The wave of job cuts in the Hollywood entertainment industry has expanded to Walt Disney's theme parks division, as the company prepares to lay off between 100 and 200 employees as part of a periodic review of investment priorities and ongoing projects.
The cuts include the Disney Experiences division, which manages Disney theme parks, cruise lines, and the Aulani resort in Hawaii. Affected employees are to be notified by the end of Wednesday.
According to an informed source cited by the Los Angeles Times, this step comes as part of the company's review of its investment priorities and project timelines, at a time when Disney is executing more theme park-related projects than ever before.
The company has not yet issued an official comment on the new layoffs.
Theme Parks Sector: A Key Driver of Disney's Revenue
These cuts are particularly significant given the pivotal financial role the Experiences division plays within Disney, as it generated $36.2 billion in revenue during fiscal year 2025, contributing over 56% of the company's total operating income.
Analysts closely monitor this sector's performance, especially the attendance rates of international visitors at Disney theme parks in the United States.
The company had previously noted challenges related to a decline in international visits to its US theme parks, but clarified during an earnings call last August that these pressures had begun to ease.
Wave of Layoffs Includes Other Sectors Within Disney
The new cuts do not come in isolation from previous moves within the company, as human resources and technology teams were affected by earlier rounds of layoffs. Disney also offered voluntary early retirement programs to some older employees last October.
However, the latest cuts in the Experiences division are separate from previous job reductions, according to the source cited by the newspaper.
These moves fall under a direction led by Disney's new CEO, Josh D'Amaro, to reprioritize the company, enhance its focus on core activities, and accelerate its ability to respond to rapid shifts in the entertainment industry.
Job Layoffs Extend to Hollywood Companies
Disney faces challenges beyond its borders, amid a broad wave of restructuring and cost-cutting hitting the entertainment industry in Hollywood and Southern California.
In the same context, employees of Skydance, formed after the Paramount Skydance merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, are bracing for potential new layoffs, as part of a plan aiming to cut costs by about $6 billion over three years.
These developments reflect ongoing pressures on major entertainment companies to restructure operations, control spending, and improve operational efficiency amid industry changes.
