The damages at Walt Disney World due to Hurricane Irma were not as bad as they could have been. There were lots of downed trees and debris – but nothing that couldn’t be repaired. For the most part, all resorts were operational the next day with the exception of Fort Wilderness which had been evacuated before the storm.
Many of the Cast Members though weren’t so lucky. They have homes that are damaged and/or flooded. A few of the Cast Members I spoke to at The Polynesian Resort were happy to come to work where there is air conditioning. Missing 2 days of work when the parks were closed means lost wages for some when they are trying to rebuild and replace after the storm.
Disney has confirmed that they will pay the union and non-union members for their shifts for the two days that the parks were closed.
Disney had already announced they would donate $2.5 million to help those impacted by Hurricane Irma. During the storm Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Line donated meals, provided storage for supplies and power-utility vehicles, donated bedding to shelters, and made rooms available for first responders.
It’s a great gesture from the Disney company and kudos to the executives that made those decisions to take care of their employees as well as the community.
