WDP&R eliminated 1900 jobs

[amejr999]

From the Sentinel:

The Walt Disney Co. has eliminated 1,900 jobs across its U.S. parks division - including 1,400 in Florida - the company confirmed this afternoon.

Full story at

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-bk-disney-layoffs-040309,0,7115954.story

The good news...

Disney said the cuts [...] are mostly complete

 

[MousDad]

900 layoffs in Florida. 500 were open positions not filled. But still ...

Holy crap! What happened to the original announcement of 450??!!

 

[DMC-12]

Federal law typically require employers who lay off 500 or more employees at once to give state officials 60 days advance notice. Disney did not file such a warning even in Florida.

Disney said it was not obligated to do so because even the Disney World cuts included multiple sites and subsidiaries, none of which tripped the 500-employee threshold. For example, Disney said each of its four theme parks in Orlando is considered a separate site.

That sounds a bit shady :-\

 

[DizneyPryncess]

Wow.
I feel so sorry for all those people, and all the people in general getting laid off from so many places. It seems like everyday I know another person who lost their job.

 

[imamouse]

The article describes the cuts as "mostly complete" - ouch! My heart goes out to all of the CMs who have been handed pink slips, along with anyone else laid off due to the economy. Here's hoping for a rapid rebound!

 

[Boray]

The article describes the cuts as "mostly complete" - ouch! My heart goes out to all of the CMs who have been handed pink slips, along with anyone else laid off due to the economy. Here's hoping for a rapid rebound!

I couldn't agree more. I feel very fortunate that I don't personally know a single person who has been laid off or fired as a result of this economy. Hopefully, I never will...

 

[prberk]

Very sad. I am still saddened most by the managers who worked their way up the company and gave many years of dedication to the Disney way of doing things. That is a loss that is not quantifiable in the short term.

Paul

 

[Captain Chaos]

That sounds a bit shady :-\

Shady, yes, but trust me when I say NO company would lay off people unless they have their legalities behind them... There are laws about offering 60 days notice, and all that stuff, but, in certain states, the company can get around it depending on how long they were in business in that state... Happened to me last year... I was not given 60 days notice, I was tossed right out on my ... No legal recourse... Companies, especially Disney, will have their i's dotted and t's crossed...

 

[WDW1974]

Very sad. I am still saddened most by the managers who worked their way up the company and gave many years of dedication to the Disney way of doing things. That is a loss that is not quantifiable in the short term.

Paul

Well, those are the CMs who made the most. And one could, and I would, argue they are the ones who are irreplaceable.

Folks who have grown up in the Disney Way ... people who have been there some back to the 1970s, and many from the 80s and 90s and know how things are SUPPOSED to be are being replaced by people who don't have the knowledge, experience and dedication to the ideals. So a WalMart product is what they are versed in ...

Again, they got rid of the people (in many cases) they could least afford to let go.

But I'll sleep better knowing all the highest WDW execs kept their positions.

~Can't Buy Experience at WalMart!~

 

[DoctorPrius]

Well, those are the CMs who made the most. And one could, and I would, argue they are the ones who are irreplaceable.

Folks who have grown up in the Disney Way ... people who have been there some back to the 1970s, and many from the 80s and 90s and know how things are SUPPOSED to be are being replaced by people who don't have the knowledge, experience and dedication to the ideals. So a WalMart product is what they are versed in ...

Again, they got rid of the people (in many cases) they could least afford to let go.

But I'll sleep better knowing all the highest WDW execs kept their positions.

~Can't Buy Experience at WalMart!~

I dream of the day when they screw up teh company so bad that they have no choice to come begging the government for money

 

[Jim L Clifton]

1974,
Cuts are NOT over yet...at least not, IF they do what they did at my Co.in the past...As for THE higher up....they have a tendency to get theirs...you see at "THEIR" level....it isn't about $$$ ...it's about POWER!!
So....IF cuts are completed....AND....$$$ goes down....Board of Directors(HIS buddies until it hits the fan)decides HE has to go.....!!HE leaves....after a time....HE......wants to get IN....somewhere....guess what....most of the time....HE tries to get on "A" Board of Directors....they don't want him!!PAYBACK TIME. Remember...I said....POWER & NOT $$$!
Jim

 

[VillanovaBlue]

900 layoffs in Florida. 500 were open positions not filled. But still ...

Holy crap! What happened to the original announcement of 450??!!

Well, I guess technically they really only "laid off" 400, since the other 500 were just jobs where they decided not to hire...

So really, they didn't even cut 450...:lookaroun

 

[TURKEY]

Well, I guess technically they really only "laid off" 400, since the other 500 were just jobs where they decided not to hire...

So really, they didn't even cut 450...:lookaroun

No, 900 were actually laid off. The total for Florida was 1400 - 500 were open positions.

Curious though I never saw any of those openings posted anywhere.

 

[hokielutz]

Well, those are the CMs who made the most. And one could, and I would, argue they are the ones who are irreplaceable.

Folks who have grown up in the Disney Way ... people who have been there some back to the 1970s, and many from the 80s and 90s and know how things are SUPPOSED to be are being replaced by people who don't have the knowledge, experience and dedication to the ideals. So a WalMart product is what they are versed in ...

Again, they got rid of the people (in many cases) they could least afford to let go.

But I'll sleep better knowing all the highest WDW execs kept their positions.

~Can't Buy Experience at WalMart!~

Thank you again for your fairly predictable commentary.

 

[WDW1974]

Thank you again for your fairly predictable commentary.

Thanks for commenting on my comments while adding nothing of substance.

Let's have some good, old WDW management a$$-kissing where people defend anything/everything the exec 'leadership' team does in some pixie dust high as WDW becomes less special and more ordinary by the day.

~What Will YOU Celebrate? TIMESHARES!~

 

[DisneyPirate85]

I am so sorry for 900 that were let go! Especially those that have worked there way up, and as said earlier, were the ones the company could ill afford to loose.
EXAMPLE
2 years ago we were in the BWV Store and were being assisted by a very very helpfull CM, just your everyday here to do what I can do to help a guest have a magical time CM, we needed to ship 2 packages home to Indiana and she was taking care of it, now along comes 2 other CM's who were newer employees who did not know how to ship packages for guests. So she was taking the time to train them,after asking us if it was ok, on how to ship them home. A Manager comes out of the back office proceeds to start chewing out all 3 of the CM's as to why it takes 3 of them to assist my family and I, When the knowledgeable CM tried to explain what was taking place he got even ruder! I had had enough, told him to go fly a kite, thats the clean version, and told all 3 of the CMs would be more then happy to see his boss and maybe someone could give him a little Walt 1 on 1...he went back to his office to soak his head and I got my package shipped I found out later he was a "Newer Manager" not from the rank and file. If fate is as bad as we all know she can be, that "Manager", is one of the one's that got the ax....
We saw the "trainer" CM days later seems she had a new job, Working in the Bakery. Always hoped it worked out for her.

 

[WDW1974]

Usually, I like to let my words do the talking when I post here. But I couldn't help and feel that the following words, from a very well-respected member of the LP.com community, tells it from the POV of someone who has worked for WDW, in both the good old days and more recently ... it nails home plenty of the points that have been discussed on many threads, including this one ... so ...

"Iger is just a product of corporate America. As CEO he has one job and that is to make a profit for the company. Since most of the stockholders for Disney are other corporations there is no one even talking about what the right thing to do is. The people running the company are all business majors who have never worked in the parks. They run the Disney Company as a business and decisions are made in terms of business.

In the 1980's the policy at Disney was promotions happened from within. The feeling was that you needed to have lived in the Disney Company culture to understand what made the company unique and successful. After Eisner came aboard he gradually forced all the Walt and Roy people from their management into "retirement". I will never forget spending a morning with a VP of the WDW Property when Eisner was on property filming something. It was a busy day in the MK and the filming was creating havoc for the guests but when the VP approaced Eisner wrapping up he got a pretty good dressing down. As the VP walked away he looked at me and said "I dont think I will be around for much longer". He was gone within the year. Not too long after that we began to get new managers from outside the company. They had degrees and worked for companies like the Gap and other reatilers. They were very anti Disney culture. When you would try to tell them that Disney doesnt do things a certain way they would often give you a stare then say...this is the way we do things now. One of my last bosses (that I trained) ran an area of a couple of hundred CM's and dozens of attractions. He was clueless even several months into his time at Disney. He would often turn to me and say...What do we do? when something went wrong. Finally one day I said "Your in charge, you tell me" He kind of hemmed and hawd and said "What do you think we should do?" I said "I will do whatever you want me to do". So he made a decision (not a good one) and he got a talking to. He was mad that I didnt "support" him. I told him that he was obviously hired because of his talents and experience and it was his area and that I worked for him. and would support any decision he made. I was transferred 2 weeks later. That is a long round about way of saying that when you decide to chuck the things that made you great in the first place you shouldnt be surprised when quality falls.

A couple of years ago I came to the decision that WDW would never again be the place that I loved and worked for. The people who remember and worked for Walt are long gone and much of the goundations they laid in the 70'a and 80's has been erased by psuedo Waltism. For a while I wouldnt even go on property. It was too depressing. Now I go and enjoy the things I like (including some great new things like Soarin) and remember what a great place it used to be. But the reality is that Disney is a BIG business and is run like one. Which is why the Walt guys built a park like EPCOT and the Eisner guys built DCA."

~This Says It All: Hope Mom Likes it!~

 

[jt04]

Hmmm, funny you would post this from laughingplace on the same night (within minutes) that merf is over there agitating for an "ihavethedisneyworldblues" web site or some such garbage again. You guys are novices. Children really.:ROFLOL:

You have something else in common with Merf, he was always up late at night too. Possibly insomnia. Hmmmmm.



Told you, I'm always watching :lookaroun

From wdw74 tonight,



Usually, I like to let my words do the talking when I post here. But I couldn't help and feel that the following words, from a very well-respected member of the LP.com community, tells it from the POV of someone who has worked for WDW, in both the good old days and more recently ... it nails home plenty of the points that have been discussed on many threads, including this one ... so ...

"Iger is just a product of corporate America. As CEO he has one job and that is to make a profit for the company. Since most of the stockholders for Disney are other corporations there is no one even talking about what the right thing to do is. The people running the company are all business majors who have never worked in the parks. They run the Disney Company as a business and decisions are made in terms of business.

In the 1980's the policy at Disney was promotions happened from within. The feeling was that you needed to have lived in the Disney Company culture to understand what made the company unique and successful. After Eisner came aboard he gradually forced all the Walt and Roy people from their management into "retirement". I will never forget spending a morning with a VP of the WDW Property when Eisner was on property filming something. It was a busy day in the MK and the filming was creating havoc for the guests but when the VP approaced Eisner wrapping up he got a pretty good dressing down. As the VP walked away he looked at me and said "I dont think I will be around for much longer". He was gone within the year. Not too long after that we began to get new managers from outside the company. They had degrees and worked for companies like the Gap and other reatilers. They were very anti Disney culture. When you would try to tell them that Disney doesnt do things a certain way they would often give you a stare then say...this is the way we do things now. One of my last bosses (that I trained) ran an area of a couple of hundred CM's and dozens of attractions. He was clueless even several months into his time at Disney. He would often turn to me and say...What do we do? when something went wrong. Finally one day I said "Your in charge, you tell me" He kind of hemmed and hawd and said "What do you think we should do?" I said "I will do whatever you want me to do". So he made a decision (not a good one) and he got a talking to. He was mad that I didnt "support" him. I told him that he was obviously hired because of his talents and experience and it was his area and that I worked for him. and would support any decision he made. I was transferred 2 weeks later. That is a long round about way of saying that when you decide to chuck the things that made you great in the first place you shouldnt be surprised when quality falls.

A couple of years ago I came to the decision that WDW would never again be the place that I loved and worked for. The people who remember and worked for Walt are long gone and much of the goundations they laid in the 70'a and 80's has been erased by psuedo Waltism. For a while I wouldnt even go on property. It was too depressing. Now I go and enjoy the things I like (including some great new things like Soarin) and remember what a great place it used to be. But the reality is that Disney is a BIG business and is run like one. Which is why the Walt guys built a park like EPCOT and the Eisner guys built DCA."

~This Says It All: Hope Mom Likes it!~

Goodnight and good luck.:snore:

 

[MousDad]

So, Lutz is singing the praises of the layoffs at DL.

Nothing but benefit for the resort. "Guest experience" is the new mantra. The only substantial cuts came in (to quote Al) the "notoriously haughty folks in Marketing and the hipster divas in the bloated Entertainment group." Departments like attractions and custodial were barely touched. Blue skies, baby, blue skies.

I'm happy for DL (as usual).

But what's up with the 1400 lost positions in Florida? Did we lose only the haughty and the divas? Were attractions, custodial, and ops barely touched here? Were parks-seasoned execs demoted to lower positions so they could keep their job while less-experienced managers were let go? Is "guest experience" the new mantra for Meg and the gang?

I'm still trying to get over the fact that the only topside change that came from this extensive re-org was MacPhee's removal from Epcot. (Please, Lord, let that not be his payback for listening to the fans.)

Where's the shift to guest experience? Where's the park execs spending more time now roaming the parks in Orlando? Now that the fat's gone, where's the beef?

 

[devoy1701]

some of you talk way too much.

save your words and just type "doom and gloom, doom and gloom" next time. (we don't like what you have to say anyway).

Have ye no faith in this great company?

Apparently not. But thankgoodness you guys aren't running it. You'd drive the company bankrupt trying to keep things going "the Walt way..."

Layoffs are good. Restructuring is good. Every company goes through merking spots in their existance...just alittle bit of growing pains. It'll emerge on the right path soon.