[BREAKING] Disney Lays off 28,000 Cast Members Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

Josh D’amaro announced that Disney will be laying off Cast Members. He stated:

Over the past several months, we’ve been forced to make a number of necessary adjustments to our business, and as difficult as this decision is today, we believe that the steps we are taking will enable us to emerge a more effective and efficient operation when we return to normal. Our Cast Members have always been key to our success, playing a valued and important role in delivering a world-class experience, and we look forward to providing opportunities where we can for them to return.

Josh Damaro Layoffs

Layoffs will impact executive, salaried, and hourly roles.

11 Comments

  1. Oh no how sad :( I know they maintained them as long as possible with benefits. Even with getting busier In FL I guess having CA keeping them closed it’s no other choice :(

  2. :( It’s very sad, no one can hold a grudge on this statement that’s a bunch of bogus. What happens when someone who is in quarantine to fill in their hourly shift? This doesn’t make any sense. :angry:

  3. Very awful news. My prayers and well wishes go out to anyone affected :( :( :( I hope all of them can come back to the magic someday

  4. This is all so very sad. :( Maddening really. I feel horrible for these people.

  5. This can be quite devastating for those involved and sad to contemplate.

    I do applaud Disney for what they have done for their cast members. :clap: Coming from the oil and gas business where it is hire on Monday and mass fire everyone on Friday with no notice the concept of furloughs is some what foreign to me. We let our contractors go back in March and have been having periodic Reductions In Force ever since as we finish or loose jobs.

    The part of Mr. D’amaro comment that worries me a little is “emerge a more effective and efficient operation when we return to normal.” Does this mean less CMs and more technology? Now, fair enough, he does say “Our Cast Members have always been key to our success.” Anyhow, it will be interesting to see what happens. In Disney’s history from :oswald: to :babyyoda: there have been plenty of ups and downs. Kinda like the weather, wait a bit and it will change. I am really surprised at how many “big” projects (Tron coaster, Reflections DVC, Poly update, Walk from GF to MK, Star Wars hotel, and all the stuff at EPCOT at WDW alone) they have chosen continued with. You could say they have decided to trade CMs for construction workers at this time.

    Now, to give a good spin on this situation and end on a positive note, I like to think about the fact that those cast members let go are “on the market” and can bring what they have learned about bringing the magic to other companies OR start their own businesses.

    • Yes I think that comment you mentioned from D’amaro is incredibly insensitive. In my opinion it reads like “we never needed you anyway!”

  6. I’m glad Disney did what they could for these CMs. I am very sad for them because this sucks but I’m not mad at Disney because this isn’t their fault. You don’t really need a ride attendant when your ride isn’t running. Of course I don’t know who they’re cutting but it seems there would be some obvious choices. I’m just mad at the universe for all this $#!@. The knock on effects are infinite and there’s no end in sight.

    • Be mad a China. CA too since they’re not lifting restrictions and DL can’t open. Mostly China, though.

  7. It is so sad. I do hope that we can soon be “back to normal” and all of the CMs can come back. This whole year has been just an employment disaster…. I’m so lucky to still have a job that keeps me busy all the time (paralegal)

  8. Found this interesting post on the BBC about two young ladies have been let go from WDW.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-54354876

  9. They sure threw the CA Governor under the bus!

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