Disney to Add 5,000 Jobs in Central Florida Amid Restructuring

Walt Disney World Resort in Central Florida plans to add 5,000 jobs over the next five years. This hiring push comes after recent corporate restructuring and layoffs under CEO Josh D'Amaro. The company previously reported that it laid off around 1,000 employees in April 2026.

The resort currently employs about 80,000 Cast Members, making it the largest single-site employer in the United States. Disney receives more than 300 job applications a day, which is consistent with earlier economic-impact figures showing Disney generated over $40 billion in economic impact in Florida in fiscal 2022.

Disney's people-first approach is reflected in its training and behind-the-scenes roles. New Cast Members go through Disney University for one to three days of on-site training before on-the-job training at their locations. The costuming department, which employs 1,500 Cast Members across 50 roles, circulates about 2.5 million garments each year.

Disney claims that three out of five leaders started in hourly roles. Full-time Cast Members in professional, leadership, and skilled jobs stay an average of 12 years, which is triple the national average from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.