NEWS: Vaccinating Theme Park Workers Could Be Beneficial for Many Reasons, Local Union Says

Florida is in the process of distributing the COVID-19 vaccine to those who are currently eligible.

Cast Members

A number of individuals are eligible for the vaccine right now including persons age 60 and older, and others. But, many Disney Cast Members may not fall into that group. One union which represents Disney World Cast members and other theme park workers has now indicated that they feel that should change.

President Biden has indicated that the COVID-19 vaccine could reach every adult in the U.S. by May and that every adult in America may be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine by May. But, at the moment, only select groups of individuals are eligible to receive the vaccine in many states, including Florida.

Health and Safety Signs in Disney Springs

In Florida, the vaccine is available for: persons 60 years of age and older, persons determined to be extremely vulnerable by a physician, health care workers with direct patient contact, K-12 school employees 50 years of age and older, and firefighters 50 years or age and older.

Health and Safety Sign

But, one local union is now suggesting that Theme Park workers should be given some priority when it comes to the next groups of eligible individuals to receive the vaccine. Unite Here! Local 362 is a union that represents food service, hotel, and theme park workers in Central Florida, including some Disney World Cast Members.

Cast Members singing outside Muppet Vision 3-D

Recently, the union shared a video from Lauren Seabrook WFTV, a local reporter that covers Orange County, Florida. In the video, Seabrook indicates that Governor DeSantis has said he’s not going to be making any changes in terms of the COVID-19 distribution categories based on occupation anymore. But, Seabrook notes that Mayor Demmings, the mayor of Orange County, has been making special requests for certain jobs in terms of vaccine eligibility. So, Seabrook says she spoke with Demmings about whether theme park employees might be next.

Cast Members Welcoming Everyone Back!

According to Seabrook, from her conversation with Mayor Demmings, she says she got the feeling that when he talked about essential workers getting the vaccine, he was talking about grocery store workers or other groups like that next. So, Seabrook says she pushed him to ask how high up on the list theme park workers are. Demmings reportedly said it depends on the inventory of COVID-19 vaccine they get in Orange County.

Cast Member at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

As Seabrook’s notes in the news report, theme park employees are often in close quarters with other guests. Eric Clinton, a Unite Here Local 362! representative, said there’s something like over 30,000 service workers back at work in the theme parks and hotels, many of whom primarily live in Orange County.

Clinton said that vaccinating theme park employees could get them back to work for a few reasons. First, Clinton noted that theme parks, he specifically said Disney World, would likely have an interest in saying publicly that their employees are being vaccinated. According to the news video, Clinton also noted that it’s the right thing to do for the workers who have been working in the parks to keep things going. And, vaccinating theme park employees could make tourists feel more comfortable.

Cast Member

You can see the full news story below.

Governor Ron DeSantis should put workers first for vaccinations! We are essential! #OurShot

Posted by Unite Here! Local 362 on Tuesday, March 16, 2021

At the moment, theme park workers in Orange County are not specifically eligible for the vaccine due to the their jobs. But they would be eligible if they fall in one of the other categories (for example, if they are 60 years of age or older). We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more updates.