News: Disney World’s Cultural Representative Programs Have Been Canceled Indefinitely

Disney4me · July 14, 2020

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.

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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 Even candidates who’d received offers had their offers withdrawn.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.