"You've JUST been fired from Disney World. What are you gonna do now?"

[Old Guy]

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Disney Parks and Resorts issued pink slips Wednesday, with more are on the way, courtesy of a reorganization designed to eliminate redundancies at a unit that employs 80,000 workers.

Disney wouldn't say how many people were laid off or how many more layoffs are expected.

The reorganization, said Parks and Resorts chairman Jay Rasulo, is not only a response to the weak economy but also a way to further the successful results of a shake-up four years ago.

Rasulo said a reorganization in 2005 led to speedier delivery of theme-park shows based on "High School Musical" and to the simultaneous openings of "Toy Story Mania" at parks in Florida and California, and he seeks more of the same.

With Wednesday's announcement, resort development will merge with attractions and entertainment development and be led by Bruce Vaughn, the chief creative executive at Imagineering, Disney's main creative planning and development unit, and Craig Russell, the chief design and project delivery executive.

Not mentioned by Rasulo was animation heavyweight John Lasseter, though insiders say he will remain principal creative adviser to Imagineering, a role he assumed when Disney purchased Pixar in 2006.

Business development and real estate teams will combine, and the teams operating infrastructure at Walt Disney World and at Disneyland Resort will merge. Heads of the new departments are expected to make further cuts in staff in the months ahead.

"Organization changes require difficult decisions, including the elimination of some roles," Rasulo said in a memo to employees. "These decisions were not made lightly and we know this will be a challenging transition. The people affected are our friends and colleagues, and they have made valuable contributions."

The reorganization comes just weeks after Parks and Resorts offered voluntary buyouts to 600 executives amid a 4 percent decline in quarterly revenue to $2.7 billion and a 24 percent drop in operating income to $382 million.

(Editing by Sheri Linden at Reuters)

[G. Wen]

Maybe they'll get hired by the rip-off Disneyland in China.

[HellCat]

Do you get a themed pink slip? I'm seeing something with Winnie the Pooh on it:

"Oh Bother..You Won't Be Tasting Honey For A While

If this news has had an emotional effect on you, please call Eeyore's Help Line on 555-TWIGHOUSE"

[Classic Speedy]

Disney World has begun to use college interns for many of their jobs, which means they don't have to pay them. Good ol' Disney.

[Old Guy]

Disney World has begun to use college interns for many of their jobs, which means they don't have to pay them. Good ol' Disney.

They've been doing that for a while. I started college in 2005 and even back then I recall Disney advertising their internship program on campus very heavily.

[Captain Highwind]

They've been doing that for a while. I started college in 2005 and even back then I recall Disney advertising their internship program on campus very heavily.

I sat in on one of those recruiting sessions back in 2001. Total brainwashing. I was able to sneak out before I had to give them my information form.

[Terra Branford]

It's times like these that I'm happy to be in school still.

[Old Guy]

I sat in on one of those recruiting sessions back in 2001. Total brainwashing. I was able to sneak out before I had to give them my information form.

I don't know anybody who ended up doing the internship, but I do have actor friends who work at both Disney and Universal as performers and what they tell me is that the working condition is brutal. And this is the actors talking. Just imagine the interns!


It's times like these that I'm happy to be in school still.

Even if you're in school it sucks. Less jobs = less money. Which means that it's more difficult to pay for your classes as well as other essentials. Although you do have a point that older people do have it worse.

[Terra Branford]

^ I won't have to pay for classes for 2 years but I see your point about school expenses.

[The Cartoon]

That really sucks. I'm planning on working for Disneyland in a couple years. It's my dream to become an imagineer for Disneyland. I couldn't imagine getting fired.

[NewcomerDC]

Do you get a themed pink slip? I'm seeing something with Winnie the Pooh on it:

"Oh Bother..You Won't Be Tasting Honey For A While

If this news has had an emotional effect on you, please call Eeyore's Help Line on 555-TWIGHOUSE"
Man that was too funny.:p

If I was fired, I would try to get another job as a costumed character or run away and join the circus.

[SuperMegaHyper]

"I'm going the Universal Studios!:p "

Hey just because Disney's pratically a Juggernunt dosn't mean they wont be effected by our cuurnt economy.

[Old Guy]

Hey just because Disney's pratically a Juggernunt dosn't mean they wont be effected by our cuurnt economy.

I don't see how Disney World is losing money. For starters, they are expensive. It's like 70 bucks per person the enterance. Secondly, the place is always packed. I went during the summer when the economy was already messed up with $4 gas prices and it was like one hour waiting lines for everything.

[SuperMegaHyper]

I don't see how Disney World is losing money. For starters, they are expensive. It's like 70 bucks per person the enterance. Secondly, the place is always packed. I went during the summer when the economy was already messed up with $4 gas prices and it was like one hour waiting lines for everything.Everybody is losing money, It's just some are harder to see than others, and like I said Disney is a freakin Juggernut, Disney like Wall-Mart, Mac. Donalds, and Coca Cola are going to just fine as a Business after this.

[G. Wen]

Disney World has begun to use college interns for many of their jobs, which means they don't have to pay them. Good ol' Disney.
I thought you get a stipend at the end of the internship?:confused:

[Classic Speedy]

I thought you get a stipend at the end of the internship?:confused: It depends on the internship. I didn't get anything for mine (just to clarify, my internship wasn't at Disney).

[ToOn~g@l]

I thought you get a stipend at the end of the internship?:confused:

As someone who did do the Disney Internship, i did not get a stipend. Basically you work for them for a few months, get the low end of the totem pole especially when it comes to moving you to another section of Disney, and get paid the least amount than the other guys at the top.

When your last day comes they don't really care, they just wave goodbye to you as you head back home to spend a few months looking for a new job. Yeah it was fun at first but then you find that its just not as cool as it sounds, well at least for food and beverage. I don't know why I picked that in the first place. :shrug:

[Old Guy]

at least for food and beverage. I don't know why I picked that in the first place. :shrug:

Atleast you weren't one of the characters. I have actor friends who do that and even their socks are full of sweat.

[Yusuke Urameshi]

The company of disney has always been corupt in my opinion.

80,000 is mere peanuts to them.

[Jtaylor1]

This is kinda sad.

This piece of history will be passed down to our children for generations to come.

Disney World and Disneyland will soon be listed under the List of Abandoned Amusement Parks.

The 2nd Great Depression is very near.

[DarthGonzo]

This is kinda sad.

This piece of history will be passed down to our children for generations to come.

Disney World and Disneyland will soon be listed under the List of Abandoned Amusement Parks.

The 2nd Great Depression is very near.

Stop. Just stop.

The Disney parks aren't going anywhere. Things are bad right now but the people at Disney are not idiots. Disney will keep going even if they have to make some cuts somewhere. But the parks will not go under. The Disney Company is an incredibly smart business which will stay afloat regardless of how bad the recession gets.

And sky-is-falling statements like "The 2nd Great Depression is very near" doesn't lead to productive discussion. Again, things are bad, but panicking like that doesn't do anyone any good.

[lemonhead75]

I'm gonna go get fired from a McDonalds!:D

[Elven Moon]

That's too bad :/ I've dreamed of working at Disney World since I was a teenager, or even becoming an Imagineer.