Layoffs within WDI

[rteetz]

Makes sense and it was kind of expected. Some people on Twitter were making it seem as if there was some sort of revolution within Imagineering that involved censorship, unconformity and all kinds of crazy stuff. Though you never know. Perhaps Imagineering went on strike after the ToT announcement

I'm sure some imagineers did throw a fit about the ToT announcement.

 

[hopeful4fl]

It is not the current management of Disney that made it the darling of the industry and evoked brand loyalty. It is people and their skills (that are getting laid off). If Disney wants to survive in the long run, I would rather see a lot of their high paid, crummy decision making, hyper ego, bean counting, gutless, heartless, management being let go, laid off, offered packages, etc.
Sorry guys. The number of imagineers being laid off may be small, but we may see symptoms of death by a thousand cuts. They cut CM's, IT staff, Imagineers, construction crews and god knows what other kinds of staff. Those layoffs may be in the hundreds. The sad part is, if they laid off 10 of the top managers (people who let things go over budget for example), they would have made up for salaries for those hundreds of people.

 

[cmash95]

the people being laid off are people who's jobs are done. construction crews and many imagineers are hired for a specific project and then when it's done they are let go. this has happened several times, the last big layoffs happened after hong kong and for the same reasons, IF they don't have a project to work on or they were hired to work a specific area, they are let go. and I wouldn't be surprised if some being let go are those responsible for not getting the job done on time including Joe. Chapek was brought in to make sure that projects are finished on time and ON BUDGET. actually the last big name guy to be let go besides Meg was the guy in charge of magic bands and that was again too long and wayyy oveer budget. Meg was also eased out for costing the company money implementing the one disney ideas.

 

[HopperFan]

the people being laid off are people who's jobs are done. construction crews and many imagineers are hired for a specific project and then when it's done they are let go. this has happened several times, the last big layoffs happened after hong kong and for the same reasons, IF they don't have a project to work on or they were hired to work a specific area, they are let go. and I wouldn't be surprised if some being let go are those responsible for not getting the job done on time including Joe. Chapek was brought in to make sure that projects are finished on time and ON BUDGET. actually the last big name guy to be let go besides Meg was the guy in charge of magic bands and that was again too long and wayyy oveer budget. Meg was also eased out for costing the company money implementing the one disney ideas.

Very true, it's the nature of the business. I worked for an engineering placement company. While we did place permanent employees the bulk of our business was temporary engineers. And these were placed with very large global companies like Disney in aerospace, piping, chemical etc industries. I figured those were pretty stable jobs, never a temp, until I began working there. Companies putting together big projects needing lots of engineers etc do not want to hire them permanently because they not only are costly while they work for them but when they have to let them go at the end of the project, it's very costly. Many go from job to job as contract workers and hope they may get a permanent hire at some point, but also aware that when a project ends their value to the company may end.

Disney is pretty good about hiring them for long term projects but once those big ones are done there simply isn't enough work to move them all. That would be a hard part of working for Disney - the excitement of being an Imagineer, but the knowledge that I may be expendable. Completely agree that due to all the Shanghai issues even if there are new projects at WDW etc (which there are a few) they may be reluctant to work with the same group. I would expect when the ROL is resolved one way or another, some of those will be gone as well.

 

[rteetz]

the people being laid off are people who's jobs are done. construction crews and many imagineers are hired for a specific project and then when it's done they are let go. this has happened several times, the last big layoffs happened after hong kong and for the same reasons, IF they don't have a project to work on or they were hired to work a specific area, they are let go. and I wouldn't be surprised if some being let go are those responsible for not getting the job done on time including Joe. Chapek was brought in to make sure that projects are finished on time and ON BUDGET. actually the last big name guy to be let go besides Meg was the guy in charge of magic bands and that was again too long and wayyy oveer budget. Meg was also eased out for costing the company money implementing the one disney ideas.

While true 450 people is huge. That's no small amount and that's a lot of people who don't have work now. Disney doesn't have a shortage of work going on either, Star Wars, toy story, Tokyo expansion, and much more to come.

Joe was not let go and Joe is a high profile imagineer the guy who designed AK and is now in charge of marvel at the parks. He is no simple project imagineer.

Meg Crofton was a woman and was not in charge of magic bands and MyMagic+. An imagineer with the first name Nick I forget the last name was in charge of MyMagic+ as soon as it was rolled out he was fired. Meg retired and was not fired.

 

[PuppyJonathan]

Is Baxter safe? I assume not since he just showed up on John stamos' Twitter but that would be one I'd be sad to see let go

 

[rteetz]

Is Baxter safe? I assume not since he just showed up on John stamos' Twitter but that would be one I'd be sad to see let go

Baxter isn't part of the company anymore he retired in I want to say 2012-2013. He sometimes consults for the company but isn't in Glendale on a daily basis at all.

 

[luisov]

Baxter isn't part of the company anymore he retired in I want to say 2012-2013. He sometimes consults for the company but isn't in Glendale on a daily basis at all.

Which is a shame, really. Tony Baxter is probably my favorite Imagineer out there. I'd like to think that his opinion carries more weight than it probably actually does, but at least he's still a consultant.

 

[rteetz]

Which is a shame, really. Tony Baxter is probably my favorite Imagineer out there. I'd like to think that his opinion carries more weight than it probably actually does, but at least he's still a consultant.

Tony Baxter was a true fan favorite and a Disney fans Imagineer. He had so many amazing plans that never got built. He has an imagination fix, a Mary Poppins dark ride, and so much more.

 

[GaryDis]

Meg Crofton was a woman

Although it's hard to be certain these days, I'm pretty sure she still is a woman.

 

[Dfan79]

I'm still missing Guitar Dan, I'm sure some 2nd rate theme park picked him up. But I don't really want to go to a Six Flags in East Bum to see him though.

 

[AnnaKat]

Several rumors have said that a bunch of imagineers have been let go within WDI. This includes big name imagineers such as Tom Fitzgerald (lead of Epcot) and Joe Rohde (lead of marvel and AK).

Personally I don't buy that they let joe go since he was just put in charge of marvel and made the announcement of guardians at DCA.

How can they let go of the Lead ones?! Who will replace them?! And wouldn't that hurt the morale of the lower level Imagineers?! This is kind of big news.
I also cannot imagine them letting Joe Rohde go.

 

[AnnaKat]

Very true, it's the nature of the business. I worked for an engineering placement company. While we did place permanent employees the bulk of our business was temporary engineers. And these were placed with very large global companies like Disney in aerospace, piping, chemical etc industries. I figured those were pretty stable jobs, never a temp, until I began working there. Companies putting together big projects needing lots of engineers etc do not want to hire them permanently because they not only are costly while they work for them but when they have to let them go at the end of the project, it's very costly. Many go from job to job as contract workers and hope they may get a permanent hire at some point, but also aware that when a project ends their value to the company may end.

Disney is pretty good about hiring them for long term projects but once those big ones are done there simply isn't enough work to move them all. That would be a hard part of working for Disney - the excitement of being an Imagineer, but the knowledge that I may be expendable. Completely agree that due to all the Shanghai issues even if there are new projects at WDW etc (which there are a few) they may be reluctant to work with the same group. I would expect when the ROL is resolved one way or another, some of those will be gone as well.

With ALL the over runs, it had me thinking that " Oh how nice to get paid zillions of $$$$ to COME UP with the ideas,
but STILL FAIL in their implementation!! " In most jobs, you would be fired, AND you NEVER made the millions of $$$$ to begin with!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rteetz]

How can they let go of the Lead ones?! Who will replace them?! And wouldn't that hurt the morale of the lower level Imagineers?! This is kind of big news.
I also cannot imagine them letting Joe Rohde go.

Joe Rohde wasn't let go he's still with the company. The rumor was false.

As for imagineering and Disney projects Disney has been outsourcing more and more projects which means there is less for imagineers to do. Imagineering still does the design but as for the build its outsourced.

 

[Irish_Mike]

I'm sure that there has got to be a lot of tension between the heads of Disney who want these projects done fast and cheap, and the big Imagineers who want to do it right.

So while it's good to see that Rohde and others are still with the company, I wouldn't be surprised if some are losing patience.

 

[cmash95]

ummm meg didnt retire she left to spend more time with her family. that's disney speakk for time to go. Meg made a big mistake in contract negotiations and dealing with CP contracts She is nowhere near retirement age. and rhode is close to retirement and so if fitagerald. a new man is in charge and this is common. getting rid of dead weight and those you don't get along with

 

[rteetz]

ummm meg didnt retire she left to spend more time with her family. that's disney speakk for time to go. Meg made a big mistake in contract negotiations and dealing with CP contracts She is nowhere near retirement age. and rhode is close to retirement and so if fitagerald. a new man is in charge and this is common. getting rid of dead weight and those you don't get along with

If they fired Meg why did they give her a window on Main Street? That's pretty high honor for anyone with the company. Meg was closer to retirement than Fitz is. Fitzgerald is maybe 50ish. Get your facts straight.

 

[rteetz]

Meg Crofton is 63 and retired on June 1st 2015...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meg_Crofton

 

[rteetz]

Joe Rohde is 60

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Rohde

Tom Fitzgerald is not listed anywhere for how old he is. He is not 60 though maybe mid 50s.

 

[rteetz]

One of the bigger Imagineer names let go is Tom Morris.

Tom Morris worked on Carsland, the original journey into imagination, Hong Kong, just to name a few.