Disney is adding 5,000 Central Florida jobs over five years

The same company reportedly cutting corporate staff this month is hiring thousands in Orlando. Both things are true, and they are not happening in the same departments.

Walt Disney World plans to create more than 5,000 jobs in Central Florida over the next five years.

The resort already employs about 80,000 cast members, which makes it one of the largest single-site employers in the United States.

The timing is what makes it interesting. Reporting this weekend also indicated Disney is preparing another round of corporate layoffs at the end of September.

Is Disney hiring or laying off?

Both.

The layoffs reported by Puck’s Matthew Belloni are corporate in departments like human resources, product and technology, and operations functions. Disney declined to comment on them, and no official numbers have been reported.

These 5,000 jobs would be in parks and resort operations in Florida, tied to construction that is already underway.

Magic Kingdom is building Piston Peak National Park and Villains Land. Hollywood Studios is building Monstropolis. Those lands need people to run them, and hiring for an attraction starts well before it opens.

What kinds of jobs is Disney World hiring for?

Across the operation, from hourly roles to professional ones.

Disney highlighted costuming, which employs roughly 1,500 cast members across 46 locations on property, a number most guests would never guess. Culinary and dining operations were also featured, along with leadership and professional positions.

Do people stay at Disney World jobs?

According to Disney’s own figures, yes.

The company says four out of five cast members choose to stay, and that about three out of five current leaders started in hourly roles. Among full-time cast members in professional roles, average tenure runs 12 years, which Disney notes is roughly three times the national average.

However, those are the company’s numbers, presented by the company, so consider that before making a judgement.

What benefits does Disney World offer cast members?

Medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus on-property health centers, with a third health center opening in 2027.

Education is the bigger draw for a lot of people. Disney Aspire covers tuition for cast members pursuing degrees and certifications, and it has become one of the more cited reasons people take the job and stay in it.

Walt Disney World Ambassador Kylee Withers put it as “we invest in our cast members,” describing the workplace as a support community.

It is important to note that Disney has come under fire in the past for “underpaying” the same employees, especially in California.

Why is Disney hiring in Florida now?

Disney has committed up to $17 billion at Walt Disney World over the next two decades. Two new lands at Magic Kingdom, a new land at Hollywood Studios, and everything supporting them require staffing long before opening day.

The hiring is spread over five years, so nobody should read this as 5,000 openings posting tomorrow.

Jobs are coming. Disney said so.

Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

• ClickOrlando (Sept. 16, 2026), the 5,000-job figure, the 80,000 cast member count, the costuming and tenure figures and the Withers quote

• Matthew Belloni, Puck News (September 2026), the reported corporate layoffs

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