EPCOT is gearing up for its grand reopening celebration tomorrow — which will also be the official start date of the Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival.
Food and Wine Festival
And while we’ve been exploring the park during a special Cast Member preview this week, EPCOT’s World Showcase has felt a little different. Each pavilion is normally staffed by cultural representatives from each of the represented countries, but for now, it could be a long time before all of the cultural ambassadors can return to Disney World.
Back when the parks first extended their temporary closure dates, Disney World canceled all of its future college and cultural programs for candidates who were “due to arrive through early June.” Recently we learned college programs would not likely resume anytime soon. And now it appears some of Disney World’s cultural ambassadors are also receiving notification that their programs are being canceled through the end of the year.
EPCOT
We were contacted by several cultural representatives who told us they’d received word from Disney that their programs have been canceled. Even candidates who’d received offers had their offers withdrawn.
Since Disney World’s cultural ambassadors comprise a large portion of the workforce at EPCOT’s World Showcase, returning Cast Members will most-likely be filling in for them until they’re able to return. We’ll be checking in tomorrow on the pavilions to show you what EPCOT is like when it reopens so stay tuned for more updates.
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Will you be heading to EPCOT tomorrow for the reopening? Let us know in the comments below!
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EPCOT is EPCOT because of the international CMs. Without the authentic natives of the various lands, EPCOT is just another theme park with employees dressed-up in international costumes. More reason to stay away until Disney pulls it’s head out of it’s rectum.
I agree with NC-Dad, the World Showcase is such a great experience because of the International CM’s – Why can’t they continue the program but extend the timelines – example: Italy, Germany, Ireland CM’s come over on a chartered flight, they get Covid Tested before getting on flight, Isolate in Disney housing for 14 days, get Covid tested again and after 2 weeks, 2 tests and a nice flight ….they are all clear just like any other United States cast member who comes/goes to work everyday. We have so many crazy restrictions and travel bans, e ie: NY, NJ, Connecticut and we can figure it out for US Travel – I don’t think would be that hard to keep International program going, Disney has oodles of resources and can make it happen !
NC-Dad, that is a ridiculous statement. You are acting as if Disney is making this decision to save money. Most of these people CAN’T come back because of travel restrictions. We need to use a bit of common sense here before spouting off negative statements that have no validity.
AG:
Believe it or not, many parts of Europe are C19 free, or are getting there quickly. Italy, the hardest hit European nation, reported a long time ago, that “COVID is statistically gone.”
We, and the Britons, seem to be the only nations that are pretending C19 is still a deadly threat to our continued ways of life. The intentional misrepresentation of the Florida DOH C19 positive test numbers is yet another example of how state governments are keeping businesses hobbled for entirely political reasons. Florida is NOT the only state doing this; just the latest one that got caught.
My ultimate point is that if Disney wanted to bring back international CMs, they would make it happen. Extensive testing is not only feasible, but relatively inexpensive. Disney *IS* hurting financially, and the recent NBA deal was a way to pay off some of their recent $11 Billion in credit they have taken out since the C19 panic. At the end of the day, Disney IS all about the “Bottom Line” (aka MONEY)
AG, I couldn’t agree more but because those folks can’t come back presently, it sure does destroy the authentic atmosphere of World Showcase experience, especially dining. Epcot is my wife and my favorite place in Disney, but without the live music, cultural representatives in the restaurants I can’t go again until some normalcy returns and we miss it terribly.
Hey! How are you? My name is Martha and I am writing you from Mexico. Do you have any news about Disney International Programs? Specially about the Cultural Representative Program for 2022? I am really interested in participating but I have no idea if they are probably returning this year
Hi Martha! The Disney International Program has it’s own site where you can sign up to receive updates. I have provided the link for you, just click here! Good luck!