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Thread: DL Firings Today [March 27]: 'It's a massacre'

  1. #1

    DL Firings Today [March 27]: 'It's a massacre'

    A friend of mine who has been in the junior-executive ranks at Disneyland for a while sent me this email half an hour ago:

    I'm getting the axe at Disney today. It's a massacre.
    I probably won't be able to talk to him for more detail until next week, but has anybody else heard anything?

    --t

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  3. #2
    Hacker, nonmammaltarian, Warrior Andrew's Avatar
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    David Koenig blogged it earlier, using the same adjective. Sounds grim.

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    Quote Originally Posted by tod View Post
    but has anybody else heard anything?
    In addition to David's blog, which Andrew already linked, I've confirmed that one friend is safe so far, and I'm waiting to hear from others who were worried they were next.

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  5. #4

    Yet the parks are packed and there really hasn't been any slow time this year.


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    Fun is wherever you find it... olegc's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by K & S View Post
    Yet the parks are packed and there really hasn't been any slow time this year.
    but those getting the axe are not operations staff or front liners - it's back office, marketing and management - which some sites have said needed to be trimmed for a while. This has been coming for a while in the news and should not be a surprise. Still - it's always sad when someone loses their job (i did in december and still have not found anything).
    EDIT - wanted to add what I posted to David K's blog....
    i just commented elsewhere that this was expected - but I read above and am amazed they would let go of key personnel who are the leads or managers on things (especially things like fireworks). I think this whole "One park" vision will be detremental to the Anaheim resort - and I guess its how Rasulo, et. al, want it.

    Of course, as soon as there is a fireworks issue - the finger pointing will begin. I just hope we don't have to wait for more injuries (or God forbid fatalities) for things to go back for some departments. The only thing that is not surprising is the letting go of highly salaried, seasoned personnel. I don't care what the press is writing that FIFO hires are getting the axe - money is money and expensive peope are getting hit hard.
    Last edited by olegc; 03-27-2009 at 08:25 PM.
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    Every Day Is Disneyland Day! DizneyMommy's Avatar
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    I'm curious to know if it is really as bad as it sounds when it comes to some of these "seasoned veteran" people. The fireworks guy for instance -50+ years in the park sounds like about time for retirement to me - he has to be 65+, are they getting nice packages or are they really just being outright fired?

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    Registered User Tinker Bell's Avatar
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    DL lost the lead Pin man Timm Lundeen. I wonder how they will keep up with all the releases. Specially seeing how they are already crazy.

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  9. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by Tinker Bell View Post
    DL lost the lead Pin man Timm Lundeen.
    Ouch. There is the first name that I recognize. I mean, yeah, his position as "Pin Manager" was one of somewhat fluff, but I would think that pins are a big enough revenue source that his position would warrant it...

    So I guess we can kiss PTNs goodbye unless that other manager (and I always forget her name) who was always there picks up the planning and all.


    And Im also on some hear-say that some of the people getting walked out aren't taking it too well. To the point they are being not just escorted...

  10. #9

    Had my car in the shop and while watching CNN they said 'Disney is letting lots of theme park employees go." Nice how they make it sound so friendly instead of 'losing their means of employment'.

    I sure hope they do not reduce the front line and support staff positions. I understand times are tough, but since the parks are so much busier, it sounds counter productive to me. Especially since the more people who lose jobs, means that many less people to buy and purchase and spend money...A vicious cycle that only grows worse the more people who lose jobs, less money is spent, then more job cuts, then even less money is spent.

    When does it STOP?

    People WON'T start spending money while jobs are being cut... it has to start at the other end FIRST!


  11. #10
    Hangin' with Mr. Cooper! Maus's Avatar
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    I was in the park on crazy-busy Thursday and Friday. I saw many uncostumed CMs working front line positions. Anyone know the reason behind this? Did they just pull folks from TDA because they were short of park CMs?

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  12. #11

    It's the same thing they did at the studio about a month and a half ago...people were given no notice and most of them were walked to their cars by security within an hour of receiving their lay off notices.


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    Quote Originally Posted by DizneyMommy View Post
    I'm curious to know if it is really as bad as it sounds when it comes to some of these "seasoned veteran" people. The fireworks guy for instance -50+ years in the park sounds like about time for retirement to me - he has to be 65+, are they getting nice packages or are they really just being outright fired?
    I heard some names today that floored me. They're letting really good people go. I spoke with someone who was saying that logically, there's a middle level of management that is a bit redundant. That group would be a very logical target to "trim the fat." But the names I heard today were not in that group. They've laid off some very talented people who knew how to do their jobs and did them well. And they aren't just people who have been with the company for 50+ years but some have been there for at least 10 years.

    It's very sad both for the people who've been let go but for the people who benefitted from their projects.

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    wow what ashame

    its ashame that they had to let go so many employees. the economy even hit Disneyland employees which show the economy has hit all aspects of are economys

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    Quote Originally Posted by TowerofTerror View Post
    its ashame that they had to let go so many employees. the economy even hit Disneyland employees which show the economy has hit all aspects of are economys
    i still think it's amazing to hear of down spending (yes I have cut mine drastically) and yet see the parks well attending - sometimes bursting during this spring break. It's like all the rest - Disney is not hurting now per se - but the trend (and the speculators) say it will get REALLY bad - so better to have cash on hand then lose millions later.
    "[Disneyland] has that thing - the imagination, and the feeling of happy excitement - I knew when I was a kid." - Walt Disney

  16. #15

    The only upside I see to this trimming is perhaps an improvement in the quality of CMs. Improvement in attitudes from some cast members perhaps. If you know you are being watched to see what quality work you do, perhaps the surly no-service employees will go away. While they are at it, enforce the grooming standards please.

    As for those behind the scenes, I think Disney is making a big mistake if they are letting people go who have experience and are an asset to the company. Now if they have experience and are grumpy, see ya! I would love to know how Disney is making these decisions.


  17. #16
    Fun is wherever you find it... olegc's Avatar
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    for me the interesting thing is all the pre-cut rumors and "insider information" espoused by other websites (and you know who you are) stating that finally the middle management and back office dead weight of marketing types who love to hide at TDA would be removed. And from the info David K and others have been releasing - it's either above and beyond that, or all a smoke screen and someone in anaheim is protecting the wrong jobs..

    "[Disneyland] has that thing - the imagination, and the feeling of happy excitement - I knew when I was a kid." - Walt Disney

  18. #17
    Registered User disneylandgirl's Avatar
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    I think the most saddening thing about it is that Walt would never have done that.


  19. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by disneylandgirl View Post
    I think the most saddening thing about it is that Walt would never have done that.
    You don't know that. You don't know Walt, you can't channel him. People need to stop with the idea that they know what Walt would do in today's times.
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    I think we'd like to think that Walt wouldn't have done that.

    But the truth is even he had to lay off people when he was in charge... we just never knew how it was done -- or to what extent -- because the media cycle wasn't what it is now.

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  21. #20
    I drink your milkshake. DisneyDustin22's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by burnt toast View Post
    you don't know that. You don't know walt, you can't channel him. People need to stop with the idea that they know what walt would do in today's times.
    thank you!

  22. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by olegc View Post
    i still think it's amazing to hear of down spending (yes I have cut mine drastically) and yet see the parks well attending - sometimes bursting during this spring break. It's like all the rest - Disney is not hurting now per se - but the trend (and the speculators) say it will get REALLY bad - so better to have cash on hand then lose millions later.
    BUT how much revenue are those crowds generating? Especially DLR with all of the APers (many upgraded this year for additional days), the free birthdays, etc., how much revenue is DLR truly generating? I think there has been discussions on this before, but you can only squeeze so much money out of the same person. It does not surprise me the parks are so well attended, especially considering the economics of California. People are getting good value out of their APers as DLR is a great entertainment investment.


    Quote Originally Posted by Niwel View Post
    I think we'd like to think that Walt wouldn't have done that.

    But the truth is even he had to lay off people when he was in charge... we just never knew how it was done -- or to what extent -- because the media cycle wasn't what it is now.

    So true.... It amazes me how fast news travels now.
    “A keen sense of humor helps us to overlook the unbecoming, understand the unconventional, tolerated the unpleasant, overcome the unexpected, and outlast the unbearable.” Billy Graham

  23. #22
    Quote Originally Posted by Niwel View Post
    I think we'd like to think that Walt wouldn't have done that.

    But the truth is even he had to lay off people when he was in charge... we just never knew how it was done -- or to what extent -- because the media cycle wasn't what it is now.
    I also think we'd like to think that Walt would not have spent as much time as the Disney numbers people must have finding the legal loopholes in the Warn Act either, but who knows?

    Not very long ago the Disney Studios laid off hundreds of employees (we heard 400). They didn't get notice, they got the barest minimum the law required in severance and they were given their notice, their final checks, their exit interviews, a few minutes to pack their personal items and a sympathetic security escort to their cars in the Zorro structure all within a few hours timespan.

    We don't think very highly of Disney as an employer up in this neck of the woods at least...

  24. #23
    Fun is wherever you find it... olegc's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rockchalker View Post
    BUT how much revenue are those crowds generating? Especially DLR with all of the APers (many upgraded this year for additional days), the free birthdays, etc., how much revenue is DLR truly generating? I think there has been discussions on this before, but you can only squeeze so much money out of the same person. It does not surprise me the parks are so well attended, especially considering the economics of California. People are getting good value out of their APers as DLR is a great entertainment investment.
    well I based my assessment on that day on the crowd mix - lots of families at 3:30pm on a friday. many who did not speak english (and not spanish either). yes, i totally get the idea that Disneyland's AP rolls are huge (I am one of them) and many locals come out to "play"... but I have visited the park now about 6 different days on random portions of the week (weekdays, weekends, mornings, evenings) and it's not different. when you are anywhere for a long time you're bound to by at least one item - drink, snack, etc. it adds up - you don't have to have folks buying souvenirs like crazy. besides - profit margin on 30,000 sodas is a lot better than on 1500 t-shirts.
    "[Disneyland] has that thing - the imagination, and the feeling of happy excitement - I knew when I was a kid." - Walt Disney

  25. #24

    I have to wonder about the wisdom and timing of these layoffs.

    Our spring break is earlier than some (it was last week), and friends who went to the parks reported that it was crowded and busy. And spring break is a 'rolling' season, through mid-April, so I imagine the parks will continue to be busy.

    And then comes summer. What then?

    Mary@MasterpieceTravels.com

  26. #25

    A massacre it was.

    I have to laugh at those of you who think all the layoffs are happening just to trim the fat in order to dispose of a bunch of overpaid do nothings. Whole departments have been stripped of key contributors to projects that are underway, leaving NO ONE with any experience to try to teach themselves how to pick up where those who were cut have left off. At least two merchandise locations that are under construction are now without project managers. Several other very important, company-wide projects are without the key contributors who were slated to develop these efforts that have very tight deadlines. Sure, there may have been some removal of redundancies, but overall, they removed the main players, those with the skills to do the job, not a bunch of slugs who hide in their offices until the next meeting and then go home. Keep your mouth shut unless you have something accurate to say.


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