Disney announced today that in its latest cost cutting move, it would be slashing funding for its Aspire higher education program for cast members.
Cinderella’s Castle in Walt Disney World via 4K WDW YouTube
Aspire is a program in which Disney previously would cover 100% of the cost of higher education for cast members. It was seen as an investment in the people who work for the company full time, allowing them to advance and make a career with the House of Mouse.
However, as of November 27, 2024, Disney will institute a funding cap of $5,250 for in-networks schools. With college tuition and fees for private universities reaching $38,421, Disney is severely limiting the ability of its workers to seek higher education and advance within the organization.
The average Walt Disney World cast member makes $34,916 per year, according to Zip Recruiter.
Walt Disney World sign via Orlando Streets YouTube
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Disney will still fund the first term of current cast members enrolled in Aspire between now and late November. However, it’s likely that the funding cap will be instituted for those employees after that. This means many cast members who have enrolled in school will be forced to drop out.
The Masters programs and the Penn Foster Trades programs within Aspire have been ended, effective immediately, with enrollment shut down.
Disney Aspire, The Walt Disney Company’s education investment and career development program for Cast Members, is receiving major changes.
Effective immediately, Master’s programs and Penn Foster Trades programs will no longer be available for new enrollment through Disney… pic.twitter.com/thUD7OiyZn
— Drew Smith (@DrewDisneyDude) September 6, 2024
X user Jacko B. Graphic, a former Disney College Program cast member noted the impact this will have on cast member morale going forward.
“During my DCP, every cast member praised the Aspire program,” they said on Twitter. “Recruiters said it was the reason to go full time. Leaders said it was the best perk about staying with Disney. This decision is going to tank CM morale, increase their turnover rate, and ultimately make service worse.”
During my DCP, EVERY CAST MEMBER praised the Aspire program. Recruiters said it was THE reason to go full time. Leaders said it was THE best perk about staying with Disney.
This decision is going to tank CM morale, increase their turnover rate, and ultimately make service worse https://t.co/B3qKdYwNwB
— Jacko B. Graphic (@1928Fantasmic) September 6, 2024
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An X user named Johnald also voiced displeasure with this decision by the company.
“Disney basically destroying the Disney Aspire program is honestly one of the most idiotic things the company could have done,” he said. “For a company that loves to tout about growing and development of cast members, this move is incredibly contradictory and hurts a lot of CMs.”
He noted in a follow-up post, “A 5k tuition grant cap is such a joke. This isn’t very Inclusion Key of y’all.”
Disney basically destroying the Disney Aspire program is honestly one of the most idiotic things the company could have done. For a company that loves to tout about growing and development of Cast Members, this move is incredibly contradictory and hurts A LOT of CMs
— Johnald ✨🌲🥀 (@GrandFloStan) September 6, 2024
Another X user called Bertral Florida Tourism Oversight District lambasted the decision, stating, “Prepare to see a lot of cast leave Disney for higher paying jobs now. The aspire program was the ‘last thing’ for a lot of people and now that that’s being taken away, well that higher hourly at Epic Universe is looking a lot better.”
Prepare to see a *lot* of cast leave Disney for higher paying jobs now. The aspire program was the “last thing” for a lot of people and now that that’s being taken away, well that higher hourly at Epic Universe is looking a lot better https://t.co/hGWOdkQmMJ
— Bretral Florida Tourism Oversight District (@Schmoofy) September 6, 2024
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Reddit user AbberviationsOwn8957 was reportedly enrolled in the Aspire Program and noted their despair at Disney’s latest cost cutting measure.
“I’m completely devastated. I just started getting back to school with the Aspire program,” the Reddit post says. “I’ve been out of school for a year or two because of my DCP program and then deciding to stay in Florida. It was a huge relief when I heard the program was fully funded. I thought I was finally getting my life back on track. Now this? Just another finance I’ll have to worry about just so they can fund the new IP coming to the parks. This is terrible.”
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The news comes as Disney is set to make a $60 billion investment in its parks and cruise line.
What do you think this will do to service and employee retention in Walt Disney World? How will Disney cast members react? Will more Disney cast members move over to Universal Studios now for higher pay now that their Disney perks have been stripped? Sound off in the comments and let us know.
Marvin The Movie Monster Montanaro is a YouTube commentator and personality specializing in movies, TV, video games, and professional wrestling. He can be found on his channels Tooney Town TV and Tooney Town Wrestling with daily content and weekly livestreams. He can also be found on That Game Place, the That Park Place video game channel.
