An independent arbitrator has stopped what would have been a history-making labor strike, had it happened, by food service workers at Disney World’s Epcot in Orlando, thereby forcing workers to take a different approach to leverage their demands for a new union contract.

Restaurant workers at Epcot’s Italy Pavilion, represented by Unite Here Local 737, are employed by the Patina Group, a third-party company that leases property from Disney. The union — which represents 70 workers at Tutto Italia, Via Napoli and Tutto Gusto — has been in talks with Patina for a new union contract since earlier this year. Their last contract expired Sept. 30. 

But after talks remained unsuccessful, union leaders announced in August that workers would vote on whether to authorize union leaders to call for a strike — the first ever by food-service workers on Disney World property — if the company failed to meet their demands for higher pay and stronger benefits.

According to Jeremy Haicken, president of Unite Here Local 737, Disney didn’t like this threat.

The multinational entertainment giant, which has its own contract with labor unions, caught wind of this strike threat and asked an independent arbitrator to intervene. This neutral party then ruled, in favor of Disney, that a strike by any workers on Disney World property — even if not directly employed by Disney itself — would constitute a violation of their current contract with Local 737 and five other unions that make up the Services Trade Council Union. 

Under that five-year contract, last negotiated in 2023, the STCU “shall not sanction, aid or abet, encourage or condone a work stoppage, strike or disruptive activity at the Walt Disney World Resort.”

Matt Hollis, who serves as president of the STCU, confirmed that Disney had the right to intervene in this case, and had exercised its right under their contract with STCU to do so. “Under our collective bargaining agreement, either party can file a grievance and move the matter to arbitration,” Hollis told Orlando Weekly in a phone call. “Disney did that in this case, and the arbitrator found that Disney was correct and that the union had violated the collective bargaining agreement.”

Haicken himself confirmed this development at a press conference Tuesday. “The arbitrator ruled that Patina Group employees cannot strike,” he said. Meaning, a strike will not be happening at Disney Epcot’s Italy Pavilion.

“We encourage guests to dine at Patina restaurants and tell the company you support the workers when you eat there,” Haicken continued. “The fight,” he said, “is moving forward.”

The Walt Disney Company did not respond to a request for comment from Orlando Weekly on their decision to interfere with the Patina Group workers’ strike threat. The Patina Group argues they’ve made attempts to bargain with the union in good faith and that they maintain “strong labor relationships nationwide.”

Unionized workers at the Italy Pavilion are fighting for an $8 raise over three years, a pension plan so older employees can retire with dignity, affordable health insurance, and a 20 percent auto gratuity on customer checks. Under their last union contract, workers at the Italy Pavilion restaurants currently earn anywhere from $18.50 to $26.48 per hour. That maxes out at about $55,000 per year working full-time, depending on an employee’s job classification and seniority.

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, workers in the Orlando metro area in 2025 need to be able to earn at least $33 an hour to be able to comfortably afford the average one-bedroom apartment, or $37.65 to splurge on a two-bedroom unit. 

“Living paycheck to paycheck is my reality,” said Jennifer Quiñones, who’s worked at Tutto Italia for 11 years. She moved back into her grandmother’s house, but said her cost of living has still “skyrocketed.”

“All of us experience the same thing: Our bills are too high. Patina needs to do more,” she said.

Local 737 is also involved in an organizing effort among Patina Group workers at five Disney Springs restaurants: Morimoto Asia, Maria & Enzo’s, Enzo’s Hideaway, Pizza Ponte and The Edison. The Patina Group, a subsidiary of the multibillion-dollar company Delaware North, operates more than 40 restaurants across several states.

Garrett Stephens, a server at The Edison in Disney Springs — a non-union Patina Group restaurant — said he hasn’t been to a doctor in 10 years because he can’t afford health insurance. “I need to go to a doctor, and honestly, I’m scared,” he said. “But that’s also why I feel so determined. Because me and my co-workers deserve better.”

“We’re demanding a fair process from Patina for us to organize a union,” Stephens said. He also wants Patina to be held accountable for allegations of sexual harassment made by two women at Pizza Ponte.

At least one of those women, Julie Ruiz, was fired last fall in part after she publicly spoke out against the harassment (allegedly perpetrated by a supervisor). She also has had a prominent role in organizing a union at her restaurant. The official reason Ruiz was given for her firing was for wearing an earbud as she clocked into work, but union leaders have cast doubt on that justification.

“I’m here because I’m still fighting,” Ruiz, a young Latina, said Tuesday, standing alongside fellow Patina Group workers and Local 737 union members at Local 737’s union hall. “Not just for myself,” she added. “Sexual harassment should not be tolerated. We all deserve higher standards at work.”

According to Disney’s own supplier chain code of conduct, the company believes its “suppliers (defined as “any person or entity engaged in the production or provision of materials, components, products, or services that Disney acquires, authorizes or licenses”) should be held to bare minimum labor standards, too.

Under the company’s code of conduct, suppliers “must treat each worker with dignity and respect and not use corporal punishment, threats of violence, or other forms of physical, sexual, psychological, or verbal harassment or abuse.” Special attention, it reads, “should be paid to vulnerable groups, including, but not limited to, women, younger workers, migrants, and Indigenous peoples.”

Haicken said that the union is calling on the Patina Group to adhere to Disney’s code of conduct for suppliers and has demanded that Disney investigate the Patina Group for potential violations of the code, including alleged violations of workers’ collective bargaining rights.

“This year, a National Labor Relations Board Regional Director issued a complaint against Patina that includes six allegations of illegal surveillance by management, one allegation of a coercive threat and one allegation that a general manager illegally prohibited employee speech about protected organizing activity,” Haicken said.

Union members and allies, including Ruiz, staged a flyering event to raise awareness of these allegations earlier this year during the high-profile “Ramen Rumble” event at Morimoto Asia, a Japanese restaurant on Disney Springs property operated by Patina.

“Workers and their union are calling on Patina Group to live up to Disney’s standards outlined in the Disney Supply Chain Code of Conduct, which sets high expectations for all companies that provide services authorized by Disney,” Haicken said. 

A union rep for Local 737 confirmed that, while unionized Patina Group workers at Epcot will not be striking, the union will continue bargaining with the Patina Group for a new union contract covering the Italy Pavilion employees.

A strike can provide critical leverage for organized labor during union contract negotiations, so without that, the workers will have an uphill battle ahead to get their demands met without major concessions.

“We are committed to fighting,” said Quiñones, the Tutto Italia worker. “We are never backing down.”

Update added 10/16/25: A representative of the Patina Group reached out after the initial publication of our story and shared the following statement with Orlando Weekly, in response to allegations brought forward against their company and the current state of bargaining with Local 737:

“Patina Group values its team members and the exceptional service they provide to our guests. We have been bargaining in good faith with UNITE HERE Local 737 regarding the 72 unionized employees at EPCOT. Unfortunately, the union has not reciprocated. Despite multiple sessions, UNITE HERE Local 737 has yet to offer any economic counterproposals — an approach that does not serve our team members well.

“Patina Group is in full compliance with the Disney Supply Chain Code of Conduct. We are disappointed that UNITE HERE Local 737 is attempting to discredit Patina Group through untruthful allegations. We are confident these claims will be disproved through the appropriate process at the National Labor Relations Board.

“We recognize that Disney and UNITE HERE Local 737 have a direct collective bargaining agreement that includes negotiated language regarding team members’ ability to engage in certain concerted activity, including the ability to strike. This language was recently reviewed and upheld by a neutral arbitrator.

“Patina Group and its parent company Delaware North maintain strong labor relationships nationwide and will continue to honor our agreements, support the grievance process and treat employees with dignity. We remain committed to continuing negotiations in good faith and are hopeful that an agreement can be reached.”

This post first appeared at our sister publication, Orlando Weekly.

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Tampa is already home to an entire college class dedicated to Taylor Swift, and independent movie houses are singing the pop star’s praises now, too.

Sun-Ray Cinema already hosts the occasional concert on its lobby stage, but hands the reins over to Swift this weekend as the 35-year-old releases her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl.

In a post titled, “How I Stopped Being a Hater and Learned to Love Taylor Swift” Sun-Ray co-owner Shana David-Massett details how an employee at the original Sun-Ray, Bailee, held her hand as the indie cinema prepped to screen the “Eras Tour” movie.

“By the time we got to opening weekend I was performing a set with a piano/vocal arrangement Shake it Off  to a packed house, making and trading friendship bracelets, and understanding that I was just at the beginning of *my* new era as a Swifty,” David-Massett added.

Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl

Time Fri., Oct. 3, 2, 4:20, 7, 7:20 & 9:30 p.m., Sat., Oct. 4, 4, 6:30 & 8:45 p.m. and Sun., Oct. 5, 2, 4:15 & 6:30 p.m. 2025

Location Sun-Ray Cinema, 12322 University Mall Ct., Tampa

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To celebrate the release of Swift’s new album, Sun-Ray will screen a nearly 90-minute film that includes the world premiere of the music video, “The Fate of Ophelia,” plus behind the scenes footage from its creation, new lyrics videos and Swift’s reflections on the album.

Sun-Ray—located at 12332 University Mall Ct. in Tampa—hosts five screenings on Friday, Oct. 3, starting at 2 p.m., with six more screenings happening between Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 4-5. Tickets are $12.

“When news broke on the Life of a Showgirl release I lost my mind with all of you, my friends. My Sun-Tay bracelet making will commence, and out comes my What’s Sun-Ray Cinema Anyway? T-shirt,” Masset-David wrote, adding that anyone who wants to join in on some pre-show karaoke can email her at shana@sunraycinema.com.

Sun-Ray isn’t the only indie movie house hosting release parties for Swift either.

Tampa Theatre, at 711 N Franklin St. in downtown Tampa, hosts two screenings in its Taylor Screening Room  on Friday, Oct. 3, plus five more screenings between Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 4-5. Tickets are $14.

Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl

Time Fri., Oct. 3, 6:30 & 9 p.m., Sat., Oct. 4, 2:30, 5 & 7:30 p.m. and Sun., Oct. 5, 2 & 5 p.m. 2025

Location Tampa Theatre, 711 N Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602, Tampa

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Stanley Falls, a beloved flume ride at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, is closing permanently this weekend after 52 years of cooling off countless visitors.

Since its opening in 1973, as one of the park’s original attractions, many families have grown to love the ride, which takes guests in a faux log that leads to one small drop and a large 43-foot drop at the end of the three-minute ride.

Stanley Falls quickly became one of the park’s most iconic attractions, but will shut down for good after Sunday, Sept. 7. Busch Gardens announced the closure quietly on its social media last Friday. While no replacement has been revealed, the move follows a broader trend: theme parks across the country are steadily retiring their old-school log flumes to make room for record-breaking coasters and immersive, story-driven attractions.

For many, losing Stanley Falls feels like losing a little piece of Florida theme park history.

“Okay, fine, it was rough and uncomfortable and kind of sucked. But it was also refreshing and fun for all ages,” one commenter wrote.

Others pointed to its place as one of the park’s best heat-beaters. “In summer heat it ALWAYS has a pretty long wait. And the splashdown is positioned for great viewing. It’s a real crowd pleaser,” wrote a Reddit user on r/rollercoasters.

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With a lineup of haunted houses and scare zones that combine beloved franchises with original horrors, HHN 2025 kicks off Friday and runs through Nov. 2.

This year’s event boasts 10 new original houses and franchise-focused houses, plus plenty of scare zones, merch and more.

New themed haunted houses include a Five Nights at Freddy’s-themed haunt, where the possessed animatronics come alive. WWE fans can experience the dark imagination of Bray Wyatt in WWE Presents: The Horrors of the Wyatt Sicks. Horror movie enthusiasts can face the sadistic Art the Clown in a Terrifier-themed house or attempt to escape Jason Voorhees in Jason Universe. All the while, video game lovers can explore the post-apocalyptic chaos of Fallout.

The event’s five brand-new original houses include Hatchets and Chains: Demon Bounty Hunters; Dolls: Let’s Play Dead; Grave of Flesh; Gálkn: Monsters of the North; and El Arista: A Spanish Haunting. Each promises fresh frights and twists that should keep scare-seekers on the edge of their seat.

Beyond the houses, five scare zones turn the streets into immersive nightmares.

The Cat Lady of Crooked Lane lurks in the shadows; Mutations: Toxic Twenties transforms a 1920s neighborhood into chaos; Masquerade Dance With Death keeps the secrets; and The Origins of Horror pays homage to past HHN.

Meanwhile, Mel’s Dine-In Zombies brings the drive-in theater to undead life, and Club Horror offers guests the chance to snap photos with characters and dance to a live DJ. There will also be live shows “Nightmare Fuel: Circus of Decay” and “Haunt-O-Phonic: A Ghoulish Journey.”

Whether guests live for scares or are first-time fright-seekers, this year’s lineup guarantees screams, surprises and memories to last long after the night ends.

Tickets for Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 2025 are available now and start at $85.99.

This post first appeared at our sibling publication Orlando Weekly.

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Parkgoers will enter the house at Vault 33 and follow protagonist Lucy MacLean as she outruns bloodthirsty scavengers, raiders and — too close to home in Florida — giant mutant cockroaches. Once guests escape the vault, they’ll be confronted with the desert wasteland and meet violent bounty hunter The Ghoul. (The noseless nomad is played by man of the moment Walton Goggins in the series; any chance he’ll be visiting Orlando? Asking for a friend.) Additionally, they’ll encounter Maximus in his T-60 armor and other knights of the Brotherhood of Steel.

Tickets for Halloween Horror Nights are already available through Universal Orlando Resort’s website. Along with Fallout, there will be nine other haunted houses, scare zones and live entertainment for the duration of HHN — set to run 48 nights through Nov. 2.

This story was originally published by our sibling publication, Orlando Weekly.

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The long, long-awaited newest addition to the theme park cosmos that is Universal Orlando is finally opening its doors — or, portals — this week to all the locals, tourists and thrill-seeking freaks it can hold.

Epic Universe officially opens Thursday with five new lands, eats, rides and thrills aplenty. The hotly anticipated and grandly ambitious new venture is the fourth park under Universal Orlando’s banner, spotlighting both decades-old and more modern Universal franchises and themes.

Guests are transported via portals to the immersive wonderlands, which include Super Nintendo World, Ministries of Magic in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, How to Train Your Dragon’s Isle of Berk, a monster-infested Dark Universe and futuristic oasis Celestial Park.

The park brings with it 11 rides, eight interactive shows and experiences, dozens of food purveyors slinging themed eats and countless ways to be amazed. Will you brave the epic crowds, though?

This post first appeared at our sibling publication Orlando Weekly.

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“AquaGlow” launches on Friday, June 13, just in time for summer. The park’s new event will be from 6 p.m-11 p.m. and runs through Saturday Aug. 9.

The series happens Fridays only on June 13 and June 20, then expands to Friday-Saturday starting June 27.

This celebration will feature high-energy music and fluorescent lighting throughout the park, foam parties, and a laser light show over the water park’s 17,000-square foot wave pool. Visitors can also experience some of the park’s fan-favorite rides in a way they never have before with glowing tubes, colorful mist effects and throughout the whole park.

In addition, Castaway Falls—a newly-opened kids attraction that is getting the AquaGlow treatment—offers a spot for families to experience a multi-level play area and, for the little ones, Shaka-Laka Shores has mini slides and fountains. For the more thrill-seeking guests, Rapid Racer and Wahoo Remix thrill rides will also be illuminated.
AquaGlow has a limited capacity, for shorter wait times and to ensure a more immersive experience for the guests.

Admission to AquaGlow requires a separate ticket, which starts at $39.99. While the party officially starts at 8 p.m. on select nights, anyone with an AquaGlow ticket can enter Adventure Island starting at 6 p.m.

Anyone who purchases day admission tickets to Adventure Island can also stay for AquaGlow, but must obtain a wristband.

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This kid-friendly region of the park offers an immersive experience for families and is replacing Jungala’s Treetop Trails attraction that had been untouched at the park for five years.

Along with the grand opening of Wild Oasis—happening Friday, June 6—the park has made some additional upgrades including a new drone show “Wild Skies,” a BMX and motocross show “Moto-Motion” and an all-new meerkat habitat in the Edge of Africa section.

As previously reported, Wild Oasis included a 35-foot tall Tree Top Drop ride and new animals like capybaras, giant anteaters, squirrel monkeys and tropical birds.
With Busch Gardens’ Summer Nights set to return on May 23, families can visit these new additions to the park, along with everything else it has to offer, until 10 p.m. on select days.

The theme park has also revamped its dining experiences and opened two new places to sit back and relax.

Toma at Orang Café (stylized “TOMA”) offers a Latin-inspired menu and is complete with a view of the park’s orangutan habitat, just steps away from Wild Oasis.

For the moms and dads who just had a long day at the theme park there is the new Casbar—an outdoor full-service bar that is located in the Moroccan Village.

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The Universal Studios Store has been expanded to twice its original size and now features merch, souvenirs and treats themed after new worlds housed in the upcoming (but open for previews) Epic Universe.

The two all-new dedicated areas are themed after The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World.

All three lands of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley and Place Cachée in the Ministry of Magic at Epic Universe — are featured in the store’s expansion. This is the first time fans can get their hands on Butterbeer outside the actual theme parks; there is also a selection of other specialty wizard-approved items.

Elsewhere in the store, shoppers can dive into the all-new Super Nintendo World with merch highlighting Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and all the others. For a truly immersive shopping experience, enter through the store’s new Nintendo-dedicated entrance inspired by the land in Epic Universe.

The fourth park under the Universal Orlando umbrella, Epic Universe is considered the park’s most ambitious project yet and is set to officially open May 22 (although eager guests can preview the park now). It houses portals that transport guests to five themed worlds, including a Super Nintendo World, Ministries of Magic in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the monster-filled Dark Universe, a How to Train Your Dragon land and the futuristic realm Celestial Park.

This post first appeared at our sibling publication Orlando Weekly.

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Fly Dance Fitness, the viral fitness brand with over one million followers across social media, is thrilled to announce that they have officially landed in Tampa. The Sarasota-based brand is making moves across Florida, with a significant expansion that includes its first-ever location in Tampa. The fitness franchise, known for its dynamic dance-based workouts, is also opening four additional studios throughout the country this month alone!

Co-owners Stacey Marks and Kari Schroeter say they’re thrilled with the company’s accelerated growth, noting the increasing demand for their unique fitness approach. “There’s a genuine positive energy in our studios,” shared Marks, “and it’s exciting to see that resonate across Florida.”

Fly Dance Fitness focuses on combining dance choreography with cardio and strength elements, offering an engaging alternative to traditional workouts. Many of their clients and followers—both near and far—love the physical and mental benefits of the workout, as well as the strong community that has been built over the years. Mental health is rarely touched on in fitness, but it is an important part of what Fly Dance Fitness does. From the moment members step on the dance floor, they are encouraged and supported.

The addition of a franchisee in Tampa introduces Fly Dance Fitness’s signature routines to a new market, while the other locations throughout the country broaden the franchise’s presence nationwide.

“We’re seeing a lot of people drawn to the fun and the challenge,” said Schroeter. “It’s about getting a great workout, but also enjoying the process.”

Follow Fly Dance Fitness on Instagram or TikTok to be the first to learn about new locations. No location near you as of yet? Their online membership community is ever-growing and available 24/7.

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