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Disney to Slash Theme Park Jobs

Company announces layoffs, major restructuring of park operations

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 19, 2009 5:04 AM CST

(Newser) – Tomorrowland holds unemployment for an undisclosed number of Disney employees, reports the Orlando Sentinel. The company is restructuring its theme park division—which employs 80,000 people—and plans to cut jobs by consolidating its East and West Coast operations. Analysts believe Disney can make substantial savings this way but warn that turning around the firm's falling profits will be harder if it cuts too many creative jobs.

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Fireworks light up the sky on Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Disney currently employs around 60,000 people in the state. (AP Photo/Disney, David Roark)

Visitors enjoy the Tea Cup ride at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. The Walt Disney Co. has announced a major restructuring of its theme park operations. (AP Photo/Nick Ut, file)

The Walt Disney Co. has announced plans to cut jobs by streamlining its theme park operations. (©LaMenta3)

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They've got to be careful because there are so many very specialized people that work for Disney, especially on the creative side, that would be very difficult to replace once things turn around. - John Gerner, managing director of Leisure Business Advisors

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Disney to Slash Theme Park Jobs