Tag: walt disney world
Disney heiress Abigail Disney says she was ‘livid’ about worker conditions at theme park after going undercover
Walt Disney Co. heiress Abigail Disney Opens a New Window. said “The Happiest Place on Earth” isn’t bringing joy to theme park employees.
Disney revealed to Yahoo! News’ “Through Her Eyes” Opens a New Window. that she recently went undercover to Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., and was left “livid” after seeing the conditions employees endured. The heiress said she decided to conduct her own investigation after a distressed worker contacted her on Facebook.
“Every single one of these people I talked to were saying, ‘I don’t know how I can maintain this face of joy and warmth when I have to go home and forage for food in other people’s garbage,’” she told Yahoo! News in an interview published Monday.
“I was so livid when I came out of there because, you know, my grandfather taught me to revere these people that take your tickets, that pour your soda,” Disney added. “Those people are much of the recipe for success.”
Disney, who does not have an active role in the company, then directed her criticism toward Bob Iger, saying the Disney CEO isn’t doing enough to help the company’s employees.
“Bob needs to understand he’s an employee, just the same as the people scrubbing gum off the sidewalk are employees,” the heiress said. “And they’re entitled to all the same dignity and human rights that he is.”
Disney’s comments came the same day Bloomberg Opens a New Window. reported the theme park was tracking guests through its smartphone apps and electronic wristband MagicBand. Theme park officials can then see which rides attendees prefer and what TV and film merchandise is flying off the shelves.
In April, Disney made headlines when she wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post slamming Iger for his $65.6 million salary. The CEO earned 1,424 times more than the median Disney employee last year, according to a study by Equilar. The company has faced criticism in recent years over its pay policies at Disneyland and other theme parks.
“The system is the problem, and the people inside of the system who are perfectly comfortable with the system are the problem,” the philanthropist and filmmaker said in Monday’s interview. “I don’t think any president of the United States has as much power as some CEOs in this country.”
A Disney spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News on Monday that the company, under Iger’s leadership, has made an initial commitment of $150 million to fund its Disney Aspire initiative for the first five years. The program, which Disney plans to continue investing in in the future, is aimed at providing employees the opportunity to pursue higher education.
“Disney is at the forefront of providing workforce education, which is widely recognized as the best way to create economic opportunity for employees and empower upward mobility,” the statement read. “Our Disney Aspire initiative is the most comprehensive employee education program in the country, covering 100 percent of all tuition costs, books and fees so our hourly workers can pursue higher education free of charge, and graduate free of debt.”
“Disney also provides flexible schedules and subsidized childcare to make it easier for employees to take advantage of this opportunity–and we’re proud that more than 40 percent of our 88,000-plus hourly employees have already signed up to participate,” the spokesperson added. “American workers need meaningful change; they deserve smart policies and practical programs, like Disney Aspire, that empower them to achieve their goals and ensure they are part of the most competitive workforce in the world.”
Abigail Disney joined more than a dozen billionaires last month urging lawmakers to raise their taxes Opens a New Window. . The billionaires penned a letter addressed to 2020 presidential candidates asking them to support “a moderate wealth tax” on billionaires to fund projects addressing issues such as clean energy, infrastructure and healthcare.
Disney said she signed the letter because she has “more than enough” money.
“And if you’ve got $1 billion, there’s not a thing on this earth you can’t afford,” Disney said.
Article via FoxBusiness
Disney World Bus Driver Accused of Luring 15-Year-Old Girl for Sex Through ‘Whisper’ App
A Walt Disney World bus driver has been arrested after deputies say he tried to lure a 15-year-old girl for sex, authorities said.
Kevin Van Orman, 35, was taken into custody on March 25 by undercover detectives when he arrived at a home in Bartow, Florida, where he planned to meet up with the teenage girl for sexual activities, television station WFTS in Tampa Bay reported on Monday.
Van Orman used the app “Whisper” to respond to a post that had been placed by an undercover detective pretending to be a 15-year-old girl, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
As the conversation continued, Van Orman asked the girl to meet up with him while she was on a trip to Disney World, according to the report.
Van Orman also solicited another undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl, the arrest report stated.
During the conversation, the user told him that she was 14-years-old.
Van Orman replied stating that he was 35-years-old, followed by: “But we can keep talking if you’d like.”
Following his arrest, Van Orman told detectives “I think I’m addicted to sex” and “for some reason tonight I was thinking with the wrong head,” according to the arrest report. He also said, “Some of the 16 years old I’m attracted to. I see them every day. The worst ones are the Brazilians.”
Van Orman was a bus driver at Walt Disney World, according to his booking information with the jail. A spokesperson with Disney said he is on unpaid leave pending the outcome of the charges.
The arrest report states that Van Orman is married and has a 5-year-old daughter, a 2-year-old son and his wife is currently four months pregnant.
He has been charged with lewd battery, using a computer to solicit a child and traveling to meet after using a computer to lure a child.
Van Orman was released on bail.