Another 4K Disney workers to lose jobs amid pandemic

ORLANDO, Fla. — Disney has delivered news that will be tough for its workers to swallow this Thanksgiving.

The entertainment giant just filed a notice that an additional 4,000 cast members are facing layoffs.

Disney filed the federal document yesterday which indicates the company will increase layoffs from 28,000 employees to 32,000 employees in 2021.

Here in Central Florida, more than 11,000 cast members, mostly part-time workers, were affected by the original layoffs.

Disney has blamed ongoing effects of the pandemic for recent job cuts.

The news hits Central Florida less than a week after Universal Orlando Resort notified more than 1,100 employees that they will be laid off before the end of the year.

The Walt Disney Company submitted an annual report Wednesday just before 5 p.m, laying out just how bad of a year 2020 was, and announcing it would lay off approximately “32,000 employees” from parks, experiences and products, 4,000 more than first announced in September.

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Duncan Dickson, a retired professor at the University of Central Florida Rosen College of Hospitality Management. He said he expects California will be hit as well, as well as cruise lines and hotel workers.

“There’s just no work,” he said. “You don’t have a full front-desk staff when there’s just no work. So you’re addressing the business necessities.”

Disney employed 203,000 people as of October. Dickson said the layoffs could be worse, but thinks the company’s fortunes could turn around this time next year.

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“If the vaccine is successful … Thanksgiving, Christmas 2021 should be outstanding,” Dickson said. “But it’s making it through that one-year period. It’s going to be tough for a lot of people to continue through.”

Park hopping returns to Walt Disney World in January Despite the continued spread of the coronavirus locally and nationally, Disney World announced Friday that park hopping will return to the resort in January. (, /WFTV)

Cox Media Group