Hundreds of Cast-Members lose jobs at WDW

The Orlando Sentinel revealed today that hundreds of Walt Disney world cast members will lose their jobs this week.

"Disney, which is Central Florida's largest employer, with about 62,000 "cast members," refused to say Thursday how many jobs it has eliminated. But one person familiar with some details of the cuts said he was given an estimate of 450.

The cuts have predominantly targeted salaried workers, rather than the hourly employees who make up the vast majority of the resort's workforce. Employees say layoffs have occurred across Disney World's back-office functions, including entertainment, merchandise, finance, transportation, training, emergency management and theme-park operations.

Some workers who deal directly with guests have also been let go, including guest-service managers and managers in Disney Vacation Club's sales preview center."

Although "Disney announced last month that it would slash jobs across as its domestic resorts, as part of a sweeping reorganization aimed at combining functions between Disney World and Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif." the timing of these new layoffs "coincide with the end of the Disney Co.'s fiscal second quarter, which concludes Saturday."

Coincidence? Certainly not. I will come back tomorrow on this subject and how destructive it can be for the company - at least much more than the suits can think, but in the meantime have a look at the full Orlando Sentinel article right HERE.

Text: copyright Orlando Sentinel