The Walt Disney Company announced Friday it will cut 1,900 jobs at its Anaheim, Calif. and Orlando, Fla.-based theme parks, per VARIETY.
Some were direct layoffs and some were positions that will not be filled, affecting mostly managers and salaried employees, not workers in the parks. Among the cuts were 50 executives who accepted a voluntary buyout offered to about 600 people.
The parks division is in the midst of a wide restructuring announced in February, and the company hopes to combine back-office functions of both parks. The move was accelerated because of the economic downturn, but a reorganization had been contemplated for several years.
Disney spokeswoman Tasia Filippatos said, "These decisions were not made lightly, but are essential to maintaining our leadership in family tourism and reflect today's economic realities. We continue to work through our reorganization and manage our business based on demand."
Attendance at Disney's parks and resorts was holding up fairly well due to deep discounts as of last quarter.
