It's the "happiest place on Earth" — unless you work there.
About 14,000 unionized employees at Disneyland overwhelmingly authorized a strike against the iconic theme park in Anaheim, California, according to a report late Friday.
The potential work stoppage was favored by 99% of those who voted and came two days after a rally at which disgruntled staffers chanted, "Shut it down!" outside the gates, the Orange County Register reported.
"Disney cannot continue to silence cast members," the Disney Workers Rising Bargaining Committee said in a statement. "We are prepared to take action."
A contract covering about 9,000 workers expired on Tuesday, and contracts covering the other 5,000 staffers are set to expire on Sept. 30, according to the Register.
Negotiations reportedly began in April and were set to resume on Monday and Tuesday.
The workers belong to four unions that comprise the Master Services Council, which represents ride operators, store clerks, custodians, candy makers, ticket takers, parking attendants, tram drivers and others, according to the Register.
In a statement, Disneyland downplayed the strike vote, calling it "not unusual as part of a negotiations process," and saying the park remained open pending the still unscheduled strike.
"We greatly appreciate the important roles our cast members play in creating memorable experiences for our guests, and we remain committed to reaching an agreement that focuses on what matters most to them while positioning Disneyland Resort for growth and job creation," the company said in a statement.
Nearly 17 million people visited Disneyland in 2022, making it the world's second most popular theme park after Disney's Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, according to the most recent figures compiled by the Aecom consulting company.
The park opened in 1955 and bills itself as "the happiest place on Earth," a trademarked slogan that appears over the entrance and elsewhere, as well as on merchandise sold in its shops.
