Disney Parks laying off 28,000 cast members

[RivShore]

Its not sustainable with the prices they charge. People will just stop going, making the problems even worse.

So you want them to charge less and pay people to not work?!?!? You realize that can ONLY lead to bankruptcy right? Then at least noone will have jobs, including those overpaid execs.

 

[TwoMisfits]

So you want them to charge less and pay people to not work?!?!? You realize that can ONLY lead to bankruptcy right? Then at least noone will have jobs, including those overpaid execs.

I think he was saying if they are gonna go lean and mean with a minimal experience, they need to reprice that experience or the few folks going now will stop, too...right now, it's well known Disney is appealing to the AP, and not the non-AP, b/c APs are sunk cost priced at dollars per day, while single day is $100+/day...folks seem willing to pay a "few bucks/day" for the watered-down experience, but not previous high per-day prices...

I think he's looking for Disney to copy in some way the Universal play of "buy 2 days and play more free"...taking the per-day cost down more in line to worth, like an AP's is...

 

[rteetz]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1311812148419465216

 

[lelew]

So you want them to charge less and pay people to not work?!?!? You realize that can ONLY lead to bankruptcy right? Then at least noone will have jobs, including those overpaid execs.

Those executives will always have there stash set aside. They wont be hurting money.

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

Its not sustainable with the prices they charge. People will just stop going, making the problems even worse.

There isn't much for alternatives. Everyone else is impacted the same or didn't even have these features to start with. The parks themselves are still incredibly well themed and immersive experiences.

My opinion is that much of this is temporary though so I'm willing to give a pass. If there are no fireworks, parades, etc and we're a year post-covid it'll be hard to justify the expense for a Disney trip. At this moment I'm just happy to be able to leave the house so value is a low priority.

 

[Jrb1979]

These are the departments that have been impacted by the layoffs.

- Photopass
- Guest Relations
- DVC reps
- Mid-level management, the Guest Experience Managers (aka front-line's bosses)
- Backstage data operations

Lastly, according to some, the Minnie Vans are no more, as in the entire cast who wasn't management was laid off.

 

[mercuryvenus]

These are the departments that have been impacted by the layoffs.

- Photopass
- Guest Relations
- DVC reps
- Mid-level management, the Guest Experience Managers (aka front-line's bosses)
- Backstage data operations

Lastly, according to some, the Minnie Vans are no more, as in the entire cast who wasn't management was laid off.

Also some imagineers and parade performers.

 

[rteetz]

Also some imagineers and parade performers.

411 imagineers to be exact. That was a pretty significant number. Basically the entire Magic Happens parade performers group at DL. Also Yellow Shoes is gone which is a marketing department.

 

[skeeter31]

And the NBA experience staff and various entertainment.

 

[tlmadden73]

Lastly, according to some, the Minnie Vans are no more, as in the entire cast who wasn't management was laid off.

Ouch . .I imagine a lot of the "extras" that they've been pushing as extra magic (as a separate cost) are going to be gone (or severely reduced) for a long time.

I can't imagine there be much demand for Minnie Vans .. dessert parties ... Early Morning Magic ... and after hours parties for a long time now .. at least not enough demand to staff for it.

Does this mean that photopass has been reduced? Not eliminated? With no M&Gs I am sure the number of photographers needed is a small number.)

And the NBA experience staff

Like totally eliminated? or just reduced? Has it been open at all during this? Same as above .. demand for "extras" just isn't going to be there I would assume.

 

[RamblingMad]

The Disney experience won't be the same. How long do you think it will take for Disney to get its magic back?

 

[rteetz]

Like totally eliminated? or just reduced? Has it been open at all during this? Same as above .. demand for "extras" just isn't going to be there I would assume.

Gone.

 

[Jrb1979]

The Disney experience won't be the same. How long do you think it will take for Disney to get its magic back?

As of now probably quite a while til that happens. If they thought things would be better soon they probably wouldn't be laying off this many people.

 

[mercuryvenus]

All of these extras will come back eventually. It’s just going to take a long time.

 

[New Mouse]

Are you frequenting forums for every other major corporation in the country complaining about their practices in this time as well? Or is it just Disney that riles you up? Because this is happening basically everywhere. Again, it only feels worse because of the love we have for CMs and the magic they provide. But there are people in every sector being effected like this.

Im not just going to pat them on the back and say good job. Sorry if that kills the remaining magic for you.

The company is currently ripping off their customers and throwing many dedicated cast members down the drain, when in reality they are trimming the wrong fat. Sorry if that doesnt sit well.

Wall street is the only thing they care about right now. Long term that will make them go bankrupt regardless.

 

[WorldOfPooh]

This is an outright purge. I remember them saying back in March that if Disney didn't open by August that Disney Corp would go bankrupt. I think that's a real possibility now. Someone will come in and buy them (maybe Apple) and maybe that's not a bad thing.

 

[mercuryvenus]

Im not just going to pat them on the back and say good job. Sorry if that kills the remaining magic for you.

The company is currently ripping off their customers and throwing many dedicated cast members down the drain, when in reality they are trimming the wrong fat. Sorry if that doesnt sit well.

Wall street is the only thing they care about right now. Long term that will make them go bankrupt regardless.

Disney isn’t going bankrupt, for one.

Second, why would they lay off a ton of people, many of whom are critical to running the parks, unless they had no choice?

 

[rteetz]

This is an outright purge. I remember them saying back in March that if Disney didn't open by August that Disney Corp would go bankrupt. I think that's a real possibility now. Someone will come in and buy them (maybe Apple) and maybe that's not a bad thing.

I wouldn’t go that far yet.

 

[WorldOfPooh]

I wouldn’t go that far yet.

I honestly don't think that it would be a bad thing. They need to go back to Walt's values of treating the guest as king, providing a value and not nickel and diming every single thing. Eger basically squeezed every single cent they could from the Disney loyalists and now with the reduced offerings, it's just not a value to have to pay for hotel parking, reduced Annual Pass value, etc, etc, etc.

They need to shift the paradigm and vision at this point if they want to woo back a loyal fan base and customer base. (plus he destroyed Twin Peaks by his own admission in his book and now the Star Wars franchise)

 

[mercuryvenus]

I honestly don't think that it would be a bad thing. They need to go back to Walt's values of treating the guest as king, providing a value and not nickel and diming every single thing. Eger basically squeezed every single cent they could from the Disney loyalists and now with the reduced offerings, it's just not a value to have to pay for hotel parking, reduced Annual Pass value, etc, etc, etc.

They need to shift the paradigm and vision at this point if they want to woo back a loyal fan base and customer base. (plus he destroyed Twin Peaks by his own admission in his book and now the Star Wars franchise)

How would you specifically run things differently?

I also seriously beg to differ that he “destroyed” the Star Wars franchise. I am a lifelong SW fan and love Star Wars land.

Also, remember that you used to have to pay by the ride at Disneyland/WDW — talk about nickel and diming! Who invented that system? Walt.