SUMMER: BREAKING NEWS TONIGHT, THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY JUST ANNOUNCED IT’S LAYING OFF ABOUT 28,000 WORKERS ACROSS ITS CENTRAL FLORIDA AND CALIFORNIA THEME PARKS. IT’S UNCLEAR HOW MANY OF THOSE WORKERS ARE HERE IN OUR AREA, BUT DISNEY SAYS TWO-THIRDS OF THE PLANNED LAYOFFS INVOLVE PART-TIME WORKERS. A SPOKESPERSON CALLED THE MOVE A “VERY DIFFICULT DECISION,” ADDING IT’S SPEAKING WITH IMPACTED EMPLOYEES AND UNIONS ABOUT THEIR NEXT STEPS. STEWART: AFTER MORE THAN 3 DECADES, A BAND WHO FILLED DISNEY’S GRAND FLORIDIAN RESORT WITH UPBEAT TUNES IS SAYING FAREWELL. THE GRAND FLORIDIAN SOCIETY ORCHESTRA PLAYED TOGETHER INSIDE THE RESORT FOR 32 YEARS AND HAS BEEN WELL KNOWN BY FANS AND GUESTS ALIKE. LIKE MANY DURING THE CORONAVIRUS, THE BAND WAS PUT ON FURLOUGH AND WERE PLAYIN
Video above: Disney laying off 28,000 workersAs news of mass layoffs were happening at their favorite theme park, Disney bloggers from Florida tapped into their online audience to raise nearly $40,000 for their local food bank.Sarah and Tom Bricker have been offering advice since 2011 about all things Disney on their blog, DisneyTouristBlog.com, according to the website.When the Central Florida couple heard that Disney would be laying off thousands of employees, they created a virtual fundraising drive for Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, which has been helping to feed “miles long lines” of Floridians affected by the pandemic, the couple said on their blog.”Whether you live in Central Florida or not, we’re all part of the same community as Walt Disney World fans,” the Brickers said on their blog after donating $500 to the cause themselves. “Please join us in helping to give back to those who have made so much magic for us all over the years.”The food bank has doubled its daily distribution during pandemic relief efforts from 150,000 to 300,000 meals a day due to the heightened, sustained need, according to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida Spokeswoman Erika Spence.”They started the page as a way for their blog community to support local tourism workers who have been economically impacted by recent theme park layoffs, reduced attendance and other factors affecting our local workforce,” Spence told CNN.The couple’s initial goal was to raise $2,000 but that was quickly surpassed.”They raised the first $25,000 within 24 hours and as of this morning have raised over $37,000,” Spence told CNN. “Each dollar raised can provide four meals to families in need.”After Disney closed its gates due to coronavirus in March, park officials announced the excess food from the park would be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank in Orange County, CNN has reported.”With the scale of these layoffs and the unemployment numbers in Central Florida, even more help is still urgently needed in our community,” the Brickers said in a blog update. They also encouraged other Disney fans on the West Coast to consider donating to Second Harvest Food Bank in Orange County that serves California.
Video above: Disney laying off 28,000 workers
As news of mass layoffs were happening at their favorite theme park, Disney bloggers from Florida tapped into their online audience to raise nearly $40,000 for their local food bank.
Sarah and Tom Bricker have been offering advice since 2011 about all things Disney on their blog, DisneyTouristBlog.com, according to the website.
When the Central Florida couple heard that Disney would be laying off thousands of employees, they created a virtual fundraising drive for Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, which has been helping to feed “miles long lines” of Floridians affected by the pandemic, the couple said on their blog.
“Whether you live in Central Florida or not, we’re all part of the same community as Walt Disney World fans,” the Brickers said on their blog after donating $500 to the cause themselves. “Please join us in helping to give back to those who have made so much magic for us all over the years.”
The food bank has doubled its daily distribution during pandemic relief efforts from 150,000 to 300,000 meals a day due to the heightened, sustained need, according to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida Spokeswoman Erika Spence.
“They started the [fundraising] page as a way for their blog community to support local tourism workers who have been economically impacted by recent theme park layoffs, reduced attendance and other factors affecting our local workforce,” Spence told CNN.
The couple’s initial goal was to raise $2,000 but that was quickly surpassed.
“They raised the first $25,000 within 24 hours and as of this morning have raised over $37,000,” Spence told CNN. “Each dollar raised can provide four meals to families in need.”
After Disney closed its gates due to coronavirus in March, park officials announced the excess food from the park would be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank in Orange County, CNN has reported.
“With the scale of these layoffs and the unemployment numbers in Central Florida, even more help is still urgently needed in our community,” the Brickers said in a blog update.
They also encouraged other Disney fans on the West Coast to consider donating to Second Harvest Food Bank in Orange County that serves California.