Disney increases number of planned layoffs to 32,000 as virus hits park attendance

Walt Disney Co. said on Wednesday it would lay off around 32,000 workers, mostly at its theme parks, an increase from the 28,000 announced in September, as the company struggles with limited customers due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The layoffs will take place in the first half of fiscal 2021, the company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A Disney spokesperson confirmed that the latest figures include the 28,000 layoffs announced earlier.

Earlier this month, Disney said it was laying off additional workers at its theme park in Southern California due to uncertainty over when the state would allow the parks to reopen.

Disney theme parks in Florida and those outside the United States reopened earlier this year without seeing any new major coronavirus outbreaks, but with strict social distancing, testing and the use of masks.

Disneyland Paris was forced to close again late last month when France imposed a new lockdown to tackle a second wave of coronavirus cases.

The company’s theme parks in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo remain open.