This was April 1, 2019. What will happen on April 1, 2020?As you already know, the United States and the world are going to extreme efforts to slow down the spread of coronavirus. That includes shutting down the Walt Disney World theme parks, as well as many other attractions in Central Florida. Large gatherings are to be avoided. After March 15, the theme parks are currently scheduled to remain closed for the rest of the month, but what will happen after that? Will they reopen on April 1?
I have heard some news that concerns me a bit. Cast Members who are part of the Disney College Program (DCP) are receiving notices that their contracts for the rest of this season have been terminated. They are being told to go home, and not return. I have no official confirmation of this, but I have heard it in several different places. The DCP is currently in the Spring session, so the students should be here at least until May. The students are being told that they have successfully completed the program, so that they can leave in good standing. Like other Cast Members, they are being paid through the end of March. Update: according to the local news, it’s official.
The Disney College Program makes up much of the workforce at Walt Disney World. If you’ve ever noticed a Cast Member with a college on their nametag instead of a hometown, that person is in the Disney College Program. There are thousands of DCP Cast Members in many different roles. They make up a good part of the workforce here in Florida. I’ve heard that approximately 12,000 students are part of the Disney College Program each year, but that includes all sessions.
If the Walt Disney World theme parks are to reopen without the Disney College Program Cast Members, that is going to mean that there is a huge hole in the workforce. Most DCP employees have jobs where they work closely with the public, such as front gate, cashier, or ride attendant. These positions are essential to keep the parks running smoothly.
I don’t know if I’m looking for something that isn’t there. It could be that Disney expects the crowds to be low after March, so they figure that they will not need the DCP until the Summer session starts. It could also be that someone decided to start a rumor, to see how far it would spread (stranger things have happened). But if Disney has suspended the Disney College Program for the remainder of the Spring session, there has to be a reason for it. I hope that they aren’t planning for a longer closure than two weeks, but right now I wonder if that could be a possibility.