BURBANK, Calif. (AP) — Walt Disney Co. (DIS) said Wednesday that it will lay off an unspecified number of workers as it restructures its U.S. theme parks because of declines in attendance and revenue.
Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, says the changes "reflect today's economic realities." The job cuts follow Disney's offer last month of voluntary buyout packages to about 600 executives in the parks division.
Disney, based in Burbank, Calif., said global business and real estate development will be combined under a new team led by Executive Vice President Nick Franklin. "Back-of-house" operations, such as menu planning or merchandise development, at Walt Disney World in Orlando and Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., will be consolidated under Al Weiss, president of worldwide operations.
Engineering and design teams also will be merged into a single unit.
The changes, which take effect immediately, come just weeks after the media and entertainment company reported a 32% decline in quarterly profit in a downturn that Chief Executive Robert Iger called "likely to be the weakest economy in our lifetime."
Parks and resorts revenue fell 4% during the period to $2.67 billion as attendance at the company's U.S. theme parks and hotel occupancy at its domestic resorts declined. The company said it saw a 5% dip in quarterly attendance at its U.S. Walt Disney World and Disneyland parks.
Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, says the changes "reflect today's economic realities." The job cuts follow Disney's offer last month of voluntary buyout packages to about 600 executives in the parks division.
Disney, based in Burbank, Calif., said global business and real estate development will be combined under a new team led by Executive Vice President Nick Franklin. "Back-of-house" operations, such as menu planning or merchandise development, at Walt Disney World in Orlando and Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., will be consolidated under Al Weiss, president of worldwide operations.
Engineering and design teams also will be merged into a single unit.
The changes, which take effect immediately, come just weeks after the media and entertainment company reported a 32% decline in quarterly profit in a downturn that Chief Executive Robert Iger called "likely to be the weakest economy in our lifetime."
Parks and resorts revenue fell 4% during the period to $2.67 billion as attendance at the company's U.S. theme parks and hotel occupancy at its domestic resorts declined. The company said it saw a 5% dip in quarterly attendance at its U.S. Walt Disney World and Disneyland parks.
