1900 Gone at WDW

[Dznefreek]

Sorry total Disney not WDW

Disney confirms 1,900 jobs eliminated
Jason Garcia |Sentinel Staff Writer3:32 PM EDT, April 3, 2009
The Walt Disney Co. has eliminated 1,900 jobs across its U.S. parks division - including 1,400 in Florida - the company confirmed this afternoon.

The division-wide cuts include about 1,150 layoffs, 50 voluntary buyouts and 700 open positions that were not filled.

The Florida cuts include 900 layoffs and buyouts and 500 open positions eliminated. The vast majority of those cuts were in Central Florida and at Walt Disney World, though the company also shed jobs at a reservations center in Tampa.

The remaining cuts include 200 layoffs and buyouts and 100 eliminated open positions at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., and smaller cuts at offices in Burbank, Calif., and Glendale, Calif.

Disney said the cuts, which are mostly complete, were aimed at executive, management, professional and administrative positions. The company employs about 62,000 people in Central Florida.

"These decisions were not made lightly but are essential to maintaining our leadership in family tourism and reflect today's economic realities," Disney spokesman Mike Griffin said. "We continue to work through our reorganization and manage our business based on demand."

Disney had for weeks refused to reveal numbers about its job cuts, even as they spread across its vast operations. Layoffs occurred everywhere from entertainment and transportation to finance and human resources.

But the company said today that it began the cuts Feb. 18, the same day it announced a sweeping restructuring of its domestic parks aimed at consolidating back-office functions between Disney World and Disneyland.

Federal law typically require employers who lay off 500 or more employees at once to give state officials 60 days advance notice. Disney did not file such a warning even in Florida.

Disney said it was not obligated to do so because even the Disney World cuts included multiple sites and subsidiaries, none of which tripped the 500-employee threshold. For example, Disney said each of its four theme parks in Orlando is considered a separate site.

The company declined to say how much it expects to save through the job cuts.

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

I thought this was about 1900 Park Fare closing lol

 

[pouncingpluto]

I thought this was about 1900 Park Fare closing lol

Me too!

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Sorry total Disney not WDW

Disney confirms 1,900 jobs eliminated
Jason Garcia |Sentinel Staff Writer3:32 PM EDT, April 3, 2009
The Walt Disney Co. has eliminated 1,900 jobs across its U.S. parks division - including 1,400 in Florida - the company confirmed this afternoon.

The division-wide cuts include about 1,150 layoffs, 50 voluntary buyouts and 700 open positions that were not filled.

The Florida cuts include 900 layoffs and buyouts and 500 open positions eliminated. The vast majority of those cuts were in Central Florida and at Walt Disney World, though the company also shed jobs at a reservations center in Tampa.

The remaining cuts include 200 layoffs and buyouts and 100 eliminated open positions at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., and smaller cuts at offices in Burbank, Calif., and Glendale, Calif.

Disney said the cuts, which are mostly complete, were aimed at executive, management, professional and administrative positions. The company employs about 62,000 people in Central Florida.

"These decisions were not made lightly but are essential to maintaining our leadership in family tourism and reflect today's economic realities," Disney spokesman Mike Griffin said. "We continue to work through our reorganization and manage our business based on demand."

Disney had for weeks refused to reveal numbers about its job cuts, even as they spread across its vast operations. Layoffs occurred everywhere from entertainment and transportation to finance and human resources.

But the company said today that it began the cuts Feb. 18, the same day it announced a sweeping restructuring of its domestic parks aimed at consolidating back-office functions between Disney World and Disneyland.

Federal law typically require employers who lay off 500 or more employees at once to give state officials 60 days advance notice. Disney did not file such a warning even in Florida.

Disney said it was not obligated to do so because even the Disney World cuts included multiple sites and subsidiaries, none of which tripped the 500-employee threshold. For example, Disney said each of its four theme parks in Orlando is considered a separate site.

The company declined to say how much it expects to save through the job cuts.

This is very sad news - very sad. I am so sorry for each who has lost their jobs. Dh just heard the buyouts are getting progressively worse....at least in comparison to ABC's early offerings in January <---and that REALLY stinks!

Who is surprised? Disney is not collecting enough $$ in it's divisions...including parks. It's GIVING away hotel rooms compared to years past. Guests are arriving and spending carefully while there....none of this is new.

Yes, POP may be full - people who would normally stay at a Moderate or even a Delux have downgraded to afford their Disney fix....DH and I have done the same.....but we have always found creative ways to make our budget go much farther. Who wouldn't right now?

Now we wait to hear the results of the second quarter - out in a few weeks.


I'm so sorry for all who have lost their jobs.....all the ABC people.....ESPN.....the folks in Disney Hong Kong.....DVC and now I hear it's the cruiseline's turn. So sad.

Good luck to everyone left!

 

[PrincessBetsy]

I thought this was about 1900 Park Fare closing lol

So did I! I was in shock there for a moment!


That is really sad though, I feel bad for all of those who lost their jobs.

 

[scooter15]

I'll be perfectly honest here and say that number is incorrect, especially the Disneyland #. Just from what I hear it just seems more than that and they are definitely expecting more.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

Not that it's any real consolation, but the title of this thread is a bit misleading.

According to the article, there were 1,900 postions eliminated at U.S. Disney parks in total. 500 were at Disneyland, and 1,400 at WDW. And of those at WDW, "only" 900 of them involved CMs actually losing their jobs. The other 500 positions were open positions that were eliminated.

My best wishes to the 900 people who have lost their jobs at WDW and to the 200 at DL. And to any others who might lose their jobs before these cuts are through.

 

[scooter15]

Not that it's any real consolation, but the title of this thread is a bit misleading.

According to the article, there were 1,900 postions eliminated at U.S. Disney parks in total. 500 were at Disneyland, and 1,400 at WDW. And of those at WDW, "only" 900 of them involved CMs actually losing their jobs. The other 500 positions were open positions that were eliminated.

My best wishes to the 900 people who have lost their jobs at WDW and to the 200 at DL.

The entire story is misleading and in my opinion incorrect. The number seems a lot higher in California and they are expecting another wave of layoffs shortly. I know of a few families affected directly by this and when you count them and the others in their dept (whom have been completely cut) 200 seems pretty low.

 

[Condorman]

I think it's funny that some people were more appalled at 1900 Park Fare closing down than 1900 people being laid-off, retired, bought out, etc.

Anyway, if it takes the economy for Disney to cut the excess fat from their payroll and streamline their operations then they will be the better for it. They haven't shut down any resorts or enacted roving blackouts of the theme parks. Next year when the economy picks up, Disney will need to fill a lot of positions and those with previous Disney experience and connections will be the first considered.

Recessions are like forest fires. They're horrible, yes, but absolutely necessary. Everyone will be healthier, and smarter, as a result.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

The entire story is misleading and in my opinion incorrect. The number seems a lot higher in California and they are expecting another wave of layoffs shortly. I know of a few families affected directly by this and when you count them and the others in their dept (whom have been completely cut) 200 seems pretty low.

I agree.

 

[Raevyn_Wolfe]

I agree on cutting the fat and all, but you might be surprised that while that does apply to some of the cuts here at WDW, it by no means all the cuts were "fat". People that have been with the company 20+ years in very needed positions were cut because they made more than the new leader that popped in to immediately take their place. A lot of people were cut simply because they "made too much". While I agree with elliminating alot of the backstage departments that were simply not needed, that wasn't even a majority of the job cuts that were done and the more that will follow. My heart goes out to the families who spent years with the WDW company only to be cut as a direct result of their devotion and dedication.

 

[jfinke]

I thought this was about 1900 Park Fare closing lol

Agreed... After the news about spoodles.

 

[eeyorethegreat]

Aside from the loss of a job and income.... What makes me "feel for the people who lost their jobs to these cuts is that for some, I imagine working at WDW was a lifelong dream. Not for all certainly but for those who just loved working at the World, who enjoyed being able to be a "part" of Disney, I imagine for some it isn't the loss of job and income it is the loss of a dream.

 

[Metro West]

Aside from the loss of a job and income.... What makes me "feel for the people who lost their jobs to these cuts is that for some, I imagine working at WDW was a lifelong dream. Not for all certainly but for those who just loved working at the World, who enjoyed being able to be a "part" of Disney, I imagine for some it isn't the loss of job and income it is the loss of a dream.

That's very true.

 

[Luv2Roam]

What makes it esp tough for anyone laid off (not just at Disney) is the job market is so slim now anyway. Very sad indeed.
Again, in broad terms, how is the economy going to improve if businesses across America are slashing thousands of jobs? It seems like in the end they are just shooting themselves in the foot.

 

[manning]

I agree on cutting the fat and all, but you might be surprised that while that does apply to some of the cuts here at WDW, it by no means all the cuts were "fat". People that have been with the company 20+ years in very needed positions were cut because they made more than the new leader that popped in to immediately take their place. A lot of people were cut simply because they "made too much". While I agree with elliminating alot of the backstage departments that were simply not needed, that wasn't even a majority of the job cuts that were done and the more that will follow. My heart goes out to the families who spent years with the WDW company only to be cut as a direct result of their devotion and dedication.

Sometimes you have to wonder how they determine who goes. I was let go years ago by someone who was in our dept but not in my chain of command. Matter of fact he wasn't even in the same city. What made me laugh was six months later he was let go and he ended up being a used car salesman. This all took place in '93-94. We had to downsize because the company was mismanaged.

 

[Metro West]

Sometimes you have to wonder how they determine who goes. I was let go years ago by someone who was in our dept but not in my chain of command. Matter of fact he wasn't even in the same city. What made me laugh was six months later he was let go and he ended up being a used car salesman. This all took place in '93-94. We had to downsize because the company was mismanaged.

I wonder how the "high and mightys" who are dismissing people feel when it's their turn?