Disneyland and Disney World lay off 28,000 employees amid pandemic struggles - OCR/SCNG

[TP2000]

It's also a novelty to see Disney actually 'confirming' on paper that the Club actually exists.
For years it was treated as a 'big secret' and even up until recently if Guests asked a CM about Club 33, it was always brushed off like it didn't exsist.

Of course, we all know it exsists since we have both had the pleasure.


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You're right! This was always a place that never was admitted to officially.

I think they could maybe squeeze a couple tables out on the courtyard balcony for dining? Maybe have a very small bar operate in the entry courtyard? But even then, you're only talking probably two or three dining tables and a handful of cocktail drinkers down in the courtyard.

I remember during a visit in the 1990's pre-expansion, my hosts from Standard Oil and I were invited by the maitre'd to step out onto the slim exterior balcony with our coffee to watch the 9pm Fantasmic!, but that exterior balcony is not nearly big enough to handle a dining service. Only that slightly larger interior courtyard balcony in the old Court of Angels is big enough to handle a couple of small dining tables.

A permanently indoors restaurant like Club 33, that only has fifteen dining tables or so, is going to be a tiny shell of its already small self if it's held to 50% of its design capacity allowed in the mythical Yellow Tier.

I can only imagine the contractual headaches this is causing for the Club members (and the member's lawyers, as most all members have a lawyer or two on retainer!). I bet there's lots of drama there!

When I bring my Indian Summer in La Jolla to a close and head back up to OC later this month, I'm going to have to talk to a Club member I know and get the scoop. What a mess!

 

[cmwade77]

You're right! This was always a place that never was admitted to officially.

I think they could maybe squeeze a couple tables out on the courtyard balcony for dining? Maybe have a very small bar operate in the entry courtyard? But even then, you're only talking probably two or three dining tables and a handful of cocktail drinkers down in the courtyard.

I remember during a visit in the 1990's pre-expansion, my hosts from Standard Oil and I were invited by the maitre'd to step out onto the slim exterior balcony with our coffee to watch the 9pm Fantasmic!, but that exterior balcony is not nearly big enough to handle a dining service. Only that slightly larger interior courtyard balcony in the old Court of Angels is big enough to handle a couple of small dining tables.

A permanently indoors restaurant like Club 33, that only had maybe fifteen tables at most, is going to be a tiny shell of its already small self if it's held to 50% of its design capacity allowed in the mythical Yellow Tier.

I can only imagine the contractual headaches this is causing for the Club members (and the member's lawyers, as most all members have a lawyer or two on retainer!). I bet there's lots of drama there!

When I bring my Indian Summer in La Jolla to a close and head back up to OC later this month, I'm going to have to talk to a Club member I know and get the scoop. What a mess!

Get the members to sue the state and Newsom personally, the more that do, the better the chance one or more will succeed.

 

[Jefro]

Iger isn't too optimistic it sounds like

KTLA: Disney's Bob Iger resigns from Newsom's COVID-19 task force amid tensions over theme park reopenings.

Disney’s Bob Iger resigns from Newsom’s COVID-19 task force amid tensions over theme park reopenings

Walt Disney Co. Executive Chairman Bob Iger has resigned from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s COVID-19 economic task force, an abrupt public confirmation of the growing tensions stemming from California’s relu…

ktla.com

 

[TP2000]

Based on Club33 layoffs, I see the guidelines only allowing outdoor attractions and dining. Sounds awful.

Exactly. Knowing the layout of that small dining room, those numbers stick out like sore thumb.

Disneyland is hosed.

 

[SplashGhost]

A lot of layoffs would have happened regardless, but there definitely would be far less layoffs if Disneyland was allowed to reopen earlier this year.

 

[SuddenStorm]

Any word if any of the 400 WDI workers who are getting let go include the Frog Mountain team?

If any of the lay offs become public it may give us a good idea of what projects are cancelled and which aren't.

 

[Curious Constance]

I wonder if Bob tipped his desk over on his way out, threw a potted plant against a wall, or exhibited any other sort of brute displays of strength??? Asking for a friend.

 

[SplashGhost]

I love Disneyland as much as most people on this board. But I have to say that as much as I love the company, I feel no sympathy for how they are being treated by this pandemic. They have viewed their customers as worthless for such a long time. After all the upcharges, Tower of Terror Removal, Pixar Pier, and Splash Mountain, I hope the company can seriously reevaluate how they operate in the future.

Also remember, Disneyland doing better never reflects on the consumer, they make cuts to the guest experience regardless of how well they do each quarter.

I don't feel bad for the Disney company or their execs, the company and their execs will survive in some form or another. Sadly this also affects their employees, guests and the small businesses that depend on traffic from Disney. That is why this is a much bigger issue than rather or not theme parks can reopen.

Any word if any of the 400 WDI workers who are getting let go include the Frog Mountain team?

If any of the lay offs become public it may give us a good idea of what projects are cancelled and which aren't.

I'm curious about this also. While I don't want anyone to lose their job, I don't know how they can justify Frog Mountain financially in their current situation. We also know that it is very early in development which increases its chances of being cancelled.

 

[cmwade77]

I love Disneyland as much as most people on this board. But I have to say that as much as I love the company, I feel no sympathy for how they are being treated by this pandemic. They have viewed their customers as worthless for such a long time. After all the upcharges, Tower of Terror Removal, Pixar Pier, and Splash Mountain, I hope the company can seriously reevaluate how they operate in the future.

Also remember, Disneyland doing better never reflects on the consumer, they make cuts to the guest experience regardless of how well they do each quarter.

If this only affected Disneyland, I wouldn't have an issue with this position. I may not agree with you, for example, I think Guardians is the superior version in this case, but I would understand. The problem is it affects Knotts, Universal, SeaWorld and Legoland who all have shown they value their customers. Also, I feel bad for the employees of all of the parks, including Disney.

 

[GimpYancIent]

If this only affected Disneyland, I wouldn't have an issue with this position. I may not agree with you, for example, I think Guardians is the superior version in this case, but I would understand. The problem is it affects Knotts, Universal, SeaWorld and Legoland who all have shown they value their customers. Also, I feel bad for the employees of all of the parks, including Disney.

COVID19 is an equal opportunity infector, hence, it impacts all businesses. The various entertainment venues are not seen as critical to life (some would argue that). All the parks have felt the impact and some remain shuttered (not just in Cali). The Disney parks have prided themselves on attracting huge crowds to the point the numbers were taken for granted and manipulation of the guests to extract more money from them while providing a cheaper product. The individual guest experience deteriorated. Well, Disney does not and will not (in the foreseeable future) have those massive crowds to manipulate and skim for money. This is an opportunity to shed the $ single minded executives and utilize the imaginative ones that prize the guests experiences. The better the guests experiences, the more satisfied and happier the guests, the more return visits with family and friends etc. etc. etc. The point being the $ will be there if the guests expectations are met. Protocols have been developed, rules are in place, COVID19 is here and not going away any time soon, it can be dealt with, people can interact, exercise, be entertained and travel, live. It is also a time to concentrate on quality.

 

[Stevek]

The numbers of Club 33 staff being fired is most illuminating. That's not a big restaurant, even by outside standards not just mega theme park standards. That amount of lay offs is huge for a restaurant that small.

Club 33 is also entirely an indoor establishment. There is no ability to offer outdoor dining or service there. It's obvious that Disneyland's Club 33 will be a shell of its former self once it's eventually allowed to reopen

It's not really surprising though is it? Quite honestly, I would have guessed they would be first on the cut list given most guests don't have access to the club. Also just read that Jenn Finley-Baker, Disney Parks Blog Leader and 19 year vet, was also let go. Nobody is immune to the cuts.

 

[Figments Friend]

Any word if any of the 400 WDI workers who are getting let go include the Frog Mountain team?

If any of the lay offs become public it may give us a good idea of what projects are cancelled and which aren't.

I have heard very little on the matter to date....seems to be very hush.
Only talk I have witnessed is fans wondering if Rhode was shown the road.
Another source noted discreetly that one 'well known Imagineer took a pay cut just so he could stay', which may be why some fans are concerned about Joe.

I would LIKE to think that most of the folks laid off from WDI were recent hires, interns, assistants, office help, and 'non-essential' extra additions that were trimmed away to keep the core intact.

'Frog Mountain' should not happen at this point, but a quick repurposing of a exsisting Attraction is always less effort both creatively and financially then starting from scratch.
I do question if the WDI of today is capable of creating a 'original' non- IP based experience.

More insights will likely be forthcoming eventually regarding the layoffs.
It's happened before, it will happen again.

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[SirWillow]

This is an opportunity to shed the $ single minded executives and utilize the imaginative ones that prize the guests experiences. The better the guests experiences, the more satisfied and happier the guests, the more return visits with family and friends etc. etc. etc. The point being the $ will be there if the guests expectations are met.

Unfortunately the execs in charge of the parks, resorts, and the company do not seem to understand it, and haven't understood it in quite a while. They're from the opposite school of thought- build it as cheap as we can get away with, squeeze every nickel and dime out of the guests, and how much can we cut while still bringing the money in.

Now they're going to have even more reason to justify cutting things out and not bringing them back, and won't understand that by not bringing them back, they won't be bringing back the guests either. They don't have a long term, big picture view, but just one of how to squeeze as much from this moment as possible.

Until those execs are removed and others brought in that get it, it won't change. And I doubt that will happen anytime soon.

I would LIKE to think that most of the folks laid off from WDI were recent hires, interns, assistants, office help, and 'non-essential' extra additions that were trimmed away to keep the core intact.

I've seen a few posts on Twitter from people at WDI that didn't fit into those categories, including at least a couple of active imagineers who had been there for several years. Joe Rohde though doesn't appear to have said anything.

 

[Stevek]

I have heard very little on the matter to date....seems to be very hush.
Only talk I have witnessed is fans wondering if Rhode was shown the road.
Another source noted discreetly that one 'well known Imagineer took a pay cut just so he could stay', which may be why some fans are concerned about Joe.

I would LIKE to think that most of the folks laid off from WDI were recent hires, interns, assistants, office help, and 'non-essential' extra additions that were trimmed away to keep the core intact.

'Frog Mountain' should not happen at this point, but a quick repurposing of a exsisting Attraction is always less effort both creatively and financially then starting from scratch.
I do question if the WDI of today is capable of creating a 'original' non- IP based experience.

More insights will likely be forthcoming eventually regarding the layoffs.
It's happened before, it will happen again.

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An acquaintance who is a former imagineer (primary decorator of Trader Sam's) and had been there a while, stated that nearly every imagineer he worked with was let go.

 

[SplashGhost]

An acquaintance who is a former imagineer (primary decorator of Trader Sam's) and had been there a while, stated that nearly every imagineer he worked with was let go.

That is horrible, does anyone have any idea how many actual imagineers are left?

 

[Stevek]

That is horrible, does anyone have any idea how many actual imagineers are left?

I was wondering the same thing. Not sure how large their ranks were but gotta believe a loss of 400 put a pretty serious dent in their numbers.

 

[SplashGhost]

I was wondering the same thing. Not sure how large their ranks were but gotta believe a loss of 400 put a pretty serious dent in their numbers.

I haven't found a number of how many people that Imagineering was employing, but I figure it was a relatively small group.

With the Epcot redo scaled down, it doesn't feel like they have many big projects left in active development. I feel that the Avengers E-Ticket was probably cancelled or delayed indefinitely.

 

[Darkbeer1]

There have been talks over the last few decades of switching from a full time Imagineer staff to more of a consultant type structure, where Imagineers are brought on for specific projects.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Walt Disney Imagineering is bigger than Disney lets on. The credits for Smugglers Run alone lists over 200 Imagineers and despite the image Disney likes to present, many are working full time on a single project and not on everything else going on in the world.

 

[1HAPPYGHOSTHOST]

I hope they didn't keep the ones who came up with Jack Jack on sticks.