On June 6, 2023, Disneyland Paris Cast Members went on strike inside Disneyland Paris itself. This came as strikes also took place throughout Paris to protest President Macron’s recent changes to raise the retirement age in Paris. Ahead of the strike, Disneyland Paris released a statement in anticipation of the disruptions.
The following statement was released by Disneyland Paris:
Due to a planned strike at Disneyland Paris by our employees on Tuesday 6th June, certain shows or activities may be disrupted or even cancelled.
The Disney Parks and Hotels will remain open and we will do everything possible to continue to provide the best experience possible. If you wish, you are welcome to postpone your visit to a later date.
We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.
On the day of the strike, Cast Members made their way up and down Main Street at Disneyland Paris. Waving banners, wearing their costumes, and protesting, the Cast Members aimed to disrupt as much as they could at Disneyland Paris. This was not the first day that Cast Members had protested inside the park as they continue to dispute with Disney about their wages. Cast Members are looking for a monthly pay raise of 200 Euro per month along with higher pay for Sundays, among other better working conditions. They voted to go on strike on May 30, with nearly 1,000 Cast Members walking off the job.
The disruptions throughout the day led to not just the cancellation of entertainment, but also the closure of attractions. Toward the end of the day, the protestors could be seen streaming around Sleeping Beauty Castle in an effort to disrupt the evening’s performance of Disney D-Light and Disney Dreams. Ultimately, they were successful and the show was canceled for the evening.
On Social media, guests could be seen complaining about their experience at Disneyland Paris. In the parks, they could be heard booing when different entertainment options were canceled. At this point, Disney has said that negotiations with Disneyland Paris Cast Members will be happening in August. Disneyland Paris President Natacha Rafalski shared that a formal review will be completed in August. She also said that while the Resort is currently profitable, they still need to be careful.
If negotiations don’t happen until August, it would be unsurprising if there are more strikes in the coming days, weeks, and months. If you have a trip to Disneyland Paris planned between now and August, keep your eyes on the news and keep in contact with Disney and/or your travel agent (or Mouseways Travel, the official travel partner of Daps Magic).
Daps Magic will continue to monitor this story and provide updates on any big changes that happen with this story.
