Disney has more theme park expansion projects in development and/or construction right now than at any other time in the company’s history. We understand that as part of a shift in some priorities, Disney is undergoing layoffs in its theme parks division in the key creative organization for the theme parks. These follow previous layoffs in other divisions of Disney.
Earlier layoffs haven’t affected the theme parks division as much as this round directly does. We’ll share context and details below. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including dates for Disneyland’s specialty candy canes and Disney theme park attendance rankings.
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Layoffs at Walt Disney Imagineering
Several rounds of corporate layoffs affecting different areas of The Walt Disney Company have rolled out since Josh D’Amaro became CEO in March 2026. Another wave of cuts went into effect on October 28, 2026.
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Disney is laying off 100-200 employees in Disney Experiences, the sector of the company responsible for Disney theme parks. Most of these layoffs will come from Walt Disney Imagineering, Disney’s in-house theme park design group, based in Glendale, California.
It is our understanding that these layoffs are a result of a shift in project priorities. The cuts “stem from a regular evaluation of the division’s priorities, investments, and project timelines,” the LA Times reported, citing “a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment publicly.”
There are more Disney theme park projects in the works right now than ever before. Among the ambitious plans are Villains Land in Florida’s Walt Disney World and a massive infrastructure upgrade for California’s Disneyland, among a full slate of other items.
We recently heard from Disney that Walt Disney World plans to create more than 5,000 jobs over the next five years. They framed the job creation as adding thousands of opportunities for growth and advancement as the resort continues to expand.
These cuts follow three previous rounds of layoffs over the past seven months. In April, up to 1,000 employees were laid off following Disney’s efforts to centralize marketing at the company. In July, several hundred employees were laid off from Nat Geo, Pixar, and ESPN. In September, another several hundred employees were let go in tech and HR.
Staff cuts are currently affecting the broader business world beyond Disney as well. Earlier this week, Microsoft offered buyouts to 60,000 employees.
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The Imagineering layoffs arrive one day after the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) revealed that 8 of the top 10 most-visited theme parks globally in 2025 were Disney theme parks. All 12 of Disney’s parks made it into the top 20 spots.
Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Park continue to be the highest-attended theme parks on the planet. See the full rankings and more data from the TEA report here.
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