The Walt Disney Company denied employees at its theme parks and resorts near Orlando, Florida, the ability to go home early in the hours leading up to Hurricane Milton, employees said.
4 people working at various parks at Disney World told Business Insider Even though the weather turned bad on Wednesday, her boss refused to cancel her work, she said.
According to Business Insider, employees told the publication that they were expected to be on hand during and after park closures to help close the hatches, but the move meant that employees He said he felt in danger.
Employees also said they felt like they were “flying blind” due to poor communication from upper management, Business Insider reported.
Disney “cast members” complained on Wednesday morning that they were forced to work even though it was raining and the parks were empty, the news site reported.
Disney closed four parks in central Florida early Wednesday because of the approaching storm.
Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom closed to guests at 1 p.m. ET, Magic Kingdom and Epcot closed at 2 p.m., and the parks reopened Friday.
An employee who spoke to Business Insider estimated Magic Kingdom was at 10% capacity before Disney decided to close.
“I wish the park hadn't opened at all that day,” the employee said.
One of the workers told Business Insider that by the time they left at 2:45 p.m. ET, the weather in Orange County, where the park is located, had deteriorated enough for a tornado warning to be issued at 3:22 p.m. he said.
The few tourists who showed up at Disney World on Wednesday managed to enjoy a few hours of fun even as the employees who greeted them worried about the storm's impact on their homes.
“This is going to be fun,” Maryland chiropractor Dr. Craig Chavis posted on Instagram, along with a photo of his family enjoying the Magic Kingdom in the rain.
“But the park was almost empty today.”
Surrounding restaurants, shops and gas stations also remained open, sometimes despite opposition from employees.
“They enjoyed a few precious hours,” said Amy Chavers, who was waiting for a table at a family eatery near the theme park.
“Safety is always the first and most important factor when making decisions impacting our performers and guests, and throughout the storm we will provide frequent and timely updates on changes and ensure that even the worst of the weather “We made sure the cast members got home hours before they arrived in Central Florida,” Disney said in a statement to the Post.
Families staying at Disney resort hotels during the storm praised the company for keeping them informed of developments while ensuring their safety.
Disney expected some employees to be at the parks Thursday to clean, according to internal communications reviewed by Business Insider.
Disney managers told staff through the Cast Life app, an internal messaging service used to communicate with employees, that “Cast assistance may be needed for recovery efforts after the storm.”
“Cast members scheduled to work on October 10th, even in areas that will not be open to guests, should continue to call their local Cast Hotline and check the Disney Cast Life web/app for information regarding their schedules.”
A Disney employee told Business Insider it's “crazy” that a manager “not only expects me to call, but potentially goes out to the park to clean up.”
“It's disgusting.”
The employee said he chose not to come to work Thursday, regardless of the outcome.
“I don't feel safe driving at 7 a.m. tomorrow when the situation is over,” the employee told Business Insider on Wednesday night.
“Orlando is unique because, yes, it's landlocked, but we get horrible rain and horrible winds. And just because we're not washed away and we're dealing with storm surge and structural damage, That doesn’t mean it’s not scary.”
Earlier this week, Goldman Sachs estimated that Disney could lose between $150 million and $200 million due to the hurricane's impact on its theme parks.
Additional reporting by Steven Helling
