A California state filing shows Disney is laying off 159 employees at its Glendale campus, home of Walt Disney Imagineering. The layoffs are permanent and take effect December 29.
It’s the first confirmed number tied to recent reports of cuts in Disney’s theme park division.
The Filing at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Company | Walt Disney Parks & Resorts US, Inc. |
| Location | 1401 Flower Street, Glendale, California |
| County | Los Angeles |
| Type | Permanent layoff |
| Employees | 159 |
| Notice date | October 27 |
| Effective date | December 29 |
The notice was filed under California’s WARN Act, which requires advance notice for large layoffs.
What We Know
- The Glendale address is home to Walt Disney Imagineering
- The filing doesn’t list specific job titles or projects
- The Imagineering link comes from the address and earlier reporting
- Layoffs may not be limited to Imagineering
- The total across Disney Experiences could be different from 159
Florida Update
As of the morning of October 30, Disney had not filed any WARN notices in Florida. Notices are current through October 29.
Why the Two-Month Gap?
Federal law generally requires 60 days of notice before mass layoffs. That’s why the effective date of December 29 is about two months after the October 27 filing.
How It Matches Earlier Reports
- The Los Angeles Times reported cuts of roughly 100 to 200 jobs
- The WARN notice confirms 159
- That number falls within the reported range
According to the Times’ source, the layoffs came from a regular review of the division’s priorities, investments, and project timelines.
Why Imagineering?
Imagineering works on a project basis.
How that affects staffing:
- Teams grow when projects ramp up
- Teams shrink when projects are paused or delayed
- A reshuffled timeline can mean fewer workers are needed short-term
- A smaller team doesn’t necessarily mean a project is canceled
The Times also reported that Disney has more parks projects in development than ever.
Are 2027 Projects Still On Track?
The filing doesn’t appear to change expectations for announced projects.
| Project | Location | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Monstropolis (Phase One) | Hollywood Studios | Expected 2027 |
| Tropical Americas | Animal Kingdom | Expected 2027 |
| Piston Peak National Park | Magic Kingdom | Moving forward |
| Villains Land | Magic Kingdom | Moving forward |
| New Disney Cruise Line ships | Disney Cruise Line | Moving forward |
| Tomorrowland reimagining | Disneyland | Moving forward |
On October 20, CEO Josh D’Amaro toured Monstropolis, Tropical Americas, and Lakeshore Lodge with Imagineers. All three are set to open at least partly in 2027.
Timeline
- April 14: D’Amaro confirms layoffs in a company memo, without naming divisions
- October 20: D’Amaro tours 2027 projects with Imagineers
- October 27: WARN notice filed for 159 layoffs in Glendale
- October 28: Los Angeles Times reports 100 to 200 theme park division layoffs
What’s Next
Disney reports full fiscal 2026 earnings on November 17. That report may shed more light on Disney Experiences and its project plans.
Final Thoughts
Imagineers are the creative minds behind the rides, lands, and details fans love. While major projects appear to be moving ahead, 159 people now face losing their jobs at the end of the year.
Our thoughts are with everyone affected.
