Editor 's note : CNN has asked its journalists across the country to offer their thoughts on how the economic crisis is affecting their cities . In this installment , All Platform Journalist John Couwels reports from Orlando , Florida . Walt Disney World in Orlando , Florida , has announced that it will lay off employees . ORLANDO , Florida ( CNN ) -- Orlando : What first comes to mind ? Walt Disney World or Universal resorts , perhaps ? The two parks are the nation 's biggest tourist draws . As a new resident of Orlando , I find that the tourist areas are more removed from the city than I thought . Still , some people in the area where I currently live either work or have business dealings at tourist attractions . As with every city in the United States , Orlando is dealing with the fallout of an economic slowdown . Tourism officials expect an 8 percent to 10 percent drop in tourism dollars for 2009 . Nonetheless , during a recent visit to Disney 's Magic Kingdom with my family , I experienced a packed park . My first visit in 10 years : The park did not seem any different except for the $ 129 I paid for a six-month Florida resident pass . Disney World recently announced a major loss in income and that layoffs are expected . Sources within Disney say the layoffs could begin this week . Disney will not say how many people will be eliminated while it restructures and consolidates operations . I have not heard panic among businesses and city officials over the Disney announcement , despite the fact Disney World says it is the biggest single-site employer in the United States with 62,000 . Disney spokesman Mike Griffin said : `` We are bigger than the Pentagon . '' Disney told me cuts would be significant , affecting back office workers . Griffin said guests visiting the parks would not see any difference . Danielle Courtney , spokeswoman of the Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau , said she was sure that `` Disney will provide a value experience for their guests . '' But she said Disney is doing what every other business is doing : cutting costs . Orlando 's economic and development director , Bill Billingsley , said the city has not lost a significant amount of jobs . Billingsley is concerned about the Disney layoffs but optimistic on the limited effect on the city 's economic health . From the big corporations to the funky little tea and sandwich shop east of downtown , businesses are feeling the pinch . The owner of Pom Pom 's Teahouse and Sandwicheria was telling my friend how she had to cut everyone 's hours to part time to save on expenses . The store has been open since 2006 . Owner Pom Moongauklang , a trained pastry chef , told me she 's doing whatever it takes to stay open . Pom cut her four employees ' hours instead of their jobs , lowered prices and extended hours to 24 hours on the weekends . Pom said of the 60- to 70-hour work week : `` It 's killing me , but it 's working . '' Along the epicenter of tourist hotels , restaurants and T-shirt shops , International Drive business owners say they are hurting . Aby Aly , owner of a gift shop selling goods from T-shirts to plush dolls , said that `` business is off by 35 percent , and people are not buying . '' As I drive around town , I do not see a large number of closed-down stores . Like other cities , Orlando has seen big national chain closures like Linen-N-Things and Circuit City . Yet at two of the area 's outlet malls , you would never know there is an economic crisis . I waited 10 minutes in line to enter the parking lot . In the suburbs where foreclosures are their highest , more businesses have closed their doors . As I looked for a house to rent I was surprised how a one-bedroom condo in downtown was the same price as a four-bedroom house only five miles away . Real estate agent Sue Bee Laginess said the city has a glut of homes and condominiums for sale or rent . She said her office has seen business double from four months ago because of the low prices . The agent said owners have either lowered prices , been foreclosed on or are selling the house for the amount owed to the bank . For one store in my new quaint neighborhood of College Park , business has never been better : Top Drawer Consignments . Fred Rodgers , a former Disney designer and one of the store 's owners , said `` the tough economy is helping us . '' Shoppers say they save money buying used furniture . Yet College Park has not been immune from the economic crisis ; real estate offices and gift shops have closed there , too . Despite the downturn , Orlando officials believe their city has fared better than most . Orlando 's economic development director told me Orlando is building a medical city that will add 10,000 jobs in the coming years . Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer will give his State of Orlando speech Wednesday , the same week the area 's biggest employer could begin layoffs .
Resort mecca Orlando , Florida , feels the pinch of economic slowdown . Disney World reports it will have to lay off employees . Consignment store bucks trend ; business good there . City officials say upcoming medical development will add 10,000 jobs .