CONFIRMED: Disney Agrees To Pay $233 Million to Cast Members in Wage Theft Settlement

The Walt Disney Company has agreed to settle.

Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland

Disney is no stranger to controversy. This year alone, the company has been sued due to allegations of negligence, was hit with a lawsuit over in-park injuries, and even sued over property taxes. That’s why it’s no surprise to see Disney’s name in the headlines again.

According to the Orange County Register, after a five-year dispute, the Walt Disney Company has agreed to pay $233 million to its Disneyland Cast Members.

Disneyland Cast Members

The issue began when Disney claimed it was exempt from a living wage initiative in 2018. It required businesses within the city’s resort district to pay workers $15 an hour beginning in January 2019 with a $1 raise each year until 2022. Ultimately, it was decided that this wasn’t the case with Disney having to pay the money after all.

A look inside Disneyland.

Of the $233 million, $179.6 million will go to the plaintiffs for back pay and retirement, $17.5 million will go to penalties for the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, and $35 million will contribute toward attorney fees.

Disneyland

The lawsuit was first filed in 2019, and the courts initially sided with Disney — which unions later appealed. Unless Disney chooses to appeal, plaintiffs in the case can expect payments in July 2025.

Disneyland crowds

According to an attorney for the Cast Members, Randy Renick, this will be the biggest settlement of this kind in the state of California. This is coming after Disney agreed to a “historic pay raise” earlier this year for Disney ride operators, merchandise employees, parking attendants, and more in order to avoid a strike.

Main Street U.S.A.

Vice President of communications for Disneyland Resort, Suzie Brow, said in a statement, “We are pleased that this matter is nearing resolution.” As always, we will share updates as they happen. Be sure to keep following AllEars.Net for the most up-to-date Disney news.