Disney Cuts 1,900 Theme Park Jobs

LOS ANGELES — The Walt Disney Co. said Friday it had cut 1,900 positions at its U.S. theme parks as part of an earlier announced reorganization, representing about 11 percent of salaried employees in the division.

Some 1,200 people were laid off and 700 open positions will be left unfilled in the second phase of a reorganization begun in 2005 that was accelerated by the recession.

The company did not say whether it would book a severance charge, or how much the cuts would save.

"These decisions were not made lightly, but are essential to maintaining our leadership in family tourism and reflect today's economic realities," said Disney spokeswoman Tasia Filippatos in a statement.

The latest reorganization, designed to further unify two units operating separately at parks in Orlando, Fla., and Anaheim, Calif., was announced in February, but new leadership put in place took time to determine what cutbacks were necessary.

The vast majority of the cuts came from managerial and other salaried staff, not from employees in the parks who interact with park visitors. Some further reductions are planned.

Among the cuts announced Friday were 50 executives who accepted a voluntary buyout that was offered to 600 people.

Disney shares, which fell 21 cents, or 1 percent, to close at $20, gained 13 cents in after-hours trading.

Comments

[losangelian1]

Donald Duck will probably have to buy some pants for job interviews.

[TalkTalkTAlk]

Awesome now maybe they wont police that island in disneyland as well as they have......

[john9652]

My family just came back from 4 days at Disney parks, Orlando. Last day was a saturday...sooo crowded. But, you know, you just cant beat Disney for a family vacation with young kids. Always clean and hospitable. People, for the most part, are friendly and kind to the small children. Only in Disney, can you see grown men, wearing Micky Mouse ears, and just having a blast. The value, in terms of cost, is well worth it. We try to go every 3 years, as that spaces out the ages of the children and grand children. I'm glad the actual park employess are not being hurt by the economy.

[Right-turn]

These parks are way past their prime, kind of like Oldsmobiles....

[SouthJerseySteve]

Poor guy, when did you lose your childhood? Disney parks is exactly what we stressed-out adults need. I have MORE FUN there without any young children with me! Where else can I act like a kid and not be thrown in the "looney" bin. Maybe I'll be on Looney Tunes street, but only in FantasyLand.

[stevebond]

I'm glad my friend who sweeps the streets is not affected. He needs the job more than most.

[SouthJerseySteve]

People!!! Did anyone actually READ the story? Nobody who works in the parks who interact with the guests were laid off. Therefore, Mickey and Goofy are still there! Now if only ABC can get rid of Ty Pennington and George Will....

[LeeCalif]

I was there Saturday and, yes, I can report that Goofy IS still there.

[marijam]

Yeah, not surprised. Comair dropped service to Florida. Not enough demand.

[brandnewstuff]

So much I could say - but it is like spinning a web of profanity Highly entertaining of course- slap a NSL letter On Me! heheheheheh

[Francis99]

Now it couldn't have anything to do with all the rest of the Disney enterprises, like ABC, could it? And how many jobs does the money that Disney/ABC spends on the reality show Extreme Makeover:Home Edition create or cost in terms of outlay? Of course, it's always been just a big advertisement for the suppliers.

I remember when Disneyland was $35 per head (two decades ago) and I thought it was outrageiously expensive then.

Does Goofy have any transferable skills, or is he going to join the rest of us living under the overpasses?

[Bodie1]

Dropping prices would be a start. A family of four forks out almost $300 just to get in the door at Disneyland.

[Jane Minogue - Huffpost Blogger]

Absolutely. Let's see some specials, some discounts...

[DesertFlame]

Are they kidding? We went to Disneyland is December and left the park early on our last day because it was so darn crowded. The Main Street Emporium was so busy you would have thought that they were giving stuff away and the Blue Bayou was booked for days in advance. Why isn't info like that ever posted, only the bad news is???

[forpeace]

*

So does it mean that Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Donald are gone?!

*

[helen]

Easy solution: drop prices = more business

[Rockwell]

Dang! Who's gonna sell the $25 ice cream bars that look like mickey? Who's gonna clean the $900 a day hotel rooms? Who's gonna serve the $60 scrambled egg breakfasts while Goofy and Minnie lead a conga line through the resturant?

But I can understand the need for layoffs. I mean how can Disney make ends meet at those bargain prices.

[EinChicago]

Maybe teh imaginary fairies can do it in your imaginary little fantasy land
?

I just got back from taking my daughter to Disneyland this weekdnfor her birthday, and the ice cream bars that looked like Mickey were $3 and a great 2 room hotel suite was $160 per night in the park.

You may want to take off the tinfoil and rejoin reality.

Admittedly, I think it's fair to say that the average California resident probably is incapable of telling the difference between 3 and 6, as that would constitute advanced math by California standards, But still.

[Marie62866]

I love Disneyworld! I hope to be heading there in August!