Disneyland Resort is recalling 232 food and beverage employees back to work immediately, now that California is once again allowing outdoor dining.
With theme parks remaining closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Disney California Adventure reopened some shopping and dining locations towards the front of the park in November. Dining locations had to close again three weeks later due to a new stay-at-home order imposed when hospitalizations began surging across the state.
That order was lifted Monday. On Wednesday, the Workers United 50 union announced that a total of 232 employees will be immediately called back to work: 138 in quick service positions at Award Weiners and Smokejumpers Grill, 71 in table service at the Carthay Circle restaurant and 23 for work at outdoor vending carts.
According to the Orange County Register, more than 400 Disneyland employees are expected to be recalled to work thanks to the return of outdoor dining to California Adventure and the Downtown Disney district.
During the stay-at-home order, retail locations were allowed to remain open, but dining locations could not allow any on-site consumption. Some Downtown Disney restaurants, such as La Brea Bakery and Naples Ristorante, elected to close entirely than rely solely on takeout business.
California’s most recent COVID-19 surge — perhaps the result of a new, locally-created mutation in the virus — is slowing down and COVID-19 vaccinations are ramping up. But as Theme Park Tribune covered earlier this week, a full reopening of Disneyland and other parks is still months away.
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