Park notes: Disney World actors reach furlough agreement / Universal Orlando science

The union that represents actors at Disney World has reached a deal that will see its 800 members furloughed during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Employees represented by the Actors’ Equity Association will be temporarily laid off starting April 19, just like tens of thousands of other employees at the resort. Like deals reached with other Disney World unions, the AEA agreement protects members’ health benefits while the resort is shut down.

“We are proud to be able to reach agreement on our primary goals, to ensure both continued access to health care throughout the furlough, and a guaranteed return to employment under the contract for everyone on the Equity agreement,” Russell Lehrer, AEA’s chief negotiator, said in a press release.

Disney World employees had been paid since the theme parks shut down in mid-March due to the spread of COVID-19. The resort remains closed until further notice. While Disney is accepting hotel and dining reservations for June 1 and beyond, that does not guarantee the parks or hotels will reopen at that time.

Educational videos use Universal Orlando rides to teach science and math

Roller coasters and dark rides can be educational in a new series of videos released by NBC News for use by schools.

The “Science of Universal Orlando Resort” series includes five videos that use Universal attractions to illustrate science and math concepts. For example, the video for Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit explains how Newton’s laws of motion are demonstrated on a roller coaster.

Other rides featured in the series are Revenge of the Mummy, Transformers: The Ride 3D, and Skull Island: Reign of Kong, along with a video focused on the Jurassic Park section of Islands of Adventure.

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