by Tom Stewart

Created on: March 27, 2009   Last Updated: April 14, 2009

The current recession in the United States, and the world for that matter, has affected almost all types of businesses, and it is even impacting amusement parks.

The number one name in amusement parks is Disney. If the recession has impacted Disney Land and Disney World, then it has most definitely affected all of the other amusement parks around the country. Just this week Disney World announced that it would be laying off a number of employees to help with restructuring it's staff during this recession. It was not officially announced by Disney just how many employees, or 'cast members' would be losing their jobs, but some rumors say it is as many as 500. Disney employs over 65,000 people in the state of Florida alone. Most of the lay offs are expected to affect salaried workers employed in Disney World from all departments including entertainment, merchandise, finance, transportation and other areas. Hourly wage workers are not expected to be effected by this wave of cut backs. Some unidentified employees who have already been laid off claim they have received severance packages of one week of pay for every year of employment with Disney and an option to continue to receive health insurance at their current rates.

Last month Disney announced that it would be executing lay-offs at its properties nation wide in an effort to downsize and combine many of the functioning departments in Disney World in Florida and Disney Land in California. Earlier in the year Disney offered voluntary buyouts to many park executives with a reported 50 of them accepting. Disney claims that it is necessary to make these cuts in order to keep profit losses to a minimum while remaining at the top of the amusement park industry. The recession and down turn of consumer spending has had a major impact on all of Disney's properties.

One of Disney's major competitors, Six Flags, which owns 20 major theme parks across the United States, has also been greatly impacted by the current recession. Company executives believe that without a major restructuring of its employees and finances, they will be forced to file for bankruptcy and begin closing down many of their parks. The Six Flags company has unpaid loans that are overdue and with the current recession and decreased number of costumers, the loans are expected to go unpaid unless a new agreement can be reached. But credit and loans are difficult to come by during this recession. It is possible that many of Six Flags properties will have to cut staff, reduce operating hours, or not open the parks at all this season.

Sadly this recession has become much like a roller coaster ride for the amusement parks and its patrons. As the recession continues to affect us all it's seems to be especially unfortunate that it may prevent us from seeking out a few hours of excitement at our nearest theme park, a much needed break we could all use.

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