum wage is set to increase by $1 an hour at the end of September until it reaches $15 an hour in 2026.

If you’re a Florida resident, working at the Walt Disney World Resort is a good way to get a job that pays above the minimum wage and has some great benefits. Disney World cast members start at $20 an hour, a 35 percent increase over the Florida minimum wage. Cast members also get free park entry and discounts on merchandise, food, and hotel rooms.

Despite the perks, it doesn’t appear that people who work at Disney World enjoy their time there. U.S. News and World Reports released its list of the 25 best companies in Florida to work for, and Walt Disney World is not included on the list.

U.S. News and World Reports ranked the companies based on six factors: Quality of pay and benefits, work-life balance and flexibility, job and company stability, physical and psychological comfort, belongingness and esteem, and career opportunities and professional development. Employees were asked to rate their employer on a scale of one to five for each of the six categories.

Grocery chain Publix, Westgate Resorts, Margaritaville, and Hard Rock Hotels and Restaurants were all ranked in the top 10. Fanatics, which has its corporate headquarters in Jacksonville, came in at 25 with a composite score of 19.

By not making the list, Disney World scored three or less in all six categories. The largest single-site employer in the United States, with over 77,000 workers, is no longer a desirable place for its cast members. 

Since the pandemic, being a cast member has gotten significantly more difficult. Pay raises they have received have been gobbled up by inflation, affordable housing has become more difficult to find, and there have been more incidents of unruly and rude guests.

All those factors have now caught up with Disney as it is no longer a desirable workplace, especially now that there are so many other companies in Florida whose employees are satisfied with their jobs.