It’s been extremely hot at Disney World over the last two weeks. That’s not an unusual statement for Florida in summer, but this heat has been different.
The stifling temperatures have been in the high 90s, while the humidity has driven the “feels like” temperatures into the 100s. The heat wave topped out last week, when the “feels like” temperature was nearing 115 degrees.
Temperatures have regulated slightly this week, but Disney World is taking some precautions to protect cast members who must be out in the heat during the day. Earlier in the summer, Disney World constructed umbrellas for the photopass photographers to keep them out of the heat. Now, Disney is changing its parades to protect its performers.
Disney adjusted its Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade parade at Magic Kingdom today to protect the performers. During the 11:30 parade, Disney moved the costumed performers onto floats, rather than making them walk along the parade route.
During the 10:30 a.m. parade, many of the costumed performers, including Moana, Miguel, Woody, and Stitch, were walking along the parade route, but during the parade an hour later, Disney had moved them onto the floats.
While it was a minor adjustment to the parade, it kept those performers in heavy costumes from having to walk the parade route. It is unclear if this change will continue throughout the summer or if this was just a one-time event due to the heat.
However, this adjustment came after weeks of extreme heat in Central Florida. Due to a new Florida law, Disney is not obligated to protect its cast members from extreme heat.
Last year, the Florida Legislature passed a law stripping workers of protection from extreme heat, including mandatory water breaks and other basic protections from the Florida heat. House Bill 433 prohibits local governments from passing legislation that protects workers from extreme heat and laws requiring companies to raise the minimum wage beyond the state’s current $12 an hour.
With August starting to ramp up, expect more subtle changes like this to protect cast members as the extreme weather continues in Florida.
What’s your best way to beat the heat in Disney World during the summer months? Let us know in the comments.
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