Disney Weighs Thousands of Job Cuts as Managers Are Asked to Find 20% Savings

The report did not say how many jobs could go or which units would be hit hardest. It said some parts of the company would carry a larger share of the cuts than others. Managers can reach the 20% target by eliminating jobs, cutting other expenses or both. Disney had about 231,000 employees worldwide at the end of its last fiscal year.

If confirmed, this would be the biggest round of layoffs since Josh D'Amaro became chief executive in March. Bloomberg reported that he plans to reinvest part of the savings in film and TV programming, technology, theme parks and cruise ships.

Pressure on a Legacy Media Group

According to Reuters, D'Amaro is dealing with growing use of AI, weaker box office revenue, tougher competition from streaming rivals and slower international attendance at the parks. Disney has also promised investors double-digit growth in adjusted earnings per share this fiscal year.

The plan follows several smaller rounds of cuts this year. In April, D'Amaro confirmed layoffs in a memo to staff after reports that up to 1,000 roles would go, mostly in marketing. In late October, cuts reached the Disney Experiences division. A California filing listed 159 permanent layoffs at Walt Disney Imagineering's Glendale site, effective December 29. It is not clear whether those cuts belong to the wider plan. Disney cut 7,000 jobs in 2023 under former chief executive Bob Iger.

About 80% of Disney's staff work in Experiences, which includes the parks. The division brought in $36.2 billion of revenue in fiscal 2025 and more than 56% of operating income, according to coverage of the report. The report did not say whether the 20% savings target applies to park operations.

What Comes Next

Disney reports its full fiscal 2026 results on November 17, the next scheduled chance for D'Amaro to talk about the cuts in public. Other entertainment groups, including Netflix, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Paramount, have also cut staff as traditional television revenue declines. For media and technology executives, the report shows that large incumbents are cutting costs while trying to free up money for technology and new content as AI and streaming change the industry.