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In a new Change.org petition, guests are asking Disneyland Resort to reinstate ex-Cast Member Phil Bailey, who was fired for writing an autobiography about his experiences as a Cast Member without receiving labor relations permission.
Ex-Cast Member Phil Bailey
Phil Bailey is a U.S. Veteran who worked for several years in Disneyland Park. Bailey specifically worked at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge as one of the attraction Cast Members for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
In 2020, Bailey published an autobiography titled “Magical Moments: Memories and Reflections of a Disneyland Cast Member.” The book describes Bailey’s journey as a Cast Member and is extremely positive regarding Bailey’s relationship with Disneyland Resort. The description of the book reads:
Experience the wonder and joy of working as a Disney cast member outside the entrance plaza of the Disneyland Resort. Relive three years of magical moments of interacting with Disneyland guests and fellow cast members at the happiest place on earth.
Furthermore, Bailey’s biography on the back of the book describes his experiences as an astronautical engineer, jet pilot, flight instructor, and teacher. Nonetheless, Bailey claims working at Disneyland Resort has been his favorite job:
Yet working at the Disneyland Resort has been the most amazing, the most enjoyable, and the most rewarding job experience of my entire life.
The new Change.org petition bringing attention to Bailey’s plight is titled, “Urge Disneyland to Reinstate Phil Bailey, an Inspiring US Veteran and Authored Cast Member.” The petition, which has only been signed by 54 people at the time of writing, is described by the petition starter as coming “from a deeply personal place, driven by an unsinkable fondness for a Cast Member that embodies the vision and spirit that Walt Disney originally intended for Disneyland.” The petition goes on to call Bailey a rare gem and says the experience at Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is not the same without his “constant smile.”
Bailey was fired from Disneyland Resort for reportedly not receiving the proper permissions for the Disneyland-related content in his autobiography prior to its publishing. Phil Bailey’s autobiography can be purchased digitally for Kindle on Amazon.
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I didn’t want him gone, but Phil is the only Disneyland cast member I have ever seen be mean to a guest and I saw it three times on the falcon. There may be more to this story than the biography.
Former CM here – we sign contracts in regard to our behavior, especially regarding media interactions – he asked for forgiveness and not permission. I don’t feel bad for him.
Phil’s book is about his life, hence an autobiography, that includes the part of his life while working for Disney. It does not seem to be a book solely about Disney. Working for Disney should not mean that Disney has control over your life and other activities, even if they happen to include the fact that for a part of your life you worked for Disney.
This smells of overreach and age discrimination as excuse to let Phil go. I’d bet his replacement will be much younger and be paid much less!
I hope Phil finds an excellent employment lawyer to evaluate the facts to determine if Phil has a cause of action v Disney and if he does will pursue his claims against Disney. There should be boundaries between restrictions resulting from being a Disney employee and individual freedom. Disney should explain how it has been damaged.
I think Phil is better off than he knows. I told my mom when I was 4, 59 years ago that Disney land was the saddest place on earth!!! When asked why. I told her the truth that a man with something on top of his head and he was like someone from, ” It’s a small world after all ” take a little girl who was 3 when she let go of her mamas hand during the fireworks 🎆 and it was true. Now Disney land is finally being investigated by the FBI for sex trafficking children all over the world. That’s why everyone from every country is invited in just like the ride It’s a small world after all!!!