Abigail Disney, Disney heiress and great-niece of Walt Disney, condemned the company for its recent decision to reopen Walt Disney World in Florida. The park had temporarily shut due to the coronavirus pandemic. Back in May, it was announced that Disney World would begin reopening on July 11th with new social distancing guidelines in place. However, in the time since that announcement, cases of COVID-19 have shot up in Florida, and many experts are now considering it the epicenter of the disease in the United States. Despite the rise in cases in the state, Walt Disney World still stuck to its original date and begun phase one of the park’s reopening plan on July 11th.
This isn’t the first time that Abigail Disney has been critical of the company started by her great-uncle. Back in April, the heiress spoke out about Disney’s decision to furlough thousands of workers while still giving out billions in dividend payments to top-level executives. Although Abigail Disney doesn’t officially work for the company, her family name alone is enough to draw the attention of many, and she is one of the few individuals who can be openly critical of the media giant and actually have some kind of effect.
While speaking to CNBC, Abigail Disney said that the company’s choice to reopen Walt Disney World baffled her. Disney questioned the company’s abilities to keep employees and visitors safe, even with the new social distancing measures in place. Disney mentioned how it’s unfair for the company to put its employees in the position where they have to decide between being able to put food on the table or getting sick. She also brought up how many of the park’s employees have conditions like asthma and diabetes, putting them in potentially even more danger if they catch COVID-19. Disney said, “I’m not looking at the same information they’re looking at, but given what I do know … I’m confused about how they think they can possibly protect their guests and their employees.”
Many share Abigail Disney’s concerns about the health and safety of both the employees and park goers. Several cast members from California’s Disneyland spoke about their fears of returning to work. Some also question how much the company actually is willing to do to keep visitors and employees safe, as they recently dropped all the actors in the Equity union from working in the park because they didn’t want to regularly test them for COVID-19. As coronavirus cases surge around the country, it’s not just employees of the parks that have voiced concerns. Park guests even created a petition to delay Disneyland’s intended reopening.
While it may be upsetting that Disney has decided to reopen Walt Disney World, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. The company was projected to potentially lose $21 billion in revenue due to the parks’ closures. Other theme parks in the state, including Universal Studios in Orlando, have already reopened. One could argue that the happiness a place like Disney World could bring someone is needed during these times. However, as Abigail Disney has pointed out, the company’s efforts to keep its employees safe may not be as thorough as they should be. It is yet to be seen if the social distancing measures put in place for Walt Disney World will be effective, but for the sake of the employees and visitors of the park, hopefully they are.
