In our A Total Trip series, writers document what they spent on a recent getaway. In this edition, Lonely Planet guidebook writer, Kerry Walker, shows us how much a coastal family break costs in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
27.07.2023 - 18:35 / smartertravel.com / Tim Winship / Bernie Sander
Is “The Happiest Place on Earth” rightly so-called? One prominent politician thinks not.
Bernie Sanders, would-be presidential candidate and self-described critic of the “rigged economy,” likened Disney’s employment practices to those of Wal-Mart, the iconic discounter that has come in for widespread criticism for compensating its workers with such meager salary and benefits that many are forced to resort to food stamps and other government relief.
Speaking at a political rally near Anaheim, home of Disneyland, Sanders called out Disney for engaging in similar employment practices:
According to Politico’s coverage of the event, the audience response to the living wage question was a resounding “No!”
Related:10 Places NOT to Go this SummerSanders went on to contrast the $44.9 million salary of Disney’s CEO, Robert Iger, with wages paid to Disneyland workers “that are so low that many of them are forced to live in motels because they can’t afford a decent place to live.”
All is not well, apparently, behind Goofy’s grin and Mickey’s merrymaking.
Predictably, Disney’s Iger took issue with Sanders’ criticisms, responding on Facebook as follows:
While job creation is of course a good thing, it misses Sanders’ essential point: Some Disney workers aren’t being paid a living wage.
In its simplest form, there are three interrelated variables in play here: the compensation of Disney workers, Disney’s profits, and the price of tickets to Disney parks. If employees are to be better compensated, Disney must be willing to accept lower profits or park visitors must be willing to pay more for tickets.
Something has to give. With admission prices already hovering around $100, it may be time for Disney to lower its profit expectations a bit. That’s a small price to pay to keep “The Happiest Place on Earth” from degenerating from a heartfelt promise into an ironic tagline.
Reader Reality Check
Do Disney’s employment practices affect your interest in visiting the company’s parks?
More from SmarterTravel: Your Uber Driver: Safer (or Less Safe) than Average? Is Airbnb Killing the Hotel Business? Get 1,000 United Miles, QuicklyAfter 20 years working in the travel industry, and 15 years writing about it, Tim Winship knows a thing or two about travel. Follow him on Twitter @twinship.
We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
In our A Total Trip series, writers document what they spent on a recent getaway. In this edition, Lonely Planet guidebook writer, Kerry Walker, shows us how much a coastal family break costs in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
As somebody who frequently travels between New York City and Washington, DC, I'm thankful for the many different transportation options available.
A few minutes into a “guided” walk along the new Tamara Coast to Coast Way, which roughly traces the border of Cornwall and Devon, my guide is looking sheepish. We’re standing in a grassy field flanked by overgrown hedgerows and with no discernible exit. I was promised a panoramic view of the Tamar river stretching off into the distance.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Morgan Duram, a full-time content creator who moved from Michigan to Madrid. It has been edited for length and clarity.
A new restaurant in the middle of the Hardangerfjord in Norway is wowing — and scaring — TikTok.
It’s easy to paint a certain picture of Martha’s Vineyard if you’ve never been. Ahead of my first visit last month, I imagined what’s synonymous with most well-known islands: unspoiled beaches, freshly caught seafood, an unhurried pace of life. But I also imagined locals who were insular, conservative, and flashy with their wealth.
A key selling point of rideshare services like Uber and Lyft is their transparency. Users know where their ride is, how soon it will arrive to pick them up, and how much the fare will be to their destination.
Beginning today, many visitors to Disney theme parks will pay more for the privilege of posing for selfies with Mickey & Co. But some will pay less. And others will pay a so-called regular rate, that is actually a price increase. Yes, it’s complicated.
We’re proud to announce the winners of the 2017 SmarterTravel Editors’ Choice Awards. We spent six months and enlisted eight subject experts to select our Editors’ Choice winners, and then turned it over to you, our readers.
With multiple airlines (at the time of writing Delta, Alaska, and American) instituting a “smart luggage ban,” travelers have a right to be concerned if they travel with that pricey smart bag they bought. The part of the product in question is the suitcase’s battery, which with new regulations, must be removed in order to bring the bag onboard.
We’re proud to announce the winners of the 2018 SmarterTravel Editors’ Choice Destination Awards. We’ve scoured the world to find the best places to go in 2018.
Uber is known, and mostly loved, for its on-demand ridesharing service. Need a lift? Launch the Uber app on your smartphone, and within minutes a car and driver will be idling at the curb, at your service.