Although many of its theme parks around the world have reopened, Disney is not entirely back up and running.
Disneyland Gate
The Disneyland Resort theme parks are still closed and cruising is expected to be the last aspect of the company to resume. COVID-19 has greatly impacted the Disney company and other companies worldwide. We’ve seen lots of layoffs in various other hotels and theme parks, which is now being followed by a large number of layoffs in Disney World.
In a statement by Josh D’Amaro, current Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, posted on the Disney Parks News Twitter account, D’Amaro notes that due to “the prolonged impact of COVID-19 on [Disney’s] business, including limited capacity due to physical distancing requirements and the continued uncertainty regarding the duration of the pandemic — exacerbated in California by the State’s unwillingness to lift restrictions that would allow Disneyland to reopen — [Disney] has made the very difficult decision to begin the process of reducing [their] workforce at [their] Parks, Experiences and Products segment at all levels.”
©Disney Parks News via Twitter
Up to that point, Disney had kept many non-working Cast Members on furlough since April, while paying their healthcare benefits. D’Amaro’s notice stated that approximately 28,000 domestic employees would be affected by these layoffs, 67% of which were part-time.
Disney World Cast Member
In a letter sent to employees from D’Amaro, the Chairman noted that he believes “the heart and soul of [Disney’s] business is and always will be people.” He said that they initially hoped the pandemic would be short-lived and that things would return to normal quickly, but that has not been the case, and, as a result, they are now forced to reduce the size of their team “across executive, salaried, and hourly roles.”
Cast Members
D’Amaro noted that “this is the only feasible option [they] have in light of the prolonged impact of COVID-19 on [Disney’s] business.” The letter also indicated that appointments with affected salaried and non-union hourly employees would be scheduled in the coming days, and that Disney would be beginning the process of discussing next steps with unions.
Cast Member outside of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Cast Members affected by these layoffs had access to some self-serve resources 90 days post-separation, and were also able to access some HR resources post-separation where Disney’s HR team was able to assist Cast Members in their transition.
Cast Member
Certain Cast Members — namely executive, salaried, and hourly non-union employees — should also have had access to certain outplacement services including career transition coaches, resume support, job leads, and more.
Pinocchio Village Haus Cast Member
We’ll be keeping an eye on this situation and we’ll let you know if we hear of any more updates.
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It is really sad to watch as Disney self destructs
I feel so sorry for these employees. I worked in the event industry and my company permanently closed down.
But we can’t be locked down forever. Either there is going to be a vaccine or people will just learn to live with the risk.
Disney will come back and when they do, they are going to have a very hard time filling these positions.
Sounds like Walmart! Plenty of part-time people. This has turned me off on anything Disney.
I consider myself and family to have lived to enjoy the greatest years at Disney Parks and Resorts and ultimately becoming a DVC member out to 2055. I am most definitely concerned for the future of the company and it’s cast members. I have grave concerns that it will be able to return to the good old days practices of the 1990 to 2010 periods when life with the mouse was an exciting experience every year. I pray the the DVC legacy I will leave for my daughter and her young family will be as enjoyable for the next 35 years. What would Walt do?
Its terrible they do this to honest people hard working people
As fun as Disney is and with the virus going on Disney should lower prices and hire people back. They have been getting out of hand for years. There are so many other theme parks that people can go to and take their family to that are really nice and fun.
I work tangentially with travel/hospitality/event planning … and our industries have been decimated. This is far from the last mass layoff we’ll hear about, I’m sorry to say.
That said, I find it really, really hard to believe Disney can’t commit to paying it’s workforce for at least a year. Maybe it’s time to reassess some compensation packages for the top execs.
California, and it’s ridiculous decision to not allow Disneyland to open is causing some of this!
Tried to subscribe without commenting like it says at the bottom of the page and I get the error 404 page. I think the link is broken.
This is really really sad news. Disney castmembers msk visiting the parks amazing.
I’m wondering if any of the Disney Stores were affiliated?
This is terrible and heard some x employees would have to pay b health insurance. Disney truly shows where their loyalties lie and it’s not with their employees. It’s a shame !!!They are also getting rid of long time performers. The decisions they are making are terrible!!!
Dear Cast Members,
My heart goes out to you all! This first year in a long time my wife and I has not visited Disney World in a long time. I’ve been laid off before. Use all the help Disney offers to get another job.
MayGod Bless,
Barry Boudreaux
Are you kidding me it’s more like an implosion I know some of these cast members and it breaks my heart also to see this happening I just hope that there’s some semblance of normalcy this coming summer and these people get back to work because I want to see some my old friends and I’m not talking about characters I’m talking about cast members Remember what Walt said you can design and create and build the most wonderful place in the world but it takes people to make the dream a reality you the cast members without you it’s nothing
Disney needs some decision makers that know what their doing!
The first thing I thought of was…they are upping the capacity, why would they lay people off? That doesn’t make since to me. Wouldn’t they add employees?
Disney cleared 1 billion dollars at least last year. What is the point of a big industry like Disney? Is it to give share holders in the Hamptons another ritzy summer cottage OR to provide a profitable service that includes a living wage to its artist, performers & deeply dedicated cast members of all walks of life? I say Disney could not be so wonderfully popular without the DEDICATED cast members who are paid pitiful wages while Disney Co. Makes billions of dollars each year.
I don’t see how Disney is self destructing when Disney is literally having to follow state and federal guidelines right now with this coronavirus BS. It’s not like Disney is purposely doing this for the heck for it. Once things starts getting back to normal people that love Disney will be wanting to get their jobs back and/or get a job as a new employee at Disney. I’m a mom of 3 and live in Indiana, I would totally move to Florida to work at Disney if I could make enough money!
What happens to the workers at the TRAILS end Restaurant?
Disney has lost their way, their hope, and vision for a new millenia! From the Field Of Dreams, build it and they will come!
Disney obviously lost perspective, and is clueless on how too re-imagine their operations without throwing loyal cast members under the bus!
Just awaiting moderation but others later times same day comments get posted quickly what’s up with that
It’s a dang shame Disney is treating their employees this way !!
They have been making bad decisions here lately. Takes the magic away for me
Hi, Athena. I’m only one person. I get to the comments as best I can in any given day. Thanks for reading!
These are unprecedented times. No one was alive the last time anyone saw something remotely like this, and then we face the fact that few things learned then apply now. All this wild speculation of what Disney can or should do is ridiculous. It used to be what Disney made, Disney spent. Now with so many large entities under it’s umbrella, in the end they all have to support each other. You can’t cut like this at ABC News. With COVID, and everything that it brings with it, then there is the most news creating elections ever, maybe, the weird weather we have been experiencing. ESPN and Disney had to work hand in hand to get the NBA and MLS, which allowed two of their companies to support each other.
“I’m going to miss my annual Disney trip.” I had almost saved up enough for my wife and I to go to WDW for the first time in 20 years. Being in our mid-60’s, and a junk economy, that money has to go into our retirement. This is an awful lot us other people’s shoes you have to walk in to really see the whole picture.