Disney officials confirmed Friday that there have been staff reductions this week at Walt Disney Imagineering, the arm of the Walt Disney Co. that designs its theme parks.
The reductions were accomplished at the Glendale-based company through a combination of voluntary departures and layoffs.
Imagineering increased its staff while working on Shanghai
Disneyland, which opened in June. It employed more than 2,000 designers and engineers around the world before the reductions.
“Walt Disney Imagineering is a project-based organization, and we continually evaluate and adjust our resources to support the design and development of Disney theme parks, resorts and experiences around the globe,” said a Disney spokesman.
As part of the reductions, voluntary severance packages were offered to senior staffers, those with longer terms of service or nearing retirement, Disney said.
Beginning Wednesday, others were laid off. Disney would not say how many were let go, saying only that the number of layoffs was a low single-digit percentage.
The design company is also undergoing a reorganization under
Bob Weis, who was appointed its president in January. As part of that process, several others were offered different positions within the organization - some at a lesser rate of pay.
Walt Disney Imagineering is currently working on the “Star Wars” land project at Disneyland, which could open in 2018 or 2019, and the “Guardians of the Galaxy” overlay for the Tower of Terror attraction at Disney California Adventure, which will open in 2017.
The company is also working on several projects at Walt Disney World, including “Star Wars” land, a Toy Story land, both at Disney Hollywood Studios, and a land based on the movie “Avatar” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Reporter Mark Eades worked for Walt Disney Imagineering from 1982 to 1993.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/disney-724830-walt-imagineering.html
