Disney Closes Orlando Animation Studio (http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/breaking_news/7692430.htm) - AP, 1/12/04

QuikQuote: The Walt Disney Co. is shuttering its Orlando, Fla.-based animation studio, cutting about 258 jobs, as the company shifts from hand-drawn animated films to computer-generated features and videos.
Some of the employees will be offered jobs in Burbank, Calif., Disney said Monday in announcing the move.

http://www.savedisney.com updated - - links on Florida studio demise, Roy's official response.

Roy's official response is worth reposting here:

"Closure of the Walt Disney Florida Feature Animation facility is yet another example of Michael Eisner' s de-emphasis of creativity and total indifference to the impact his decisions have on the people who helped to make the company great. Once again, the Eisner regime has emphasized short-term gains over long-term value. The drain of talent over the past several years from the company's feature animation department in Orlando, Burbank, Paris and Tokyo has been absolutely gut-wrenching. People are being asked to leave because management - particularly Michael - can't figure out what to do with them. That certainly is not the fault of the talent. It is the fault of the so-called strategic thinkers at headquarters."

Roy E. Disney