There’s not a whole lot to this story in the Los Angeles Times that The Walt Disney Company is facing cuts. But it is enough to scare those working for the mouse. Staff writers Dawn C. Chmielewski and Meg James report.
Bracing for a worsening economy and further declines in ad spending, Walt Disney Co. executives have been meeting this week to prepare belt-tightening measures that could include job cuts, according to people familiar with the discussions.
I’ve been around long enough to remember that when the economy slows down, cuts at Disney can include delaying new theme park projects and renovations, reducing the scope of projects, or scrapping them entirely. Just because something makes it into a preview center doesn’t mean it is going to happen, or end up quite like it was described when it was first announced. If something can’t be build to original scope, here’s hoping it is built in a way that will allow “plussing” when the economy picks up again.
Last week, ABC News President David Westin asked his staff in a memo to be more frugal “to make sure that we have all the resources we need to cover the news.” The cost-saving measures include recommendations that executives should fly “one grade below what they’re entitled to,” and “stay in ‘B’ level hotels.” Holiday parties would be scrapped this year, and the news division will cancel newspaper and magazine subscriptions.
The people at the paper can feel the pain of Disney staffers, as the paper has been sending staff packing quite a bit lately. Most newspapers have.
Speaking of cuts… my wife and I have reduced the rent for our Anaheim condo to well below market rates. If you know someone who would like to rent a place that is a short drive away from the Disneyland Resort and otherwise conveniently located, check out this listing. We recently moved to a house, and so now we need to rent out our condo.