Disney layoffs include DVC managers

[Sully]

We were at WDW the entire month of Feb. and stayed at SSR. The parks were crowded the entire month. There were also large crowds in the restaurants. It did not look like a recession to me. There were also a lot of people touring the DVC models and the vans seemed quite busy. It will be interesting to see if all these manager positions are actually needed.

 

[eliza61]

I am guessing it is busy at WDW because of all the promotions, which mean each trip isn't bringing in the same money, and it's been reported that although people are coming, they aren't spending. So...less staffing to support more people, which means more people leave disappointed and talks about it and so the brand suffers. It's kind of that bad spiralling effect that companies just don't get when all they see is the bottom line.

That is a problem. Retail suffered the same problem over the holiday, in order to bring in any type of business, businesses had to slash prices or have sales. That in turn generally leads to no profit, so it's a cycle.

I think all companies are cutting back no matter what their bringing in.

 

[DisneyCruisin']

I think a lot of the no sales have to do with the quality/choices of what is being offered. We used to go through World of Disney and have a huge wish list. Now we walk through and want nothing. The quality and choice is not there anymore.

 

[Anal Annie]

Slightly off topic: I'm not sure anyone is truly safe in this environment. It is an economic tsunami with no discernible bottom. Each new layoff brings about further economic contraction which leads to even more layoffs. Not very comforting.

But I agree any option that keeps one employed is better then being unemployed. I read yesterday that the official unemployment of 8.1% is likely closer to 15% if you count those no longer seeking employment and those working part time who would otherwise be full time employees. That is a massive drag on the economy and in particular discretionary spending like tourism.

This is a bit off topic, but I am one of the ones who have fallen thru the cracks in the numbers and who has basically taken a break from the job hunting. My Unemployment ran out in January and I officially hit one year of this layoff mess in February which means I am no longer being counted. They don't know if I'm working now or not. The past few weeks I just felt like I needed a break from it and haven't had the heart to even look. Here's the funny thing - being so anal retentive I was keeping this spreadsheet of all the jobs I've applied to. The same jobs were being advertised over and over, but about 2 or 3 months apart. Same job. Same exact description and reference ID number etc. With all of the hundreds of applicants applying you would think they'd have filled these jobs already, right? But so why are they still advertising them over and over? I interviewed at a place last spring and then a neighbor of mine took a temporary contract job at this place in the same dept. Eight months later...he told me they were still actively looking to fill this same job. It's just an admin. position. I can't figure out what's going on. What are they doing? What are they looking for? Why are the companies who ARE advertising jobs not actually FILLING the jobs? They have the pick of the lot right now! You know they're being flooded with resumes. Another reason I just felt like I needed a break from it all. Just tired of trying to make sense of it all.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

This is a bit off topic, but I am one of the ones who have fallen thru the cracks in the numbers and who has basically taken a break from the job hunting. My Unemployment ran out in January and I officially hit one year of this layoff mess in February which means I am no longer being counted. They don't know if I'm working now or not. The past few weeks I just felt like I needed a break from it and haven't had the heart to even look. Here's the funny thing - being so anal retentive I was keeping this spreadsheet of all the jobs I've applied to. The same jobs were being advertised over and over, but about 2 or 3 months apart. Same job. Same exact description and reference ID number etc. With all of the hundreds of applicants applying you would think they'd have filled these jobs already, right? But so why are they still advertising them over and over? I interviewed at a place last spring and then a neighbor of mine took a temporary contract job at this place in the same dept. Eight months later...he told me they were still actively looking to fill this same job. It's just an admin. position. I can't figure out what's going on. What are they doing? What are they looking for? Why are the companies who ARE advertising jobs not actually FILLING the jobs? They have the pick of the lot right now! You know they're being flooded with resumes. Another reason I just felt like I needed a break from it all. Just tired of trying to make sense of it all.

It all sucks... I don't get it. Why employers are not hiring when still advertising for jobs. Seriously, what's going on...

Out my way I only really have one opportunity... FEMA. I have submitted at least 6 applications for jobs and have only gotten a response to ONE! Am I that damn stupid or what. I've been running IT for a company for almost 20 years...

It makes no difference here... I'm just spilling my guts and feeling sorry for myself. I hope Obama can make a difference...

Good luck Annie... My friend.

 

[lisaviolet]

This is a bit off topic, but I am one of the ones who have fallen thru the cracks in the numbers and who has basically taken a break from the job hunting. My Unemployment ran out in January and I officially hit one year of this layoff mess in February which means I am no longer being counted. They don't know if I'm working now or not. The past few weeks I just felt like I needed a break from it and haven't had the heart to even look. Here's the funny thing - being so anal retentive I was keeping this spreadsheet of all the jobs I've applied to. The same jobs were being advertised over and over, but about 2 or 3 months apart. Same job. Same exact description and reference ID number etc. With all of the hundreds of applicants applying you would think they'd have filled these jobs already, right? But so why are they still advertising them over and over? I interviewed at a place last spring and then a neighbor of mine took a temporary contract job at this place in the same dept. Eight months later...he told me they were still actively looking to fill this same job. It's just an admin. position. I can't figure out what's going on. What are they doing? What are they looking for? Why are the companies who ARE advertising jobs not actually FILLING the jobs? They have the pick of the lot right now! You know they're being flooded with resumes. Another reason I just felt like I needed a break from it all. Just tired of trying to make sense of it all.

It all sucks... I don't get it. Why employers are not hiring when still advertising for jobs. Seriously, what's going on...

Out my way I only really have one opportunity... FEMA. I have submitted at least 6 applications for jobs and have only gotten a response to ONE! Am I that damn stupid or what. I've been running IT for a company for almost 20 years...


Good luck Annie... My friend.

to you both. Sighing. to you both.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Annie and Rob, don't forget about USAjobs.com. A federal government job seems to be a little more secure, maybe not as much pay, but I don't see my job going away anytime soon.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Annie and Rob, don't forget about USAjobs.com. A federal government job seems to be a little more secure, maybe not as much pay, but I don't see my job going away anytime soon.

Thanks, Deb... Really, USAJobs is my best bet in my area. FEMA recently moved into our part of the woods and EVERONE is applying. Actually, the pay is better than normal, but most jobs available are temp. That is FINE... I'll take a temp job with the hopes of moving on to a perm job. Don't misunderstand me.... I appreciate your help, but I've been applying to the Fed for over six months... and will continue to do so.

Thanks Deb... I am thankful to have a friend like you. Truly.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

to you both. Sighing. to you both.

Truly, my friend. Lisa. Glad to know you. Glad to have you as a friend.

 

[DeeCee735]

I understand that Disney is downsizing, but isn't DVC sort of separate from this? With the way they are building DVC (not just in WDW, as well), and with the way they seem to be selling them, and with the dues we all pay, why are DVC employees losing their jobs? Seems DVC resorts are booked just as much as usual, even though the hotels aren't, and it seems DVC sales are progressing along well enough to keep them opening more and more DVC rooms? I'm confused...

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I understand that Disney is downsizing, but isn't DVC sort of separate from this? With the way they are building DVC (not just in WDW, as well), and with the way they seem to be selling them, and with the dues we all pay, why are DVC employees losing their jobs? Seems DVC resorts are booked just as much as usual, even though the hotels aren't, and it seems DVC sales are progressing along well enough to keep them opening more and more DVC rooms? I'm confused...

Hey Diane, Good questions. Being one who has experienced the trickle down economics, I imagine there are things we don't understand... maybe people aren't spending money when on DVC trips like we use to. I imagine DVC runs pretty much on the expectation that the resort will be booked solid and those people will spend X number of dollars when they are there. I just don't know... seems like things are bad everywhere. I just hope we can dig out of this hole soon.

Take care my friend.

 

[twinklebug]

I understand that Disney is downsizing, but isn't DVC sort of separate from this? With the way they are building DVC (not just in WDW, as well), and with the way they seem to be selling them, and with the dues we all pay, why are DVC employees losing their jobs? Seems DVC resorts are booked just as much as usual, even though the hotels aren't, and it seems DVC sales are progressing along well enough to keep them opening more and more DVC rooms? I'm confused...

Disney as a whole has made a commitment to cutting back. Each business unit has to make sure to stay as profitable as possible. DVC is not immune. Sales *seem* to be going well from an outsider's point of view, and of course the sales reps have been told to say they're still doing fine. Any hint of worry or slowdown and potential buyers might re-think how they're spending their savings.

They're still building & opening properties because they made a commitment to them long before the economic turndown & fact is, sooner or later (hopefully the former) sales will pick back up and Disney properties will still be desired locations.

The rooms are booked because they're "owned". We all have to pay our dues anyway, so why not go enjoy the resorts?

It sounds to me as thought the cutbacks for now are strictly in upper management. I'm curious as to why they opted to go with the expense of lay-offs verses pay reductions which are becoming very popular among the larger employers. Perhaps each unit makes that decision on their own & DVC just isn't that big.

 

[JimMIA]

Annie and Rob, don't forget about USAjobs.com. A federal government job seems to be a little more secure, maybe not as much pay, but I don't see my job going away anytime soon.

Also, on USAJobs, don't forget that you can set up various search engines. One of the great benefits of the searches is that the government has multiple similar jobs with all kinds of job titles, and the searches allow you to cut through that and identify jobs which require what you do.

Your searches will deliver new job announcements to your email each day, so you don't miss any and you don't have to spend all day digging through the enormous site.

 

[Inkmahm]

Yeah, I second this! We were there March 8-14 and DH and I were amazed that all of the merchandise was marked down at least 25%. For example, we got the large Cinderella castle for DD for only $35 - it was marked down 30% and we got an additional 10% off by using our Disney Visa at World of Disney at DTD. We were there in September, 2008 and nothing was on sale! We certainly took advantage of the sales, though - we went to World of Disney three times during our trip. Anything to do our part.

It's sad, though, that people are being laid off - I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

We were there March 17-24 and also visited the World of Disney at DTD three times! We got some watches at 25% off and I got a few tshirts in the parks on sale, too. That rarely happened before until December when they were trying to clear out old merchandise or out of season things. Sales in March have been rare in the past. Crocs were on sale for 30% off, too, although I didn't need any new ones right now.

We had little trouble checking out at DTD and usually there are long lines. Parking wasn't as bad as it normally is, either.

 

[JimMIA]

Another thing about federal employment -- federal agencies often announce jobs they don't actually have.

For the last several years, there has been a huge lag in Congress passing budgets and the government has operated much of each fiscal year on "continuing resolutions." For example, the FY 08-09 budget (Oct 1, 2008 - September 30, 2009) was just passed this month (six months into the FY), and agencies still don't have their final budget figures.

In that mode, agencies usually only spend a percentage of their previous budget because they don't know for sure what they'll get. One cause of the inaccurate advertising may be that they're advertising in anticipation of budgeted positions and then those positions don't actually get funded.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Your searches will deliver new job announcements to your email each day, so you don't miss any and you don't have to spend all day digging through the enormous site.

I didn't know that. I'll have to get that set up. Thanks, Jim

 

[JimMIA]

I didn't know that. I'll have to get that set up. Thanks, Jim

OMG! That's one of the keys to using USAJobs!

You'll have to dig through the details on how to set things up, but once you design your searches, it works great! And you can set up multiple searches in different ways -- e.g. one by location for multiple (or all) federal agencies, one for job descriptions nationwide, one for a particular agency in whatever geographic area you want, etc. I think you can set up as many as you want.

Rob, you might also want to check with NPS in your area. You have Shenandoah NP, obviously, and there is also a BIG NPS operation at Harpers Ferry. I'm not sure what it's called (we just call it Harpers Ferry), but they do all the media stuff -- printing and graphics (signs, wayside displays, etc), videos lots of other stuff for the whole park system. NPS is also always looking for volunteers, and that's a foot in the door in many cases.

 

[Anal Annie]

Rob - US Customs also has a pretty big operation up in Harpers Ferry if you're near that area....

I have a couple of govt. job searches set up thru usajobs.gov - mostly for NIST and the DOE which are close by to where I live. I have considered the FDA but they are very transient and lease space in various buildings whereas NIST and the DOE both have their own campuses and aren't like to move. Commuting around here can be a big thing to consider when job hunting. I know people in some of these organizations that accept a job in one place then in a few months their dept. or branch is relocated across the county to another leased building. I am not looking to get into that type of commuting pickle. But I do get regular emails for these other 2 organizations. I just can't seem to get past whoever reads 'em!!

Back to the Disney layoffs...as far as DVC goes I am pretty sure their sales are down regardless of the latest resort expansions. I really don't think this economy was a good time for them to implement higher prices, higher minimums and point chart increases. I still think they got something in their kool-aid that the rest of us don't have!

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Jim - I have a shortcut for FEMA and bypass the main screen so I never really toured around the site to see what tools are there. I also didn't think about NPS that could be a possibility. Even volunteering as you say. Thanks for the info.

Annie - Harpers Ferry is not out of the question. I have some back roads that get me there in just under an hour. Thanks for that info too, I wasn't aware of Customs being there.

 

[JimC]

I understand that Disney is downsizing, but isn't DVC sort of separate from this? With the way they are building DVC (not just in WDW, as well), and with the way they seem to be selling them, and with the dues we all pay, why are DVC employees losing their jobs? Seems DVC resorts are booked just as much as usual, even though the hotels aren't, and it seems DVC sales are progressing along well enough to keep them opening more and more DVC rooms? I'm confused...

DVC is part of the theme park group. Given how aggressive the incentives are I doubt they are selling all that well. Certainly not like the period 2002 to 2007.

Timesharing is a pre-paid vacation. People are more likely to find a way to use their timeshare, even if they can't go themselves -- rentals, gifts, deposits into an exchange company. So a timeshare resort is more likely to maintain occupancy in difficult times.

I was just at Canyon Villas (Marriott timeshare) in Phoenix during the height of spring baseball. It was busy but not full as you would expect for March. It was busier then the JW right next door and the adjacent shopping/eating/entertainment complex had lots of walkers, but not lots of packages.

DVC is a great money maker for Disney. We fund construction, operations and all long term capital outlays while Disney never cedes long-term ownership or control. And they have effectively captured us as returning guests who don't need heavily discounted packages to keep coming back.