Disney to Cut Jobs at Parks, Seeks Efficiencies

In an effort to cut costs at Disney World and Disneyland, the Walt Disney Company has cut hundreds of jobs. The cuts have targeted salaried workers, who are outnumbered by the hourly workers that make up the majority of Disney parks' labor force.

Reuters quoted Disney World spokesman Michael Griffin as saying, "These changes are essential to maintaining our leadership position in family tourism and reflect today's economic realities."

February saw the two popular parks, along with others in the Disney theme park business, report a 24 percent drop in operating income.

According to Newsday, Disney announced last month that it would slash jobs across its domestic resorts, part of a reorganization effort that will combine functions between the Disney World and Disneyland parks.

Disney's first quarter ended with a 32 percent drop in profits. Many feel the current wave of layoffs, which one former employee described as a "massacre," will support Disney's fiscal second quarter earnings.