Politics 28000 Layoffs coming to Disney's domestic theme parks - statement from Josh D'Amaro

[denyuntilcaught]

I've supported Newsom through a majority of his leadership, including through the pandemic (to which, a majority of Californian's give Newsom high marks on his pandemic leadership according to a UC Berkeley poll released today.)

Despite that, I've always found his leadership for the state's theme parks to be a bizarre blindspot. He has sincerely dragged his feet bringing to the table guidelines and timelines for Disney, and now TWDC did what they had to do.

Shame.

 

[Communicora]

This was coming before Disneylands closure became so protracted. Mentioning it in public is just another thinly veiled swipe.

Yeah. I am unimpressed with how they included that in the statement.

I feel terrible for these employees and hope they are able to find satisfying employment soon. It's really hard to go through a layoff during a poor time in the economy. I've experienced it myself and it was grim.

 

[oceanbreeze77]

I said this in the DL page but there was absolutely NO REASON that disney couldn't have made an extra effort to keep cash flowing. Look at knotts. Their Halloween event is COMPLETELY sold out. This is on disney.

 

[EdnaMode]

This is seriously hard to hear when I'm at the parks and can see the job the cast is doing and have experienced how understaffed restaurants, attractions and services are right now.

 

[UNCgolf]

I don't think Disneyland being closed has anything to do with this. If Disneyland was open 3 months ago this would likely still be happening.

 

[DVCakaCarlF]

the constituents in YOUR circle want it open.

It’s funny how you ignore the citizens of CA begging for guidance to get DL.

 

[Surferboy567]

Per CNBC, the following memo was sent to Cast Members:

Disneyland wasn’t mentioned in that memo at all. Looks like they were actually giving a real reason.

 

[oceanbreeze77]

 

[disneycp]

Is this expected to hurt Disneyland more due to them not being open at all? Or is this gonna affect both domestic sites pretty evenly?

This tweet makes it seem like Disneyland will be more effected (although I'm sure WDW will take a big hit, as well).

 

[oceanbreeze77]

It’s funny how you ignore the citizens of CA begging for guidance to get DL.

I am a citizen of CA. Literally the only ones who want it open are the people who are likely pass holders.

 

[DGracey]

"we believe that the steps we are taking will enable us to emerge a more effective and efficient operation when we return to normal."​

That is the major takeaway, here.

This is not temporary, only because of current circumstances.

They have been aiming to be "more effective and efficient" for awhile.

When attendance returns to "normal" (their words), Disney Parks will remain "efficient" with far, far fewer cast members.

This is a permanent, full-scale restructuring of the entire parks and resorts division.

 

[denyuntilcaught]

I am a citizen of CA. Literally the only ones who want it open are the people who are likely pass holders.

Or business owners in the Resort District. Or CMs who can't just rely on unemployment. Or housekeepers in empty hotels. Or servers whose restaurants are dying due to the lack of business. Or...

 

[Kamikaze]

But, but, but, he took a selfie with me!!!!

Shift blame to Chapek in 3....2.....1.....

No blame for either of them. None of this is any of their faults.

 

[Brian]

"Sorry we must let go the employees...ya know the castle might look good painted pink..."

"We are losing money!...Why isn't Moana in the Polynesian?"

Feel like Jim Gaffigan should have at this.

Don't forget about the $5 million to black lives matter and $5 million to COVID relief. I wonder how many jobs could have been saved had it not been for those exorbitant donations, considering how little front-line cast are paid?

 

[EdnaMode]

That is the major takeaway, here.

This is not temporary, only because of current circumstances.

They have been aiming to be "more effective and efficient" for awhile.

When attendance returns to "normal" (their words), Disney Parks will remain "efficient" with far, far fewer cast members.

This is a permanent, full-scale restructuring of the entire parks and resorts division.

Not having beds made daily by housekeeping? Efficient.

Having your dinner handed to you in a paper sack? Efficient.

Having nothing to do and nowhere to go when the parks are all closed before dark? Efficient.

Are they seriously thinking we want to vacation this way permanently?

 

[denyuntilcaught]

Don't forget about the $5 million to black lives matter and $5 million to COVID relief. I wonder how many jobs could have been saved had it not been for those exorbitant donations, considering how little front-line cast are paid?

Not an either/or type of scenario I'm afraid.

 

[Bob Harlem]

At this point I know way more people negatively affected by the closures than the disease itself by several orders of magnitude.

 

[Brian]

Not an either/or type of scenario I'm afraid.

Unfortunately not. I just point it out because we all knew there'd be layoffs back when they made those donations. There's always layoffs in September, even during record-breaking fiscal years.

When a company is in trouble, the first thing to go should be charitable donations, not people.

 

[Calmdownnow]

Gavin is still to blame.

I know they give names to hurricanes and tropical storms. but hadn't heard that they were naming viruses after people.

 

[DGracey]

From April 12 ...

Bob Iger Thought He Was Leaving on Top. Now, He’s Fighting for Disney’s Life. (Published 2020)

The former C.E.O. thought he was riding into the sunset. Now he’s reasserting control and reimagining Disney as a company with fewer employees and more thermometers.

www.nytimes.com

"Mr. Iger is now intensely focused on remaking a company that will emerge, he believes, deeply changed by the crisis. The sketch he has drawn for associates offers a glimpse at the post-pandemic future: It’s a Disney with fewer employees, leading the new and uncertain business of how to gather people safely for entertainment.

Mr. Iger also sees this as a moment, he has told associates, to look across the business and permanently change how it operates. He’s told them that he anticipates ending expensive old-school television practices like advertising upfronts and producing pilots for programs that may never air. Disney is also likely to reopen with less office space. He’s also told two people that he anticipated the company having fewer employees."