Disney World cuts 25 management jobs

"The job cuts are being made across the company but won't affect the guest experience, said Jacquee Polak, a Disney World spokeswoman."

Yea, we all know the guest experience has not declined in the Eisener era. Shorter hours, staggared park openings, understaffed food stands...

"Streamline Efficiency"

Or they could just come out saying that Disney is just now run by a board full of careless idiots that have more money that they know how to spend.

^Actually I wouldn't exactly say that now (maybe in a bit though). With Iger in control now, things are very likely to change all over Disney. He has disbanded Strategic Planning, the group of accountants who had to approve anything that costs money, and have now put the control of the budget onto the respective division leads. This could lead to some exciting results (especially the park division, as Strategic Planning has been the group of people who have caused major cuts into new rides and parks). Or on the other hand now if the divisions don't preform, as in make money, the division heads will get fired and to prevent form getting fired, they might cut back spending. Now its a wait and see time period.

Based upon crowds I observed this Christmas and Spring Break, there is no incentive for them to change ANYTHING. The parks were as crowded as I've ever seen them (except New Years Eve 1999). Food stands were single staffed and getting a Coke was a 15 minute ordeal. They are doing great right now to the naked eye...
*** This post was edited by Jeffrey R Smith 4/5/2005 10:38:13 PM ***

Back up the Soul Train, junior CEO's. The theme parks went through years of hurt after 9/11. When you can't pay the bills, people are first to go. That's what they had to do to get through it.

As for this cut, I contemplated even posting it because it's so few people in the grand scheme of things. I've been at ridiculously profitable companies that have cut more people than this just because of evolutionary organizational changes.

One of my mottos is "If it's not broke, don't try to fix it!!!*** This post was edited by Godsentone 4/6/2005 8:33:01 AM ***

This time I get to agree with Jeff, 25 (while still unfortunate) out of 60,000 employees is very few. I also suspect it was 25 positions really and not 25 people; meaning, they were sent back to their hourly jobs/roles here.

I'm all for the cuts from a business standpoint. I'd do the same if I was in charge IF it helped the bottom line. As a "Fanboy Disney Geek" the gradual decline in service is what irks me. I just tire of the PR claims that the "guest experience" won't be affected.

Wouldn't some brute honesty be refreshing? Something like..."We are making these cuts because we can and there is nothing you (the general public) can do about it. We realize that our product will not be what it once was, but it sure will be more profitable. Besides, AFTER all future cuts in hours and service, we will still have the best damn amusement parks in the business. We're only competing with the likes of Six Flags for goodness sakes. :-) Universal can't touch our jock. They just started turning a profit two quarters ago."

A press statement like that would make my day.

I think whats really important to the public here is not the number of cuts being made but what the change in corporate culture is that has caused the cuts.

Note to self: Don't ever recommend Smith for a PR job. :)

Nor HR. ;)

I dunno.. "Universal can't touch our jock." might be a little motivating to new hires ;)

...or at least maybe in the conference call to shareholders :)