Disney streaming and tech employees pushed leaders for layoff timing at a recent town hall but got no dates, Business Insider reported. Deadline says the next cuts likely come in January.
Disney employees want answers about layoffs, and they want to hear them from Disney first.
Workers in Disney’s streaming and technology teams pressed leaders during a recent internal town hall about a possible new round of job cuts, Business Insider reported this week. Leaders didn’t give a timeline, according to the report, as relayed by Inside the Magic.
Disney hasn’t commented publicly on the town hall.
What did Disney employees ask at the town hall?
When the cuts are coming, mostly. “Do we know when the cost cutting is targeted to happen?” one software engineer asked, according to Business Insider’s report.
Employees also asked whether leaders should announce benefit changes and layoffs before the news hits the media, Inside the Magic reported. Other questions covered how cuts would affect the Media Platform Alliance, the team that handles streaming distribution and infrastructure, and why early retirement packages were offered.
Why did employees ask about Character.AI?
Disney is bringing in new tech talent while talking about cuts. Workers asked what roughly 60 incoming employees from AI company Character.AI would work on, Inside the Magic reported.
Disney made offers to at least 60 Character.AI employees, with estimated annual pay of about $60 million, plus a separate $20 million asset deal, according to TechCrunch.
What did Disney leaders say about layoffs?
Not much. Streaming leaders didn’t say whether more cuts were coming or when, according to the report. Two people who attended said the meeting gave no concrete dates or reassurance.
When are Disney’s next layoffs expected?
Likely January 2027. Deadline reported Nov. 5 that the next round “looks like early 2027, likely January,” and said “nothing is imminent.”
The cuts are expected to tie into a restructuring of Disney Entertainment Television under Chairman Debra OConnell, Deadline reported. Disney hasn’t announced any new structure.
How many jobs could Disney cut?
Possibly thousands. Bloomberg reported Nov. 2 that Disney is planning thousands of job cuts, with some managers asked to target up to 20% in annual cost savings. Disney declined to comment to Bloomberg.
That’s a cost goal, not a confirmed layoff number.
How many Disney layoffs have happened in 2026?
Several rounds. About 1,000 corporate jobs were cut in April, several hundred more in July and a few hundred in late September.
In late October, 100 to 200 jobs were cut at Disney Experiences, the division that runs the theme parks and cruise line, the Los Angeles Times reported. A state filing showed 159 of those were at Walt Disney Imagineering in Glendale, California, effective Dec. 29.
Why is Disney making cuts?
To sharpen its focus and move faster in a changing entertainment industry, according to the Times. The moves are part of new CEO Josh D’Amaro‘s plans. He took over from Bob Iger in March.
Hollywood as a whole is cutting back, too. Skydance, the combined Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, is also preparing for layoffs.
Did Disney offer early retirement?
Yes, to eligible U.S.-based executives. More executives than expected took the offer, which Deadline said could soften the next round of cuts.
When does Disney report earnings?
Tuesday, Nov. 17, when Disney shares its fiscal fourth-quarter and full-year results. Investors will be listening for any update on cost cuts.
Will layoffs affect Disney parks or Disney+?
Disney hasn’t said. Guests haven’t seen any changes to park operations or Disney+ service tied to the reported cuts.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
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Hat Tips:
Business Insider via Inside the Magic, Rick Lye (Nov. 5, 2026), the town hall questions, Media Platform Alliance and attendee accounts
Deadline, Nellie Andreeva (Nov. 5, 2026), the January timing, TV restructuring and early retirement
Bloomberg (Nov. 2, 2026), the thousands of planned cuts and 20% cost target
Los Angeles Times (Oct. 28, 2026), the Disney Experiences layoffs and D’Amaro’s goals
Pirates & Princesses (Nov. 6, 2026), the 2026 layoff timeline and earnings date
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